14 July 2008

TheTrainline has today released details about money saving tickets that will appeal to parents worried about the expense of entertaining their children during the long school holidays. Average savings of 39% can be made on TheTrainline compared to tickets bought at the station on the day of travel, so families can still beat tightening purse strings and enjoy days out this Summer.

TheTrainline is urging families to take advantage of the savings available by buying before they travel and with advance purchase tickets available on more than 9 out of 10 of TheTrainline.com's top 1,000 routes*, which cover every route offered by every train company, families can explore the UK for less this Summer. And with TheTrainline parents can still be spontaneous as well as saving money because advance purchase tickets are available from 12 weeks ahead, right up to 6pm on the day before travel. TheTrainline customers buying between just 1 and 3 days in advance save an average of 30%* compared to buying at the station on the day of travel.

For example a family of four buying advance tickets on TheTrainline to make a trip from London to Manchester would save £106.20 compared to buying at the station on the day of travel**

Ben Pearson, Commercial Director, TheTrainline.com, said: "There is a common misconception that very few advance savings are available or that you have to buy tickets weeks in advance. But with thousands of advance purchase tickets available on TheTrainline, often right up to 6pm on the day before travel, our customers are saving an average of 39% compared to buying at the station on the day they travel'

Other money-saving train travel tips from TheTrainline include:

Buy single tickets - Two single tickets are often cheaper than a return.
Travel off peak - Some of the best fares can be found if you avoid the busy times, i.e. weekdays after 10am and not between 5pm and 7pm.
Specify return dates - Open return fares are more expensive so try and specify a return date and time if possible.
Rail cards - Rail cards offer value for money if you travel by train, saving you 1/3 off most standard rail tickets.

* Source: TheTrainline
** Source: TheTrainline: based on buying 3 weeks in advance for travel on Monday 28th July. Standard advance single: £78.00. Saver single: £184.20. Saving for family of 4 (2 adults and 2 children aged 5-15 years) = £106.20. Published fares are subject to availability and correct at time of going to press on 11 July 2008, for travel on 28th July 2008.

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For more information, and examples of other journey specific cost savings, please contact:

Dajinder Rana, Lexis PR, drana@lexispr.com or 0207 908 6573
Victoria Dickson, Lexis PR, vdickson@lexispr.com or 0207 908 6464

Notes to the editors:

About TheTrainline
TheTrainline is the leading UK rail ticket retailer and rail ticket information provider, offering fast and easy access to timetables, fares, reservations and tickets through its Internet site and contact centre operations in the UK train travel sector. In addition to its own website, www.thetrainline.com, it operates retail websites for 15 Train Operating Companies who sell rail tickets online, as well as providing a rail business travel service direct to a number of blue chip corporations and travel agents.