Get cashback on train tickets: the best booking sites & apps 

Earn cashback and lower your expenses on rail fares

Prepare tickets simply maintain getting increasingly costly, with rail fares set to extend by almost 5% this 12 months. Thankfully you may claw a few of that again in the event you use a handful of reserving apps and websites which provide issues like cashback.

To assist, we’ve analysed the likes of Uber, Trainline, LNER and others so you understand which can prevent probably the most cash – and which of them might really find yourself costing you much more.  

Some articles on the location comprise affiliate hyperlinks, which offer a small fee to assist fund our work. Nevertheless, they received’t have an effect on the worth you pay or our editorial independence. Read more here.

The most effective prepare reserving apps and websites

When you’re reserving tickets, don’t simply go straight to the prepare community or one other reserving website – it’s price utilizing certainly one of these to deliver down the worth of your journey.

LNER (London North Japanese Railway)

This prepare firm, like all UK prepare corporations, means that you can guide journeys by itself and different railway firm networks with no price.

However the primary purpose to make use of LNER to guide your prepare journeys is as much as 12% cashback out of your financial institution (when the provide is working). And there’s a loyalty scheme on prime in the event you journey on certainly one of its personal trains.

• Cashback: by way of some banks
• Different financial savings: £5 low cost on app and a pair of% credit score on LNER tickets
• Cut up ticketing: sure
• Charges: none

LNER cashback

You may look forward to finding 5 to 12% cashback again on purchasers from LNER with Monzo, Amex, Halifax, Lloyds, Virgin Cash and Barclays so verify your financial institution rewards. We’ve seen one of the best charges with Amex, Halifax and Lloyds – however all of them come and go. You’l’l have to activate the provide earlier than shopping for your tickets.

It’s attainable you may typically discover a increased charge on a special reserving platform, so search for these in your banking apps on the similar time you seek for LNER.

You received’t at the moment discover LNER on the primary cashback websites.

Different LNER reductions

While you obtain the app and be part of LNER Perks, you’ll obtain a £5 credit score to make use of on LNER journeys. 

From then on, if you guide on the app, you’ll earn a 2% credit score on each LNER advance ticket whether or not you journey on LNER for the entire journey or a part of the journey. You may earn these alongside cashback out of your financial institution card to double your reductions.

LNER break up tickets

Sensible Save is LNER’s model of break up ticketing and is simply out there to buy on the app. That mentioned, I downloaded the app and tried a number of routes however didn’t see any Sensible Save costs, nor might I discover anyplace on the app to pick out it as the tactic to buy. 

After a bit of taking part in round with routes, it’d simply be that it’s an automated add on, as the costs on dummy journeys I attempted have been similar to these on break up ticketing websites. 

LNER extras

The LNER app has a ‘Deal Finder’ device that means that you can discover one of the best costs for a vacation spot. If you’re not set on dates and even vacation spot, and have some flexibility, it is a useful gizmo to discover a low cost journey away.

Uber

Yep, it’s not simply taxis and takeaways – there are trains too! Sadly the ten% cashback provide within the app, is dropping to five% from mid January 2025, which means it’s not our prime decide. However in the event you can’t get a suggestion elsewhere, it’s price taking look.

Alternatively, in the event you’re a Disney+ person, you will get that with an Uber One membership, costing £49.99 a 12 months, representing a saving in your streaming. And also you’d additionally get the upper 10% cashback on prepare bookings.

• Cashback: 5% within the type of Uber credit (10% with Uber One)
• Different financial savings: gather Avios and use discounted present playing cards
• Cut up ticketing: sure
• Charges: none

Uber cashback

You may obtain 5% of your reserving worth within the type of Uber credit if you guide prepare tickets via your Uber account. It’ll take 10 days for the credit score to be utilized.

The credit can be utilized for Uber Journey, Rides and Eats, although you’ve obtained to make use of it inside 180 days. After all that is solely of use in the event you’re going to make use of the credit score. If not, then have a look at different websites.

Uber break up tickets

If break up tickets can be found, you’ll see a blue break up ticket icon subsequent to the route, in addition to the sum of money you’ll save.

Uber extras

When you hyperlink your British Airways account and Uber account, you may earn 1 Avios level per £1 spent on qualifying journeys. Even in the event you don’t gather these for flights, in the event you earn sufficient you may swap them for Nectar points.

