Cheap Train Tickets

Find the Cheapest Train Tickets Online Using Split My Fare...

When you use our site to buy tickets, we will automatically search for the cheapest split ticket so you reach your destination at the lowest possible price.

The site is easy to use; you can save a lot of money with our booking engine by following the simple steps below:

1. Enter the dates and times for your train travel. You can purchase most Advance Tickets up to 12 weeks before your journey.

2. Enter the station you are departing from and the arrival station.

3. Enter the details of how many passengers are taking the journey. If you're travelling as a group of at least three passengers, you can save up to 34% with a GroupSave discount.

4. Add your Railcard. If you don't have a Railcard and travel regularly, we highly recommend getting one, as it can save you up to 34% on your journeys—a no-brainer for regular travellers looking for cheap tickets. If you're making your rail trip as a family of up to four adults and four children, there is up to 90% saving off children's train fares with a Family & Friends Railcard, which offers year-round savings on train fares.

5. Book your journey.

1. Book Early to Get Cheap Tickets

An Advance fare is usually one of the cheaper fares compared to a flexible ticket. As long as you're happy to travel at a fixed time, we recommend you book an Advance Ticket to get lower fares—a no-brainer for travellers looking to save money. You will find cheap train tickets released up to 12 weeks before your travel date. We advise booking your train tickets early as they can often sell out due to high demand; as there is limited availability. If you can't book until the day of train travel, Advance Fares may be available from train companies up to an hour before you leave. To get great discounts, combine your advance ticket with a railcard.

2. Travelling Off-Peak Rather Than at Peak Times

Suppose no advance fares are available, or you want flexibility in your train times and day of train travel. In that case, the cheapest train tickets are available when you travel during off-peak rather than peak times. Quieter off-peak periods are usually between 10 am and 4 pm, and after 7 pm, it can be worth travelling earlier or later than planned. Be careful: if a portion of your journey falls during a peak period, you might pay a peak price for the whole trip. Some train operators provide super off-peak tickets, which can be even cheaper.

3. Compare the Price of Single and Return Tickets

If you're taking a round trip and looking for a way to buy cheap train tickets, compare the difference in price between a return ticket and two single tickets to get the best prices. Buying two Advance single tickets can sometimes be cheaper than a return ticket on certain routes. At SplitMyFare, we automatically find the best combination of a single ticket or return ticket to ensure you get the cheapest fares.

4. Save Money When Travelling as a Group by Booking Together

GroupSave allows groups of 3-9 to receive a discount of up to 33% on train tickets during Off-Peak times when tickets are all booked together. We automatically apply the discount when you book with SplitMyFare if it is available for your journey. GroupSave discount is not available with every operator, so it is worth checking in advance. You must purchase all tickets in a single booking to get the savings, and all passengers must travel on the same train.

5. Be Flexible About When You Travel

Suppose you don't need to travel on a specific day at a particular time. Another way to save is by comparing prices across alternative dates and times with our best fare finder. Avoid travel at weekends where possible; increased demand at these times can mean higher prices. We recommend taking the train during off-peak hours during the week, outside of holiday time.

6. Use a Railcard

If you regularly travel by rail or only take a few train journeys a year, getting and using a Railcard can save you significant money. A Railcard provides a guaranteed 1/3 off train tickets. Sometimes you can get Railcards for free, for example, if you open a bank account. Railcards are available to buy from £20 per year or £70 for three years.

7. Look at First Class Train Tickets

Sometimes, operators may charge a similar price for first-class tickets; you may be even find lower fares than with standard tickets. If few first-class tickets have been sold, their price may be vastly reduced so that you can travel in style at a lower cost.

8. Get Refunds and Discounts When You're Entitled to Them

With a scheme called Delay Repay, you can claim refunds if your journey is delayed, whether due to weather conditions or other factors. The delay times entitled to compensation vary between train companies, so it is worth giving their rules and terms a read, but you may be able to receive compensation if your journey has been delayed by as little as 15 minutes. You can apply for this refund through the Train Operating Company for your journey.

It is also worth keeping your eye out for sales to get cheap train tickets. In January 2026, the government offered over 3 million discounted tickets with savings of over 50% during the Great British Rail Sale. We publish ticket alerts to keep our customers up to date of these ticket sales.