The cost of train fares has rocketed in recent years, and the array of different ticket types and travelling times has left many consumers bewildered at how to obtain the best fare.

Train companies are now introducing a simpler ticket system to help consumers to distinguish between peak and off-peak times, with the latter being the cheapest time to travel. But there are other ways for rail passengers to make savings, from booking in advance to using a railcard.

Railcards

For those aged 16 to 25, or 26-plus and in full-time education, a 16-25 Railcard, which costs £24 a year, cuts a third off all standard-class fares. See www.16-25railcard.co.uk

If you travel with at least one child, you qualify for a Family & Friends Railcard. It costs £24 for one year or £65 for three years and gives one third off most adult fares and 60 per cent off most children's fares. Up to four adults and four children can travel on one card. See www.familyandfriends-railcard.co.uk

Those aged 60 or over can save a third on most standard and first-class rail fares with a Senior Railcard. The card costs £24 a year, or £65 for three years. See www.senior-railcard.co.uk

Advance fares

Krista Hamblin, of Passenger Focus, the rail passenger watchdog, says: “Book as far in advance as possible to get a better deal. It is normally possible to book up to three months in advance. You can also save if you travel in a group of ten or more and book at least seven days in advance.

“By booking four weeks in advance, you can pay only £15.50 for a single trip from Holyhead to London. If you bought the same ticket on the day of travel, it would cost £65.50.”

As a seat reservation is included when you book your ticket in advance, it is also a good way of ensuring that you will not have to stand. But remember that when you book in advance, you can travel only at the specified time and are likely to be charged again if you board a different train.

Advance tickets are subject to availability and sold on a first come, first served basis. You can see what is on offer at www.thetrainline.com or www.nationalrail.co.uk.

Avoid peak times

Ms Hamblin says: “If possible, avoid travelling at peak times – between 6.30 and 9.30 in the morning and 3.30 and 6.30 in the afternoon. If you travel outside peak times, you can also get some great deals on first-class travel.

“A first-class ticket from Euston to Glasgow, bought outside peak times, can cost only £39.50, instead of £93.10 for a standard ticket at 5.30pm.”

Single tickets

Buying two one-way tickets (one to your destination and one back again) can work out cheaper than buying a return ticket, so check before you buy.

A midweek Manchester to London train, coming back the next day, would cost £230 on a standard return. The outbound journey on an advance standard single can cost £61, while returning on a value advance single at £26 would put the overall cost at £87 – a saving of £143.

Season or Rover tickets

If you make the same journey more than three or four times a week, a season ticket will usually offer better value than buying daily tickets. You can buy a season ticket for seven days or any period between one month and a year.

The National Rail website has a useful calculator that allows you to check if you could save money by buying a season ticket.

A season ticket may not be available for very long journeys, but an All Line Rover ticket can work out a lot cheaper than buying individual tickets and gives the added bonus of unlimited travel anywhere on the National Rail network.

You can buy a season or rover ticket at the ticket office of your train station.

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