Commuters returning to work after Christmas faced something of a shock at the ticket gates. Train fares have risen by between 6% and 13% across the country, with popular commuting routes heavily affected. Workers travelling from Canterbury to London have been particularly hard hit. They have seen a 12.7% rise in season prices, from £3,840 to £4,328. So, if you are affected, what can you do about it?
First, if you are really angry about the rises and want to show it, the Campaign for Better Transport is running a ‘Fight Fares Now’ campaign. Join it.
Bad news for season ticket holders
However, aside from quickly inventing a small, cheap jetpack, there isn’t a lot we can do to avoid paying for our commute. A season ticket is the most popular way to pay for a year of train travel – it typically works out as the same as the cost of buying a daily off-peak return for 47 weeks of the year. So if you need to be in the office five days a week, it remains the cheapest option even at the new prices.
But do be aware that you don’t have to buy a 12-month season ticket. As long as it is valid for at least a month, you can buy one for any length you like. So if you know you’ll be having a break from the commute at some point – for maternity/paternity leave or a long holiday for example – it’s worth timing your season ticket so it expires when you stop working. You can then buy a new one when you go back to work. OK, this won’t save you a fortune but every little helps.
Get fit and save yourself a fortune
Depending on the length of your commute there is one way you can dramatically reduce the cost – cycling. Cycling is free once you’ve paid for the bike, and there are several ways you can pick up a cheap bike.
One of the most cost effective ways to buy a bike is through the Cycle to Work scheme. Provided your employer has joined – and if they haven’t, suggest that they do – you can save up to 50% on the cost of a bike. You choose a bike from an approved supplier and your employer buys it for you and reclaims the VAT. You then lease the bike back from your company. The key feature is that you pay them back from your salary before tax is deducted. So not only are you getting a VAT-free bike, but you are also saving tax. You can even buy all the paraphernalia that you need – such as a helmet, lock and lights – at the same time, and enjoy big discounts.
But if you would rather just buy a bike outright, you can still pick up a bargain. You could buy a bike from eBay or Gumtree – but just be aware that stolen bikes are sometimes sold online, despite the best efforts of the websites. For a cheap and 100% legal bike try Bumblebee Auctions. This website sells property seized by the police, or handed in to the police who have subsequently been unable to find the original owner. You can pick up a bike for as little as £1 as long as you are prepared to collect it from the address shown. These bikes are sold as seen though, so it’s worthwhile dropping it in to your local bike shop for a check up before you start using it.
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The rise of carnets
If you have to take the train but commute infrequently – two or three times a week – then consider opting for ‘carnet’ tickets instead of a season ticket. More and more train companies are offering these books of single tickets which you buy at a discount to the standard fare. For example, First Capital Connect offers carnets of ten single tickets, for both peak and off-peak travel. The tickets are valid for three months and are great value if you only travel a couple of times a week. For example, a ticket from Stevenage to London costs £6.30 each way using a carnet, so £12.60 a day, compared to £14 for an off-peak return.
Don’t get stung for parking
As well as rising train fares many stations have also increased their parking charges by up to 10% this month. For example, the annual parking charge in Canterbury West car park has risen by £69 to £765. If you can, consider taking the bus, walking or cycling to the station. Or if you absolutely have to drive find out if there is a cheaper car park you could use. The AA offers a parking app for iPhones that will help you find the cheapest parking space near you using GPS.
Cutting the cost of individual trips
If you are shopping around for a one-off rail trip then there are a number of things you can do to reduce the price. First, book your tickets as early as possible. The lowest fares are available three months before the date of travel, when the tickets first go on sale. You can sign up for an email notification which will tell you when tickets for the date you want to travel come on sale.
If you aren’t that organised you can still cut your costs. Travel off-peak if you can and check the prices of single as well as return tickets as, counter-intuitively, two single tickets are often cheaper than a return.
Also look at the cheap ticket websites. Megatrain sells tickets on various routes for as little as £1.50 (including the booking fee) but they sell out fast. Alternatively, East Coast trains sells tickets for any journey in the UK on its website which has an excellent layout, so you can easily find the cheapest tickets.
Don’t forget your railcard
Finally, don’t forget about railcards. These days a surprising number of people are eligible for a third off their travel costs with a railcard. If you are under 25, over 60, or regularly travel with children you are eligible. You don’t even have to be related to the kids so if you are travelling with a friend and their kids make sure you use the Family & Friends card. All these cards cost £26 in return for 1/3 off adult fares (and 60% off children’s fares with the Family & Friends card) so they usually pay for themselves within one or two journeys.
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