One consideration although is it may be tougher to course of refunds on delays than going by way of our different prime decide, LNER.

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Different prepare reserving websites price contemplating

There are different presents from different reserving websites which may often be crushed by the apps above, however they may be price a glance in the event you’re struggling to discover a deal or choose to make use of these choices.

Virgin Trains Ticketing

Virgin Trains stopped working trains in 2019 however they now have a prepare reserving app generally known as Virgin Trains Ticketing. If you will discover a excessive cashback provide by way of your financial institution then mixed with factors earned, it might be price a go.

• Cashback: by way of cashback websites and infrequently by way of some banks
• Different reductions: gather and spend Virgin factors
• Cut up ticketing: sure
• Charges: none

Virgin Trains cashback

We’ve seen between 5 and 9% cashback by way of financial institution and bank cards together with Monzo, Virgin Cash and Barclaycard. 

You may stack this with cashback for brand spanking new prospects by way of Quidco or TopCashback – and in the event you’re new to both website you’ll be capable to get a £20 welcome bonus on top.

Different Virgin Trains reductions

With Virgin Trains Ticketing you may earn three Virgin Factors per £1 on each journey. When you might have 200 factors (so a spend of £67), you need to use these factors for low cost in your journeys and the quantity of factors low cost you select is as much as you. Right here’s what the factors are price on future bookings:

• 200 factors – £1 low cost   
• 500 factors – £2.50 low cost   
• 1,000 factors – £5 low cost   
• 2,000 factors – £10 low cost  
• 4,000 factors – £20 low cost  
• 5,000 factors – £25 low cost  
• 8,000 factors – £40 low cost   
• 10,000 factors – £50 low cost   

Virgin Prepare break up tickets

Cut up tickets can be found on the app and if out there on your journey, you’ll see a break up ticket icon subsequent to the search outcomes on your journey. Virgin Trains Ticketing makes it simple as you may retailer all of your break up tickets within the app.

Virgin Trains extras

When you be part of Virgin Red, you need to use the factors you earn via different shops to pay on your prepare tickets. Alternatively, you need to use the factors you earn shopping for prepare tickets on the Virgin Prepare Ticketing to spend on different companions on the Virgin Crimson app.

Trainline.com

The preferred prepare reserving website isn’t one you essentially must be utilizing as your first level of name. Regardless of some presents, you may be overpaying because of the charges it prices on most bookings.

• Cashback: by way of cashback websites and infrequently by way of some banks
• Different reductions: occasional presents on railcards and season tickets
• Cut up ticketing: sure, however not at all times the most affordable
• Charges: sure – as much as £1.75

Trainline cashback

Each Quidco and TopCashback provide restricted cashback on Trainline for present prospects. Higher than nothing, although not by a lot. 

The place they’re price a glance is for brand spanking new Trainline prospects, as you would bag your self as much as 30% cashback on railcards the primary time you guide. And in the event you’re new to both cashback website then ensure you get a welcome offer worth up to £20. 

Keep watch over your financial institution playing cards as some provide further cashback. We’ve seen 3% by way of Monzo and 5% by way of American Categorical not too long ago – although these charges can typically be crushed by related offers for different reserving websites.

Different trainline reductions

Trainline.com does provide Railcards at discounted costs all year long and when the provide is on, you would seize your self a cash saving railcard for half value. We’ll share all these presents in our train deals page after they occur.

There are additionally offers every now and then corresponding to cash off season tickets. Trainline additionally presents numerous Bluelight reductions.

Trainline break up tickets

You may get break up ticketing by way of Trainline however it’s typically crushed on value by different websites that provide this service and subsequently, we don’t suppose it’s a purpose to guide with Trainline.

Trainline charges

The large purpose to not use Trainline as default, is the charges. You’ll pay 80p to £1.75 on the web site and 35p to £1.75 on the app. The one exception is similar day bookings that are price free – although the fares themselves are going to be increased the later you permit it.

Trainline extras

You don’t have to purchase your tickets from Trainline, however you may make use of their useful price prediction tool, in the event you’re undecided when to purchase your tickets. 

It could possibly let you know when the worth of a ticket is more likely to rise and what number of tickets at a selected value are left.

