Cheap train tickets and rail discounts

If you're planning a trip across the UK, booking cheap train tickets can help you save money.

Whether you're traveling for work or leisure, there are several ways to find budget-friendly train fares. By using our service, you can easily compare train ticket prices, find the best deals, and plan your journey with ease. In this guide, we'll explore some tips and tricks to help you find cheap train tickets with EMR.

How to Buy Cheap Train Tickets

More Ways to Save

Cheap Popular UK Journeys

Cheap Train Tickets to Europe

Cheap Train Tickets FAQs

Find the cheapest train ticket for your journey​

Below we have outlined the best ways you can save money on your train tickets. We're committed to delivering great service at an affordable price, we have used our expertise to compile a list of money-saving tactics, have learned about different train ticket types and compared journey times to find the cheapest train fare for you.

As well as our own routes you can also book your cheap train tickets and save money with EMR on all other routes across the country.

Looking for cheap rail tickets, but not sure which ticket type is best for you? Choose the right train ticket with the help of our guide.

How to Buy Cheap Train Tickets

Generally, train fares tend to increase as the day of travel approaches, which is why booking Advance tickets is a great way to find cheap train tickets. Our Journey Planner can help you find live train times, ticket prices, and route stops. And don't forget to use your Railcard for everyday savings of up to 1/3 off train travel.

Below we have outlined some simple steps to help you save money on your train journey today;

  • Easily search for your journey using our journey planner, including your departure and destination stations.
  • Select the date and time of your journey, booking tickets in advance can save you even more money on your trip.
  • Apply your railcard to save up to 1/3 off train fares on most routes - if you don't have a railcard it is worth finding out if you're eligible for a railcard here.
  • Don’t forget that if you're traveling in a group you could secure even more savings.
  • Get the best price train tickets, check journey information in real time and save with no booking fees on the EMR app.

More ways to save with more cheap rail fare options

There are lots of ways to save money on your train ticket booking by following our cheap train fare options and tips below.

Everyday Savings with Railcard
Discounts

Using a Railcard to book cheap train tickets is the quickest way to save up to 1/3 on your journey. If you don't currently have a Railcard, you can discover the benefits of a Railcard and your eligibility on our dedicated Railcards page.

Railcards

Avoid
Peak Times for Cheapest Train Tickets

When looking for the cheapest train tickets available on your travel dates, traveling off-peak where possible is an excellent way to save money on your train fares and secure cheaper train tickets. Peak times tend to be before 10 am and between 4-6pm when we see a surge in commuter traffic on our services.

Off-Peak Travel

Book Group Train
Tickets to Secure Train Discounts

Groups traveling with East Midlands Railway can save money and find cheap train tickets by booking one of our group tickets. For more information on our group tickets and securing train discounts please visit our dedicated group ticket page.

Group Tickets

Enjoy Season Ticket
Savings

Regular traveller? You can save money with one of our season tickets. Weekly, monthly, annual and custom length season tickets are the perfect way to save money on a journey you regularly take and guaranteeing the cheapest rail fare. Alternatively, try Flexi Seasons for even more flexibility.

Season Tickets

Book in
Advance Today for Cheapest Rail Fares

If you're planning a train journey before the day of travel, booking advance train tickets is a great way you can save money and book the cheapest train tickets. Advance fare discounts are automatically applied for the cheapest rail tickets available to book today. Visit our journey planner to book your tickets up to 12 weeks in advance and save.

Advance Tickets

Business Travel
Discounted Train Fares

Work for a business whose employees regularly travel by train? You could save by registering for a free business account. Our business ticket options are designed to make travel as easy and cost-effective as possible through our dedicated platform for discounted travel fares.

Business Travel

Buy Cheap Family Train Tickets

If you are travelling as a family, securing the cheapest train tickets is easy when you know how. We recommend you buy a Family & Friends Railcard which gives you a third off for up to four adults along with 60% off for up to four kids.

Family and Friends Railcard

Download our EMR App for the best deals

Get the cheapest train tickets in real-time via the EMR app and save with no booking fees – saving time and money on your favourite train journeys.

EMR App

Cheap Popular UK Train Journeys

There are so many places all across the UK and Europe that you can travel to cheaply by train. Here are some of our most popular destinations to visit by train. Click to find out more.

Cheap Train Tickets to Europe

If you're looking to travel to Europe on a budget, booking cheap train tickets can be a great option. Simply take an EMR train to London St Pancras and hop on the Eurostar to travel to different European destinations in comfort without the stress of a busy airport.

Book cheap train tickets to Europe

Cheap train tickets FAQs

To get the cheapest train tickets, you should book your tickets up to 12 weeks before your journey.

You can save up to 60% off your ticket price by booking your train tickets in advance.

The cheapest day to travel by train can vary depending on the route and time of day. Despite the day, the cheapest train tickets are available when you travel during off-peak rather than peak times – which are usually between 10:00 and 16:00, or after 19:00.

It's also a good idea to book your tickets in advance as prices can increase the closer you get to your travel date.

When looking for the cheapest rail fares, it is always best to book you your train tickets in advance and not last minute. Train tickets are available 12 weeks before departure dates – find out more about cheapest advance train tickets here.

If you are looking for cheap last minute train tickets, download the EMR App for the best route and ticket price options available one your day of travel.

There are several ways to make your train fare cheaper. One of the best ways is to book your tickets in advance. Generally, train companies release their tickets around 12 weeks before the travel date, so booking as early as possible can help you find the cheapest fares.

Another option is to travel during off-peak times. Train fares tend to be more expensive during peak hours, so if you can be flexible with your travel times and opt for off-peak trains, you may be able to save money.

You can also consider using a Railcard to get discounts on your train fares. Railcards are available for a variety of groups, including students, seniors, and families, and can help you save up to a third off your train fares.

In most cases, it is cheaper to buy train tickets online thanks to advances ticket prices and other savvy ways to save through online promotions. Additionally, buying tickets online can be more convenient as you can easily compare prices and choose the best option for your budget and travel plans. Plus, you can often save time by booking in advance and printing your tickets at home or downloading them to your mobile device.

Yes. You can book journeys and save money on rail fares across the entire rail network through the EMR website.

A Railway smart card is an alternative to traditional disposable paper tickets. Similar to a debit or credit card your Railway Smartcard allows you to store information such as your season ticket and then easily top the smart card up again when it is time to renew. Find out more here and order your free Smartcard here .