Check if you are eligible for any discounts. Rail networks usually offer discounts for senior citizens, students, children between specific ages, and specific members of the society such as the military. Some train ticketing systems offer cost-cutting on group travel.
Book tickets in advance to reduce ticket fares. In some countries such as the United Kingdom, booking advance tickets are cheaper than booking on the day of travel; passengers that book tickets as early as three months in advance are known to make substantial savings. Check with your railway system for such advance ticket availability. Depending on this information and your travel requirements, decide the time, date, and train of travel, and book tickets as early as possible.
Avoid travel at peak hours as much as possible. In some rail ticketing systems, it costs passengers more for tickets during peak time and substantially cheap at off-peak timings.
Check whether buying one-way tickets or return tickets is cheaper. At some places, buying a ticket to the destination and another for the trip back costs less than a single return ticket. Choose one that is profitable.
Purchase season tickets if trains are your daily commute. Season tickets offer greater cost benefits for regular passengers than daily tickets. You can buy season tickets for a specific time period and renew it again.
