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Life is one of those things that can be hectic at times. Whether you have a busy commute to work, plan your weekends with the family with precision, or just want to explore and do as much as you can with the time that you have, the travel side of things can often be the most difficult part.
Train travel especially can often look confusing and seem overwhelming, especially if you don’t do it so often. But let’s face it, travelling by train is far more easier and convenient to do than jumping in your car, or even getting on a plane for a short distance. It is quick, budget-friendly, and simple. However, not all of us take advantage of this public transport option as much as we should. So if you are one of those people who find it is a little confusing or overwhelming, here are some tips and tricks to make the most of train travel.
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How to make the most of train travel
Take advantage of digital advancements
One of the first things you should do would be to take advantage of digital advancements. Many train companies have apps or websites that you can use to book your train journey in advance. Better still, why not try something like the Omnio app which could help you to book different train providers and enable you to keep all of tickets and bookings in one place? Having an app on your phone makes train travel much easier to manage and keeps everything in one place.
Planning your trips
If you are planning to do a lot of train travel in the future, or you have a more complex journey to take where there might be changeovers or more than one train to take over a period of time, then planning your trips is going to be essential. I have always found that planning my trips with Omio can help me to stay organised and also be more aware of what all my options are when it comes to the journeys that I want to make.
Avoiding peak times where possible
If you can, try and avoid travelling during peak times. These will be trains that are busy commuter times for people to travel for work or home again at the end of the day, and possibly some weekend trains as well. Those trains tend to be busy, which could add a whole level of stress to your journey, especially if you are travelling with children. Travelling off-peak might give you a great price as well as a more comfortable travelling experience.
Booking in advance can save money
The more in advance you can book your trains, the better. Many people assume that booking last minute can give them the best deals, but for things like train travel, this often isn’t the case. The more in advance you can book your tickets, the better price you will get. It also helps you to stay on top of your bookings and allows you to have one less thing to worry about as you approach the date for your train journey to take place.
Be organised
Did you know that it doesn’t matter whether you buy your tickets online or at the train station, the price is the same? Unless, of course, there are special applicable discounts because of your job, the sector you work in, or periodic online sales. So it pays to be organised by ensuring that you have your tickets ready, and it is one less thing to think about on the day of your journey.
Seek out potential ways to save
If you are planning on using the train more often, for example as a commute to the workplace, then you may want to seek out other potential ways to make a saving. Aside from booking in advance, you can also make big savings by purchasing a railcard or paying upfront for a certain amount of journeys. It gives you the peace of mind that you have got a great price, and you don’t need to worry too much about organising those train trips. Also, many jobs and working sectors often give discounts as part of employee benefits, so make sure you check out your employee handbook to see if there are any other ways you could save on train travel.
Reserve seats
Finally, if possible, it is always a good idea to reserve your seat in advance. This might be doubly important if you are travelling on peak trains or at busy times. It helps you to avoid that rush for a seat and guarantees that you will have a more pleasant train journey. Nobody wants to be standing in the aisle for long periods of time.
Train travel can be so convenient when done right, so I hope that these tips and tricks help you the next time you want to plan a train journey.
