Ahead of the Summer holidays, and as searches for ‘cheap train tickets’ surge by 20% in the past month, travellers are looking to save big when planning their journeys. Despite rail fare freezes until 2027, train tickets sit amongst the highest in Europe, making domestic travel difficult for many.

With this and family budgets tightening, getting four people from A to B by train can feel like a luxury. Yet, according to the ticketing app, TrainPal, there are ways travellers can save up to hundreds of pounds.

To help travellers save big this Summer, TrainPal’s Alvaro Ungurean, shares his top tips for when to buy and how to plan.

Book 12 weeks in advance

Advance tickets are released roughly three months before departure and tend to rise steadily as seats fill up.

Alvaro Ungurean, Commercial Director Europe at TrainPal, shares, “The earlier you book, the better your chances. That 12-week window is the sweet spot where availability is high and prices low, but people often miss savings because they wait until close to travel dates when prices have already jumped.”

Whilst this often unlocks the lowest fares, there’s no magic moment for bargain tickets, he warns.

Try split tickets

But timing isn’t the only factor, as how you buy can make just as much difference. Alvaro shares, “Rather than one continuous fare, break your journey into segments. It sounds fiddly, but platforms like TrainPal automate it, often saving families up to triple digits.”

Travel Off-Peak

If you are travelling far, such as from Edinburgh to London, it may be worth looking into mid-morning or mid-afternoon departures, as Alvaro claims tickets can be nearly half the price of rush-hour services.

Look for seasonal promotions

Often, train providers will offer seasonal promotions, especially over key holiday periods.

Use a Railcard

“Aside from the standard 16-25, 26-30, and 60+ railcards, for families, the Family & Friends railcard knocks up to 33% off adult fares and 60% off children’s tickets, and the Two Together railcard for couples can save an average of almost £100 a year” shares Alvaro.

“These can save hundreds of pounds on family travel in particular, leaving plenty extra cash to enjoy in the destination.”

Book in groups

With that, he adds that group travel really counts. “Families of four often qualify for group discounts, particularly outside commuter hours.”

Making family travel affordable again

While the government’s rail reforms continue to be debated, many households are finding their own ways to beat the system. Third-party apps have made techniques like split-ticketing more accessible, removing the old barrier of manually calculating routes and prices.

So next time you’re planning a trip to the coast or a countryside weekend, don’t just grab the standard fare, as Alvaro it pays to think strategically.