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Metro
13-05-2025
- Metro
Passengers are 'swerving' train fares with trick to save over £50 per ticket
With UK train fares at an all-time high, commuters and staycationersalike are going to great lengths in their efforts to keep costs down. For some, that means booking travel months in advance, while others make the most of split ticket loopholes like the 'Didcot Dodge' or 'Chester Cheat'. But these aren't the only ways to spend less when you next take to the rails. A savvy Metro reader recently got in touch to share a trick we're we're calling the Southwest Swerve, which can save you upwards of £50 when taking multiple journeys on consecutive days. While an off-peak return ticket from Birmingham to Penzance will set you back £208.30, if you travel from Birmingham to Worcester (around £10 each way) first, you can then get a Freedom of the Southwest Rail Rover ticket for £135.50. Fuel your wanderlust with our curated newsletter of travel deals, guides and inspiration. Sign up here. This gives you unlimited off-peak travel for three days over the next week (or eight days over the next two weeks if you opt for the £188.50 option) throughout the whole of Devon and Cornwall, extending between Worcester, Weymouth, Cardiff and Swindon and including the likes of Bristol, Salisbury and Southampton. So in this example, you're saving £52.80 just on the ticket to Penzance, as well as getting two extra days out added into the bargain. And to make the Swerve even sweeter still, Railcard discounts also apply. The best thing about this trick however, is that it doesn't just work for this route. There are 45 different Ranger or Rover unlimited travel tickets available across the National Rail network – and some even include bus services – so you can tailor your trip around which suits you. Hop on and off as much as you like within a certain area and for a designated length of time Create your own route Typically available to use on multiple operators Railcard discounts apply Say you're going from Manchester to Aberystwyth for the day: a standard off-peak return costs £88.10, but if you go via Shrewsbury (trains between Manchester and Shrewsbury start from £11.80 each way) and purchase a North Wales Rover All Zones ticket for £45, you've saved at least £20. More Trending Or perhaps you live in Edinburgh but will be working in Glasgow over the next few days: instead of buying three off-peak returns and three Subway day tickets totalling £63.75, get a Central Scotland Rover for £57. Not only will that cover your work travel, you can also venture around the Central Belt as much as you want over the three-day period. The possibilities are pretty much endless depending on your schedule and location, and some even allow you to go first class or get money off child tickets. And although the Southwest Swerve (alongside its nationwide counterparts) may feel sneaky, rest assured that it's perfectly above board – you're merely working a little harder to find a legitimate way to travel smarter. Do you have a story to share? Get in touch by emailing MetroLifestyleTeam@ MORE: Three soldiers injured after shooting incident at UK military base MORE: Best haircare for fine, oily hair? Try this 3-step set from Philip Kingsley – now 41% off MORE: Save £100 on 'astonishing' vacuum and that's 'so easy to carry up the stairs'
Metro
07-05-2025
- Business
- Metro
Travellers are 'cheating' expensive fares to save 40% on train tickets
Train tickets can reach dizzying costs in the UK, with travellers going to great lengths to save cash. One Londoner recently went viral when he swapped a £130 train ticket from Manchester to London with £57 flights — going via Reykjavik, in Iceland. So it's no surprise that rail travellers are coming up with inventive ways to keep costs down (and thankfully, not every hack requires your passport). One such hack is utilising split-tickets, which is when you buy tickets for individual segments of a journey, rather than one, straight through ticket — which is often more expensive. There are many instances of how split-ticketing can save you cash across the UK network. Here at Metro, we've already talked you through the so-called Didcot Dodge, which saves money on the journey from Bristol Temple Meads to London. Fuel your wanderlust with our curated newsletter of travel deals, guides and inspiration. Sign up here. Instead of purchasing one direct ticket for £138.70, travellers buy one ticket from the capital to Didcot Parkway (£43), and then a second ticket onwards to Bristol (£43.80), saving £54.90. And now, there's another hack you need on your radar, which we're lovingly calling the Chester Cheat. This one is handy for any commuters who regularly travel between Shrewsbury to Liverpool. If you buy a single ticket from Shrewsbury to Liverpool, it'll set you back £35.40. We checked prices for May 28 at 8.27am, but the standard single is the same cost no matter the time of day. However, if you use the Chester Cheat, you would buy a ticket from Shrewsbury to Chester for £11.40 (on the same 8.27am train), and then a second ticket from Chester to Liverpool (jumping on the 9.31am train) for £9.25. The split-ticket means you'll pay just £20.65, which is £14.75 cheaper than the direct chain, giving travellers a 40% saving. More Trending What's perhaps even more baffling, is that the change at Chester is something you would need to do regardless — even with a direct, more expensive, ticket. Yes, it feels illegal, but it's all completely above board, and there are even website such as TrainSplit or SplitTicketing that can help you work out the cheapest routes. But, make sure you shop around to find the best deal – and if your split ticket involves changing trains, make sure you have enough time to switch. Do you have a story to share? Get in touch by emailing MetroLifestyleTeam@ MORE: Amazon launches new UK outlet set to rival Temu with 'crazy low prices' MORE: Inside the plan for £189,000,000 futuristic 'very light' transport system MORE: Is it safe to travel to India and Pakistan? Latest advice as flights are delayed and cancelled
