Introduction
Using the railway is one of the safest and most convenient methods for travel. It saves you the hassle of driving and is convenient when you have to drive long distances to get to your vacation destination. In addition, you have more leg room in a train than a car or bus. There are a few disadvantages though when you are taking the train. One is that you cannot bring a lot of luggage as it is difficult to drag 2 suitcases from one train to another, especially if you are changing stations often. Train tickets are anything but inexpensive and if you are thinking of buying cheap train tickets, here are a few tips to help you find the best deals.
Step 1
Buy your train tickets in advance to get the best prices. Railway companies already know their schedules months in advance. Train schedules are not changed more than twice a year, once in spring and another one in autumn, so it should not be too difficult to book or reserve your train tickets early.
Step 2
Check offers for both outward and inbound journeys when you buy train tickets. The websites of railway companies will show you different price options for your outbound and inbound trips. This has something to do with the time of travel. Train tickets are more expensive during peak travel times usually from 8 to 5 p.m. when more people are commuting. If you are willing to travel during off peak hours, then you’ll be able to get good prices for your train tickets. Often, the price differences are worth making the sacrifice of waking up early or taking the late/night train.
Step 3
Take advantage of offers and discounts on train tickets. Although the ticketing representative will probably tell you that your young kids are free to travel on an adult ticket, it’s best to ask if there are other discounts available to you and your family. Railway companies have special offers for those traveling as a group or family in addition to discounts for senior citizens, military personnel, and children below 12 years of age. There are also special train tickets for youths below 25 years.
Step 4
A monthly pass is always cheaper than buying individual train tickets. If you are using trains to commute daily, buying a monthly pass will save you tons of money. It also saves you time when you’re trying to catch a train and you don’t have to stop at the vending machine or the ticket counter to buy train tickets.
Step 5
Sign up for email alerts. When prices of train tickets drop, you’ll get instant alerts on your phone or through an email informing you of great offers. This is a good time to snag those train tickets if you are thinking of traveling for the weekend or across another state or country.
Step 6
Consider the idea of buying split train tickets. They are often cheaper although you might have to change trains at certain stations. However, it can mean significant savings when you buy split train tickets. Also, return train tickets are cheaper than single journeys.
Tips
Think of buying a pass when you purchase train tickets. There are special passes that allow you travel in several countries such as the Eurail pass. They are cheaper than buying single tickets for each journey. Eurail passes are only sold outside of Europe, so it’s best to buy them before arriving in your country of destination.
Sources and Citations
Amtrak
Eurail
Eurostar
