Train Discount Codes 2023: Cheap Tickets & Rail Passes

Save money on rail travel with the latest offers and train discounts. I’ve found the latest promotions on train tickets, rail passes and holidays in Britain, Europe and worldwide.

Let’s dive straight in!

Train Discounts 2023 and Deals: Quick Links

• Britain: Train Tickets, Railcards, Sleeper Trains, Airport Trains & Rail Passes
• Europe: Rail Passes, Train Tickets, Tours & Holidays
• Japan: JR Pass, Shinkansen Bullet Train Tickets & Tours
• Worldwide: Rail Tours & Holidays

Britain: Cheaper Train Tickets, Railcards and Rail Passes

Get the latest 2023 train ticket codes and deals on rail travel in Britain, including sleeper and airport trains, Railcards and more.

• Cheap train tickets in Britain
• Save big with split train tickets
• 1/3 OFF Railcard Offers
• Sleeper Trains: Berths from £50 London to Cornwall & Scotland
• London Airport Trains: 75% OFF Advance Tickets
• 2for1 Attractions: Save Money on Days Out by Train
• BritRail Pass: 20% OFF Rail Passes in Britain
• Steam Train Experiences in Britain

Cheap train tickets in Britain

Get cheaper train tickets in Britain when you follow these steps.

1. Avoid booking fees and card charges

Don’t pay unnecessary booking fees and card charges! Most (if not all) train ticket websites have hidden costs you don’t need to pay.

Buy your tickets from tfw.wales with no fees or charges. They offer train tickets throughout Britain and cheaper fare deals.

2. Book tickets in advance

Book your journey up to 12 weeks in advance for the biggest savings. Advance tickets are the cheapest, but they’re only available on the specific train you’ve booked.

3. Travel at off-peak times

Travelling at off-peak times is more affordable than travelling at any time of day. Off-Peak tickets are available on weekends at any time and outside of morning peak travel times, Monday to Friday from 10am-10.30am onwards (some London trains do not offer Off-Peak tickets during afternoon peak travel times).
Book Train Tickets >>

Save big with split train tickets

Split ticketing exploits loopholes in Britain’s confusing train ticket system to give you massive savings on fares.

In a nutshell, you book your tickets like usual and get multiple tickets instead of one. In most cases, you don’t need to change trains.

Raileasy offers one of the best split ticket services. Unlike most sellers, you don’t need the hassle of downloading an app to benefit from cheaper fares.

Split ticketing is allowed and legal, proving you travel through all stations shown on your tickets. Raileasy takes a 15% fee for finding cheap split ticket fares.

1/3 OFF Railcard offers

Getting a Railcard must be at the top of everyone’s list to save money on train tickets in Britain.

You can get huge savings with 1/3 OFF adult and 60% OFF child tickets. Check out these National Railcards:

• 16-17 Saver Railcard – 50% OFF tickets and season tickets for 16 and 17-year-olds
  
• 16-25 Railcard – 1/3 OFF train tickets for young adults aged 16 to 25, and mature students
• 26-30 Railcard – 1/3 OFF train tickets for people aged 26 to 30
• Disabled Persons Railcard – 1/3 OFF train tickets for people with disabilities and one travelling companion
• Family & Friends Railcard – 1/3 OFF adult and 60% OFF child train tickets
• Network Railcard – 1/3 OFF adult and 60% OFF child train tickets travelling in London and the South East
• Senior Railcard – 1/3 OFF train tickets for people aged 60 and over
• Two Together Railcard – 1/3 OFF train tickets for two people travelling together

Sleeper trains from £25.50

Britain has two sleeper train services connecting London to destinations in Scotland and Cornwall. They’re two of the most popular places to visit in the UK and renowned for their beauty.

Discover more about London to Scotland night train services and get the latest Caledonian Sleeper discounts.

Save Up to 75% on London Airport Trains

Travel hassle-free after your flight to London and book your onward train journey in advance. With savings up to 75%, it’s a smarter way to go.

Up to 75% OFF Heathrow Express: Heathrow Airport to London

The Heathrow Rail link connects Heathrow Airport to London Paddington Station. Trains run every five minutes and the journey time to London Paddington from each terminal is:

• Terminals 2 & 3 – 15 mins
• Terminal 5 – 21 mins
• Terminal 4 – take the connecting train to terminals 2 & 3

Save up to 75% when you buy tickets online in advance. And take advantage of their train discount codes, and children under 15 travel FREE.

Plus, there are no booking fees or card charges.

Tip: The Heathrow Express is fast and efficient, but London is a big city with many transport options and costs. The new Elizabeth Line or other trains, tube (underground) or buses may be better for you. Also, airport taxis from London Heathrow are excellent value for small groups.

The London Travel Planner will help you plan your journey.

10% OFF Gatwick Express: Gatwick Airport to London Victoria

The Gatwick Express Express takes 30 minutes from Gatwick Airport Station to London Victoria Station. Trains run regular, and it’s the fastest service.

Book online and get 10% OFF, and you’ll find more ways to save.

Tip: The Gatwick Express has more luggage storage than standard trains. However, there are cheaper ways to travel to London Victoria on regular trains that take from 32 minutes.

