5 ways to save when travelling by train

Still pondering how you'll travel to your holiday destination this summer? Compared to the cost of flying, rail travel is generally cheaper – especially if you know where to find your bargains. Here are five hints to help you save if you decide to ride the rails.

While planes get you to your destination quickly, trains make for a spectacular journey. Millions of people travel by rail each day, savouring the scenery as they roll through cities and countrysides.

Rail passes can give you major savings on regular tickets.

• Each pass allows you to travel a certain number of times for a reduced cost.
• Sometimes you can even choose in which class you want to travel: economy or business.

Overnight travel on a train is not only an adventure you'll talk about with friends and family for years, it's also a great way to save money.

• Most people prefer to arrive at their destination in a single day, choosing speedier but more costly ways to get there.
• Overnight travel on a train, however, is often much cheaper than most methods, including daytime train travel.
• As a bonus, you'll be rocked to sleep by the train's motions for a completely unique experience.

You can find travel packages for any kind of trip these days, even by rail.

• Talk with a travel agent or shop online to find those spectacular hidden gems.
• Not all packages are available all the time, though, which means if you find one that speaks to you, it's best to snap it up or risk losing out and paying more.

Just like planes, train cars tend to fill up quickly.

• Shopping for train passes as far ahead as six months in advance will yield lower ticket prices than you ever thought possible.
• Some people like to wait until the last minute for deals as planes and trains try to fill up their seats, but they don't always pan out.
• Stick to booking in advance and your wallet will thank you. However, don't avoid looking for last-minute deals, either. You'll just have to work a bit harder to find them.

This one might be a bit challenging if you have to confirm vacation time with your employer in advance.

• If you have the ability to plan your trips with a bit of flexibility on the dates of travel, you'll be surprised at how much you can save.
• Play around with the booking dates on the train's website to see which days will be cheaper for departures and return trips.

When travelling by rail, it's easy to save money if you know where to look. Before you book your next vacation, try some of these tips and you'll have more to spend on your actual trip.