Pocket-friendly public transport
Whether you’re letting the train take the strain or aiming for less fuss by bus this summer, make sure you take advantage of any discounts.
Rail reductions
Train fares are notoriously steep in this country, but many people don’t have to pay full price. A range of railcards is available for young people under 30, over 60s, two or more people travelling together, disabled people, forces personnel and veterans. They’re worth having if you travel relatively regularly, as you get a third off rail travel, with a railcard costing a maximum of £35 for a year or £80 for a three-year pass. www.railcard.co.uk
Even if you are not eligible or don’t travel often enough by train, buying Advance tickets can still give you quite a saving. Rail companies release tickets around 12 weeks ahead and you can set up an alert for a journey you’re interested in on www.thetrainline.com/ticketalert.
Have you heard of splitting tickets? It may sound strange, but if you buy multiple tickets along your trip, you can save a lot of money compared to having a single ticket – in most cases you don’t even have to change trains. The only rule is that the train has to stop at a station you have a ticket for. Splitting tickets is a fiddly affair, but fortunately there are websites to help, including www.mytrainpal.com, www.splitmyfare.co.uk and www.traintickets.com.
Keep your eyes peeled for promotional deals run by different train companies. A good place to look is Money Saving Expert, which also covers bus discounts: www.moneysavingexpert.com/deals/cheap-coach-train-ticket-deals.
Fairer bus fares
Bus travel tends to be good value, but all savings are worth investigating. Plusbus (www.plusbus.info) is a discounted ticket giving unlimited bus and tram travel that you can add to your train ticket. Prices start at £2.50 a day. Young people and railcard holders get a third off.
National Express passengers can benefit from a range of discounts. Coachcards offering a third off are available to people over 60, 16-26 year olds and disabled travellers for £15 a year. Students aged 18-22 can get 15% off if they have an Amazon Prime Student account. Referring a friend can net both of you 20% off. www.nationalexpress.com
Stagecoach, which runs local bus services across the country, also advertises offers. These range from a student pass to discounts for NHS workers and jobseekers, to group travel deals that give unlimited bus travel for up to five people in one day – perfect for a day out. www.stagecoachbus.com/promos-and-offers
Finally, if you’re state pension age in England, or over 60 in Scotland, Wales and London, or disabled, you can benefit from free, unlimited bus travel when you apply to your local council for a concessionary bus pass.
Other ways to pay less
Don’t forget you can use Tesco Clubcard vouchers to pay for railcards, National Express and Megabus. Cashback sites, such as TopCashback (www.topcashback.co.uk), can also help you save money.
