Any ideas for saving on cost of London season ticket

julybride

Does anyone know of any ways to save on the amount a season ticket into London costs? It is one of my most expensive purchases a year. :eek:

martinpike

As a commuter myself, I can only advise that you make full use of the compensation scheme for delays. I assume you're buying an annual ticket, and that you get a season ticket loan from work?

xueta

You don't say where you're travelling from. Assuming you're travelling from Greater London/outskirts into town and you don't need to use the Underground then getting a named rail-station to rail-station season ticket will work out marginally cheaper than a "go-anywhere" Travelcard.

julybride

Thats the one. Unfortunately my delays seem never to be more than the 59 minutes... convienient!!! for the train company :mad:

My current one runs out in a month. Trying to put of getting one straight away and do stuff for work that involves travelling. Because even a month without a loan coming off my salary would be a huge bonus! I am also likely to change jobs and am considering a monthly/quarterly as although the yearly i scheaper i will loose out if i cash it in. So then wondering if its worth trying to plan my weels and book tickets in advance, but i'm pretty sure that doesn't really save me anything.

I just thought others may have thought of something i haven't .

julybride

Unfortunately i do need the Undergroud as i work the oppposite side of london to where i commute in to.

I use the Southend line into Liverpool street.

lush_walrus

Depends what train/tube you are getting, I assume that as you say into London then you are getting an overland train. If so and you can manage to walk to work from the overland station then get a ticket that does not include the underground that will save a hell of a lot

martinpike

You say you come into Liverpool Street.

Look at the One Railway website and have a peek at their 'Season Direct' tickets. I haven't read the detailed T&C's myself, but they are basically monthly direct debited from your bank. You may find that they are an annual agreement though, so cancelling and restarting to suit you may not be possible.

What I do is borrow the money from my company, and pay them back from Jan-Sep, which leaves me with a few hundred quid extra coming during Oct-Dec, which is very handy.

I have PM'd you on a related subject too.

sawanderer

Link to HALF PRICE TRAIN TICKETS on the Grabbit board

Buy UK rail tickets with 50% off - book by 1st September for travel up to three months ahead.

I cannot find any way to book a season ticket using the online booking system - only single and return tickets.

Do a little bit of maths and you may find that you could save money by buying a day return for every weekday for the next few months. I think season tickets are often about 1/3 of the equivalent daily price, so with 50% off until December, it may be cheaper to buy a series of day return tickets.

You will still need to have them all booked and paid for by the 1st September.

Hope it helps.

alanrowell

Do you need to buy an annual ticket?

I did the maths for an annual ticket and monthly ticket and found that with weekends / bank holidays / annual holidays I could get away with buying 10 monthly tickets instead along along with the odd weekly & daily ticket.

For example I had a monthly ticket that ended the day before Good Friday, I didn't get a new one until the following Tuesday or time it to finish on Christmas Eve and you shouldn't need it again until January 2nd.

Also check the cost of weekly tickets in February compared to monthly.

If nothing else it means the money isn't spent until it's needed