Do you want cheap train tickets? Here’s how to do it

This article was originally published in English

Rail Europe is a company based in Paris that specializes in comparing fares and selling train tickets and subscription cards for travel in Europe.

Last year alone, company executive Bjorn Bender drove around 75,000 kilometers around Europe.

For him, traveling by train “It’s not about getting from A to B, it’s a second home. It’s my office where I can really work.”.

Since the COVID-19 pandemic, Rail services are seeing a resurgence in interest, with many passengers preferring to travel closer to home and trying to reduce air travel to protect the environment. Worldwide demand has increased and this has been reflected in Bjorn Bender’s ticket sales.

“Demand for mobility is huge and growing worldwide”explains. “The rail industry is growing – Europe-wide and cross-border services up around 20%”.

For Rail Europe, it was 2023 “extraordinary year”. Bjorn Bender explains it the company has seen revenue growth of 66% compared to 2022 and around 75-80% compared to 2019.

Despite the demand, many people think that train tickets are expensive, which Bjorn Bender believes is a mistake.

He shares his insider knowledge with Euronews Travel about the best way to save when booking your train journey.

Do not book train tickets directly

Bjorn Bender’s first piece of advice is do not book directly with railway companies. He likens the experience to booking a flight.

“In general, we don’t book directly on the airline’s website – at least I never do. I compare prices on e.g. Skyscanner or Kayak”, declares.

Comparison sites or sites that offer ticket prices from multiple providers give travelers the most options and the ability to choose between different routes and fares.

“When I want to travel from Frankfurt to New York, I don’t care if I’m on a Delta, United or Lufthansa flight”adds Bjorn Bender.

He thinks so this attitude towards booking train travel is being adopted in Europe.

“We are increasingly present in this environment in Europe, with efficient platforms, players like us who compare prices and make suggestions based on the individual needs of the traveller,” he explains.

Book your train tickets seven to twelve weeks before your travel date

It is generally accepted that when it comes to travel, the earlier you book, the cheaper it is. But just like air travel, there is usually an occasion when train ticket prices are the lowest.

“I would say booking seven to twelve weeks in advance is a good range”advises Bjorn Bender.

Savings on airfare also depends on where and when you want to travel. No wonder traveling by train on Monday morning is more expensive than on Tuesday, so it is not always realistic to find a good deal.

Plan the stops on the train route

Non-stop connections are certainly faster – and therefore more attractive – but also more expensive.

“If you’re willing to switch once, you’re more likely to find a better price”explains Bjorn Bender.

This is a fairly common practice with airline tickets and it seems that it is no different with trains. By doing some research, It’s possible to find easy connections with relatively short wait times, so the overall impact on your journey is minimal, but the savings can be significant.

Participate in loyalty programs and buy train tickets and rail cards

“Loyalty programs, especially for cross-border services, increase the chances of getting better rates”declares the expert.

The same applies to subscriptions and train cards. “When you travel with your family during the summer holidays, these cards allow you to travel almost all of Europe for a few hundred euros for four weeks“.

Bjorn Bender believes that the availability and usefulness of rail cards and subscriptions are still underestimated in Europe.

“There are plenty of opportunities, but education, even for Europeans, is still not very high. It is up to us, the online support services, to spread all the information and truly support travelers, from inspiration to after-sales service..