Is there a cheaper way to travel by rail?

nichorob · 8 Sep 2010 at 17:43

Evening,

I'm a 26 year old, tax paying male who travels by train a lot to various destinations. I am aware of some of the discount websites like megatrain but these seem to be very hit and miss and unreliable. Is there a type of railcard or scheme for somebody like me to get a discount? I know there is a young persons rail card, senior railcard etc...

Thanks in advance.

Vonhelmet · 8 Sep 2010 at 17:47

Some employers will offer an interest free loan for a season ticket. That way you can get a year's travel at a knock down price, and they can deduct it from your salary on a month by month basis.

Assuming the total of your loans from your employer is less than £4k there are no tax implications either.

King85 · 8 Sep 2010 at 18:26

Surfer · 8 Sep 2010 at 18:28

Megatrain?

fretted · 8 Sep 2010 at 18:32

This

vonhelmet said:
Some employers will offer an interest free loan for a season ticket. That way you can get a year's travel at a knock down price, and they can deduct it from your salary on a month by month basis.

Assuming the total of your loans from your employer is less than £4k there are no tax implications either.

+1
Annual gold card gives you a train discount

PapaLazaru · 8 Sep 2010 at 18:35

http://www.railcard.co.uk/network

K.C. Leblanc · 8 Sep 2010 at 18:37

A network card will give you discounts in London and the South East.

But generaly the best bet is to just make sure you buy your ticket as early as possible.

Trains are a real pain for me, I never want to commit to doing anything by train until I can check the price, because you never know what a journey is going to cost.