Travelling by train needn't break the bank or take any longer than driving a car.
In recent months the reputation of train travel in the UK has taken a bit of a battering due to many delays and cancellations - particularly in the North West - and strikes by rail workers.
Despite these obstacles, hopping on the rails means you can avoid rising fuel prices, keep never-ending traffic at an arm’s length, and put an end to parking tickets.
To make the experience even sweeter, and hopefully cheaper, West Midlands Railway has compiled its top five train travel hacks - check them out below...
A ticket shared is a ticket halved
Many operators, including WMR, offer a GroupSave ticketing option.
Essentially that means that if you and between three and nine friends or family members purchase your tickets together, you can shave a third off the price (when travelling off-peak).
If you’re a group of ten or more you can even opt for WMR’s Group Travel option - this will give you and your large party a quarter off your ticket price.
However, to do this, you must book at least 10 days in advance.
One way ticket to cheaper travel
When it comes to public transport, it’s worth while keeping an eye out for those booking fees.
For example, when booking your train travel, the best thing you can do is book through your rail operator’s app to ensure assured that there will be no last-minute fees added to your bill.
It might not seem like a lot, but after a while, these pennies add up.
Two for the price of one
When you travel by train you can get your hands on a range of 2-for-1 offers at a large selection of top UK attractions.
Think Cadbury World, The Bear Grylls Adventure, paintball, and more, all for just a fraction of the price.
Travel off-peak
It sounds like an obvious one but a great way to save money on your travel is to avoid travelling during peak times (between 6.30-9.30 and 15.30-18.30).
By travelling during off-peak times, you will instantly reduce the price of your ticket – saving your money for fun-filled activities for wherever you’re visiting.
Plus, it goes without saying that travelling during these times is often a much more comfortable journey, with quieter carriages and stations.
Buy a bundle ticket
Iain Griffin, founder and CEO of rail ticketing app Seatfrog , advises people buy a special kind of bundle ticket which can significantly reduce the cost of travel if you are return to the same place repeatedly.
"One of my favourite hacks is to buy a carnet. Hardly anyone knows about them," he said.
"They are essentially an old school stamp book of pre-paid tickets for a specific journey. So if you like heading off to a specific location for weekend getaways or minibreaks, this is a much cheaper alternative than buying your tickets at the station on the day.”
These can be a better investment than inflexible advanced tickets, which can lead to significant losses if your plans change.
