Published on: Friday, 2 November 2018
Last updated: Thursday, 26 September 2019
Fuel prices have gone up by just under 10 per cent in six months* and concerns are growing about pollution levels in our towns and cities. Now Greater Anglia is revealing six ways to travel cheaply and help save the planet at the same time.
Train travel is a greener way to travel and there are a number of cheap fares available. One full Intercity train takes just under 400 cars off the roads**. While on board a train, you can relax, have a drink, catch up with your emails and social media, admire the countryside whizzing past or have a snooze, with no worries about traffic jams and paying for parking.
1. Buy your ticket in advance
Two Advance singles are often cheaper than a standard return. Fares include Southend Victoria to London from £5, Cambridge to London Liverpool Street from £7 and Norwich, Ipswich or Colchester to London from £10. It’s easy to buy an Advance ticket on your phone or online and you can usually buy them up to 12 weeks in advance. You can sign up to an Advance Alert so that you can book the cheapest fares as soon as they are released. An Advance ticket is for travel on a specific train.
2. Travel in a group – it’s fun and it’s cheaper too
Groups of three to nine adults travelling together can get a GroupSave deal – one third off ticket prices, if you’re travelling off-peak anywhere on the Greater Anglia network. Perfect for days out, nights out and hen or stag parties.
Travelling with just one other person at the weekend? Get a Duo ticket and one person travels at half price. It’s available on selected routes only. Check online for details
3. Take your kids for just £2
Make getting to your destination part of the fun for your child and travel by train. Children aged between five and 15 travel for just £2 when you buy an off-peak ticket for yourself at a ticket office. This offer is also available with Groupsave – what a bargain! Under-fives travel for free.
4. Buy a railcard for up to 30 per cent off travel.
There are all sorts of railcards available: 16-25, 26-30, Family and Friends, Disabled Persons, Two Together, Senior and Network railcards, costing between £20-£30 and giving you discounts of up to 30 per cent on travel or 60 per cent for children. Keep an eye out for when they’re on special offer and get an even better deal. More information from www.railcard.co.uk
5. Continue your journey by bus
Onward travel from the train station can be cheap too, with PlusBus tickets. Check online to see where PlusBus is available on the Greater Anglia network and then take advantage of discounts to travel by bus to and from the station.
6. Get a season ticket for discounted travel
If you’re a regular traveller, it’s cheaper to get a season ticket, which is available for a week, month or up to a year. With a year’s season ticket you get 12 weeks free. Monthly and longer season tickets are now issued on Smart Cards, which are quicker to renew and help you get through ticket barriers faster than paper tickets.
Check online www.greateranglia.co.uk for details of all these great deals – and discover the Greater Anglia online price promise – buy your tickets via our website or app and we’ll guarantee the best price or we’ll refund the difference.
Notes to editors
*Data taken from AA Fuel Price reports March 2018 and September 2018.
**Intercity train capacity is 614 people. Average car occupancy is 1.55 people according to DfT National Travel Survey statistics 2017.