TrainPal

This reserving website and app presents loads of reductions to assist decrease the price of your rail fares, however they’re often inferior to the financial savings on Uber or LNER. Nevertheless, there’s a welcome provide and occasional railcard offers which might be price benefiting from.

• Cashback: restricted quantities on all purchases by way of cashback websites
• Different reductions: new person low cost on app
• Cut up ticketing: Sure
• Charges: Not on their app

TrainPal cashback

Nothing too thrilling right here: you will get 1.6% and 1.7% cashback from Quidco and TopCashback respectively and on the time of writing, new Trainpal prospects might get 5% cashback by way of TopCashback.

Different TrainPal reductions

New customers on the app, get an £11 new person’s present in addition to entry to particular offers. You may as well discover referral codes which provide you with £3 off your first buy in addition to a number of voucher codes on-line. Plus in addition they provide a pupil low cost.

TrainPal additionally presents a paid for membership at £3 a month or £20 for the 12 months, which can get you 3% low cost on each UK rail ticket, so in the event you’re a frequent traveller, it’s price doing the maths to see if this works for you.

TrainPal break up tickets

TrainPal routinely applies break up ticketing the place out there and reveals you the quantity you save. Tickets are within the type of e-tickets which is nice information too as no printing required on the station.

TrainPal charges

TrainPal doesn’t cost charges on their app however be cautious if reserving by way of the web site, as you could discover a reserving price of two.5% added on. And for break up tickets, they cost 12% of the distinction between the unique value and the break up ticket value with a most of £1.99.

TrainPal extras

TrainPal claims to supply simple adjustments and refunds, and though I’ve not tried this service myself, they do seem to charge extremely on Trustpilot critiques for his or her customer support.

Different rail reserving with some reductions

Reductions come and go, however we’ve noticed the next not too long ago, which we expect will assist get you prepare tickets for cheaper.

• Journey.com presents new prospects 5% off their first buy they usually provide elevated reductions on railcards throughout sure promotions.
• The Omio journey reserving website and app has a lot of reductions to supply, however concentrate on the variable price they apply on the ultimate stage of fee, as this might counteract any reductions you might have made. Presently there’s 5.1% cashback for brand spanking new prospects, and a pair of.55% for present prospects on TopCashback and Quidco provides 4.8% and a pair of.4% respectively. Omio additionally presents 5% off for college kids and key employees plus there’s a refer a buddy scheme, which might earn you £10 off your subsequent buy.
• Avanti West Coast has 5% cashback with Virgin Cash on the time of writing. And in the event you be part of their loyalty scheme, Membership Avanti, you’ll get 10% off your first return ticket plus different perks together with 10% off food and drinks onboard their trains.
• Northern Trains presents 2% cashback on all purchases on Quidco and 1.7% on TopCashback.
• TransPennine Categorical presents 3.4% cashback on advance purchases with Topcashback.
• The Transport for Wales (TFW) rail reserving app, doesn’t cost charges and has the benefit of permitting you to pay in 3 instalments for any journey over £30 if you pay via Paypal. You may as well get 0.8% cashback for all bookings on Quidco and three.5% cashback on TopCashback.

Prepare ticket websites that cost charges

The next websites all cost reserving charges and it’s not at all times clear to identify till the fee web page and even then, blink and you could miss it!  Except there’s a extremely good provide which saves you cash after these charges, they’re finest prevented.

• MyTrainTicket
• Omio
• Rail Europe
• Railboard
• Raileasy
• Sojo
• Cut up My Fare
• Prepare Hugger
• Trainline
• TrainPal (web site solely)
• Trainsplit
• TrainTickets.com

Which prepare reserving app must you use?

Right here at Be Intelligent With Your Money, we like Uber, as the ten% again in Uber credit that you simply get reserving prepare journey on the app is on the market to everybody. Plus you may stack it with discounted present playing cards for much more financial savings. We’ve our fingers crossed that this provide continues after 31 January 2025. Nevertheless, because it’s paid in credit score, it’s not an ideal provide in the event you aren’t more likely to guide one other prepare, trip or takeaway from the app inside six months.

We additionally suggest LNER for the reason that financial institution card presents are often actually good, as excessive as 10% cashback, and also you get 2% again on LNER routes. Sadly, not everybody’s financial institution presents the cashback and the promotion isn’t at all times on. However that mentioned, their app does provide break up tickets at a aggressive value.