And depending on your final destination, regular trains cost less and are often quicker. For example, Gatwick Airport to London Bridge takes 28 minutes. Travelling to London Waterloo requires one change at Clapham Junction.

Buy tickets for regular trains with no booking fees or credit charges. Or, an airport taxi from Gatwick Airport may be better for small groups.

Stansted Express: Stansted Airport to London Liverpool Street

The Stansted Express is the fastest way to travel from Stansted Airport to London Liverpool Street. Trains take 45 minutes and leave every 15 minutes.

Get up to 60% OFF when you buy tickets in advance with fares from £7.

Britain: Save money on days out by train with 2for1 attraction offers

If you travel by train, forget getting tickets to top attractions in Britain anywhere else Days Out Guide. With 2for1 on attractions in Britain, you’ll save a fortune on days out, especially with families.

How about getting 2for1 entry to London attractions like the London Eye, ZSL London Zoo, Madame Tussauds and the London Dungeon? And 2for1 offers in Manchester, Edinburgh, Birmingham, Brighton and the rest of Britain?

Britain: 50% OFF BritRail passes and FREE kids

Save money on BritRail passes with discounts for young adults, over-60s and families, and FREE kids travel. BritRail offers a range of passes in 2023 to suit your travel needs.

All Britain or by area?: Choose from all of Britain (England, Scotland and Wales), England, London and South East England, South West England or Scotland.

Consecutive or flexible?: Choose from up to 2, 3, 4, 8, 15, 22 days and 1 month consecutive days. Or, up to 2, 3, 4 or 8 days in 1 month, or 15 days in 2 months flexi passes.

Travel class? Choose from Standard or First class travel.

Note: BritRail Passes are for non-UK residents only.

Britain: Steam Train Experience Days

Give your loved one the perfect gift with a steam train experience day in Britain this year. Choose from:

• Luxurious days out with fine dining on the British Pullman or Northern Belle
• The ultimate experience, ride the footplate and fire the engine
• Behind the-scenes railways days
• Cream teas while riding a steam train

Europe: Rail Passes, Train Tickets, Tours and Holidays

Travelling to Europe by train? Save money with discount codes, promotions and deals for travel in 2023.

Europe: Rail Passes

Rail passes in Europe are a great way to explore the Continent. With unlimited train travel, they’re an excellent choice for freedom-seekers and often work out cheaper than tickets. Eurail now offers a much simpler selection of passes with all Europe or one-country options.

Interrail is for European residents and Eurail for non-European residents.

Find out more about Interrail and Eurail rail passes.

Europe: Cheap Train Tickets – Rail Europe v Trainline v Klook

Rail Europe (formerly Loco2), Trainline and Klook sell train tickets in Europe. All ticket providers offer up-to-date deals. In my research, I’ve found prices vary greatly depending on the journey!

And of course, then there are booking fees:

Rail Europe (formerly Loco2): £4.95, €5.95 or $5.95 depending on the currency you book in. There are no booking fees on spending under £15/€15/$15. The fee is only charged once per order.

Trainline: No booking fees for journeys with SNCF, Deutsche Bahn, Eurostar, Thalys, Trenitalia, Thello, Italo, Renfe, OUIGO, and OUIBUS. Booking fees apply for trips with SBB, SNCB, NS, ÖBB, DSB & ČD; however, Trainline does not tell you how much they are!

Klook: No booking fees.

But unfortunately, it’s not that straightforward as ticket prices and journeys differ significantly. You’ll have to compare the overall costs if you’re looking for cheap train tickets in Europe.

I recommend you try Rail Europe (formerly Loco2) first and compare it against Trainline and Klook.

Europe: Rail tours and holidays

Enjoy the romance of Europe by rail on a tour or holiday in 2023. Grab yourself a deal with these discounts.

Japan: JR Pass, Shinkansen Bullet Train Tickets and Tours

Get the latest discounts and offers on JR Passes. Now you can buy Shinkansen bullet train tickets before you arrive in Japan! Also, check out Shinkansen bullet train tours from Tokyo to Mt Fuji, Hakone and Kyoto.

Japan Rail Pass

The Japan Rail Pass is a must for visitors travelling around Japan by train. It’s an excellent value way to get around the country quickly in comfort.

Japan Shinkansen bullet train tickets, regular tickets and rail passes

12Go offers Shinkansen bullet trains, rail passes and discounted tourist train tickets in Japan. Whether you’re planning a trip from Tokyo to Kyoto or Osaka, or booking multiple journeys, they offer great value.

Shinkansen bullet train tickets

The ‘Shinkansen’ bullet train is fast, clean, efficient and has excellent service. For a hassle-free trip, buy your Shinkansen bullet train tickets before you leave. In Japan, simply scan the QR code on your confirmation email to board your Shinkansen.

Shinkansen Bullet Train Tickets >>

Japan rail tours and holidays

Japan is packed full of unique places to see, and for some people, it’s easier to take a tour. Check out the discounts I’ve found on Japan rail tours.

Worldwide: Rail Tours & Holidays

Big savings on 2023 and 2024 rail tours and holidays around the world.

I hope you’ve found my round-up of 2023 train discount codes and ways to save money on rail travel useful.

Image: freepik