Find train-fare information, locate good deals and buy tickets in much the same way you would book an airline flight. Most of the same do’s and don’t's apply. You will get lower fares in most places by booking early. The advance time needed to get discounts varies anywhere from three to 30 days. Check with travel agents and rail lines for package deals with discounts if you make hotel reservations at the same time. Round-trip and overnight trains are usually cheaper. Because there is little train travel in the U.S., many travel agents don’t offer package deals, but otherwise, these suggestions apply to virtually every country. The easiest way to find train-fare information is to go online. (You may get discounts for ordering tickets online, as well.)
Go to the Amtrak website to find train-fare information in the United States (link below). There you will find a fare finder similar to what you would use to search for airline fares. Enter your departure and return dates along with your departure location and destination and get a list of schedules and fares.
Avoid scheduling an Amtrak departure during peak hours. Rush-hour departures are priced well above off-peak prices. For example, if you depart New York City traveling to Washington D.C., a reserved seat averages $108 if you leave before 8 a.m. After 8, the price jumps to $154. Amtrak offers a variety of discounts and packages, including senior citizen, student and weekly special fares. Another option that railways routinely offer is the multi-trip ticket or rail pass. These are deeply discounted compared to the cost of individual tickets and are ideal if you travel by train on a regular basis. For example, a 10-trip multi-ticket good for 45 days on the New York-Washington D.C. run costs just $824 (in 2008)--a bit more than $80 per trip. You are not restricted to off-peak hours to get the benefit of this discount, and you don’t have to make a specific reservation—just head to the station when you’re ready to go.
Locate train fares in Canada by using VIA RailCanada (link below). Vacation railway trips are popular in Canada and you can find a variety of family discounts and vacation packages on their website. It’s worthwhile to check with travel agents in Canada who can help you find specials, discounted fares and vacation packages. Train fares vary widely depending on which day you travel, with weekend rates usually being the least expensive. Overall, the fares are a little lower than in the United States. A ticket from Montreal to Ottawa is C$65 (Canadian dollars) using the Supersaver fare. These tickets must be purchased at least three days in advance, but are considerably cheaper than the regular fare of C$86. Senior citizens receive a 10-percent discount on rail travel in Canada. For young people (age 18-25) youth fares apply that are 25 percent off regular fare prices and are often less than the advance purchases Supersaver tickets.
Get train fare information and order tickets in the United Kingdom through National Rail Enquiries (link below). This website includes an airline-style fare locator, but with a difference: On this website, you can find and compare fares from more than two dozen passenger rail companies operating in the United Kingdom. Before planning a trip, you should check the site’s “Service Disruptions” page. This is not as ominous as it sounds. With so many rail companies, one or more is working on a track at any given time. National Rail Enquiries maintains an updated list of planned work so you don’t get unpleasant surprises. Purchasing tickets in advance is highly recommended--last minute fare purchases in Britain carry higher premiums than in other countries on most lines. There is a simplified fare structure, however. A regular ticket from London to Manchester averages 65 pounds (2008 prices) which is about a three-hour trip. There are discounts available. Off-peak tickets purchased in advance are less expensive. This site is also a great place to find special offers. You can choose “Train Fares” from the menu and then pick from a menu of options including special offers and season ticket discounts. Additionally, you can check on the policies and specials offered by individual carriers.
Travel by rail in Europe using the Eurorail system. For the convenience of Americans planning to travel to Europe, Eurorail provides EurorailUSA, a website to assist people in the United States find train-fare information. The Eurorail fare structure is based on rail passes rather than individual tickets. You can buy a single (round-trip) ticket, but should avoid doing this if at all possible, as they are expensive. There are several rail-pass plans, but the most popular are Select passes. Standard Select pass allows you to choose from three to five countries (as long as they share borders) and buy a pass good for five to 15 days out of any two-month period. At 2008 currency exchange rates, these passes range from US$504 for a five-trip, three-nation pass to US$1115 for 15 trips in a five-country area. Passes for children under 18 are half price. Eurorail offers youth rates (18-25). A Select youth pass costs US$495 to US$725. You do not have to pre-schedule days you travel. By contrast, a single round-trip fare from Paris to Nice (a two-hour ride) costs more than US$300. It’s definitely to your benefit to plan your European travels to take advantage of the discounts offered by rail passes.
