Tricks and tips to get the best deals on train travel

It's not often that long-suffering commuters get some good news.

- MARTYN JAMES

But just recently there have been two new train announcements that might make life a little better for regular rail travellers.

Firstly, ScotRail has axed peak time fares for all of its services. This is a groundbreaking initiative and will lead to some fares reducing by as much as 48%. As of September 1 this year, 'anytime' single and return fares have been reduced to the same as off-peak costs.

ScotRail is able to do this because the service was brought back into (Scottish) government ownership in 2022.

No such luck in the rest of the UK, I'm afraid, where prices are potentially going to go up by 5.8% on average in 2026. Of course, rail firms don't have to do this, but chances are they will.

That bit isn't good news, I appreciate that! On a more positive note, a new method of ticketing is being trialled in the Midlands at the moment that would allow people to buy the cheapest available tickets when they 'touch in, touch out'.

In theory, this would mean you could tap your card and be guaranteed to get the cheapest of the vast array of fares available to you, automatically.