London Northwestern Railway provide top tips to university and college students for train travel on a budget

With food, rent, books and those all-important nights out to fund, finding the spare cash to afford train travel can be challenging. But if you know the right places to look, cheap train journeys can be possible so you can pay less and do more. London Northwestern Railway shares its top tips for college and university students looking to purchase train tickets on a budget.

Apply for a railcard

If you’re aged 16 – 25 or a mature student in full-time study who meets the eligibility requirements, you can apply for a 16 – 25 Railcard and save money on trips into town, weekend festivals or journeys back home to see the family. The Railcard costs just £30, so even after one trip (dependent on your journey), it will have paid for itself. Complete with an offers and rewards scheme, the Railcard can also save you money on selected days out, restaurants and hotels. If you know you’re going to be doing a lot of travelling over the next few years, the 3-year Railcard costs just £70 and will save you £20 on the price of three 1-year Railcards.

Buy a season ticket

If you travel the same journey to and from college or university each week, then a station-to-station Student Season Ticket will provide the best value. Whether you opt for the termly or annual pass, a Student Season Ticket will give you huge savings over buying daily tickets. What’s more, 16 and 17 year olds receive 50% off an adult season ticket and over 18s receive 25% off. Tickets are available to purchase at www.lnr.co.uk/students and the discounts are only valid if buying online.

Enjoy 50% off with a 16 – 17 Saver

If you’re aged 16 or 17 you can now enjoy 50% off Anytime, Off-Peak, Advance and Season Tickets. So whether you’re travelling for school, college, day trips or a weekend away with friends, you can use it as many times as you like and make great savings. Costing just £30 and valid for one year or until your 18th birthday, whichever comes first, it’s the perfect saver for anyone aged 16 or 17. Only available to buy online, it’s quick and easy and all you need is proof of age and a passport sized photo.

Purchase in advance

Know when you want to travel? Why not plan ahead and take advantage of the cheapest fares available on longer distance routes by buying your tickets in advance. These ticket types usually go on sale three months before the date of travel but it’s advised to be quick off the mark as they usually sell out on busier routes. So, if you know you’ll be heading back home for a family birthday or special occasion, save yourself some cash and book as early as possible.

Travel as a group

If you’re planning a day out with your mates, it’s worth considering GroupSave tickets, saving you a third off an Off-Peak ticket. Available for groups of between three and nine people, the whole group must travel there and back together on the same train but there’s no need to book in advance – simply purchase online, in app or at the ticket office. Groups of 10 or more can also save a quarter off the ticket price but these need to be booked in advance by calling the Group Travel team on 0333 311 0006.