Even before the hardcore system-playing tips, it’s important to look at how and when you book, to see what savings can be made…

Time your booking for maximum gain

As a general rule the earlier you book the cheaper the ticket. Yet timing the purchase accurately can make a real difference.

• Buy early, specifically 12 weeks early

  Everyone knows book early and you can get cheaper fares, yet often these disappear quicker than empty seats on a commuter trip. Therefore to ensure a bargain, the key moment is buying 12 weeks in advance. This is because, contractually Network Rail must have the timetable set 12 weeks in advance; therefore this is commonly – though not definitely – when tickets are released.

  If you know when and where you want to go, there’s a sneaky way to be first in the cheap tickets queue. TheTrainline’s ticket alert system emails the moment cheap advance tickets for a specific journey come on sale (commonly the cheapest fares).

• Get early booking discounts at the last minute!

  Everyone knows booking train tickets in advance is much cheaper, but what needs to be understood is Advance tickets can often be bought the night before, or even on the way to the station. So the golden rule is…
  
  

  Always check or call if advance tickets are still available, even if you’re on the way to the station.
  
  Watch the Train Tricks and Tactics video on the right for an example!

source: Money Saving Expert Forum

Related posts:

1. Finding cheap fares and book for less …