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So I performed my own pet hate of asking in Daily Chat thread the other day whether there were any train discounts kicking around, then slowly leaving the information there to die. Probably deserves its own thread (where it might also slowly die, or not!)
As of 26/9/25, feedback was:
– Currently nothing on any credit cards
– Airtime Rewards worth a look (4% on Trainline)
– TCB worth a look (4% trainline, 1% @ TFW / Penine)
– Virgin Trains (3 points per £)
– UberOne for 10% (or Uber for 5%) cashback in Uber credit + 1 Avios per £Lets try to post any updates here 🙂
Great idea, thanks. I need to be more savvy about using my railcard for other things than booking IHG hotels!
TfW have been on avios.com at 3 Avios / £ for a long time, although I can’t comment on the reliability as I’m still living off my last set of LNER vouchers.
NX rewards: 10% on TrainPal, Trainline, TransPennine Express and TFW
Complete saving: 10% on Trainline, TransPennine Express and TFWMBNA – Trainline 4%
@NorthernLass – just had a look and there is nothing there I fancy
@hwqcgsw – is that National Express pay to participate scheme? Last week I did avail myself of a beer offer (only paying postage) and that will get cancelled as soon as it arrives.A lot of these offers seem to put you into a monthly subscription and hoping you don’t cancel.
Standard Uber rate seems to be 3% now (at least for me) + 1 Avios per £.
Good a time as any to remind people that a £212 annual season ticket from Hatton to Lapworth gets you an annual gold card. This can work out really well for some travel patterns. Unlike the Network Railcard, there is no minimum fare, it works from 09:30, can be used in first class, includes the West Midlands and can be loaded to an Oyster card for discounted off-peak TFL services.
Standard Uber rate seems to be 3% now (at least for me) + 1 Avios per £.
I still have 5%.
Standard Uber rate seems to be 3% now (at least for me) + 1 Avios per £.
Still shows as 5% for me in the app.
Good a time as any to remind people that a £212 annual season ticket from Hatton to Lapworth gets you an annual gold card. This can work out really well for some travel patterns. Unlike the Network Railcard, there is no minimum fare, it works from 09:30, can be used in first class, includes the West Midlands and can be loaded to an Oyster card for discounted off-peak TFL services.
This is a good one! did not know this
I have used Uber a bit, but am in the TfL contact less area. What I’ve found odd is that it offers / sells me off-peak returns (for same price or more as I’d pay using contactless) after I’ve specified a post 4pm return time from London. The gate rejected my ticket at both ends, luckily the ticket inspectors waved me through.
The kickback and the current prize draw for 100k Avios is tempting, but a lot more faff than just tapping my phone at the gate.Omio/ Uber also do fee-free changes on Advance tickets, which with 10% cashback makes them very appealing if you might need to do that. The process is a bit of a pain – you have to book the new journey (same origin & destination) then message customer services, but you get a full refund for the original ticket.
MBNA – Trainline 4%
@hwqcgsw – is that National Express pay to participate scheme? Last week I did avail myself of a beer offer (only paying postage) and that will get cancelled as soon as it arrives.A lot of these offers seem to put you into a monthly subscription and hoping you don’t cancel.
Yes, the NX Rewards program is from National Express. It costs £18 per month, but if you make a purchase with one of their partner companies (for me, I used Trainline a lot, and any amount), you can claim the £18 back. Though you have to remember to claim it by uploading the receipt to them.
And always remember that 2 singles can be cheaper than a return! Just priced up a ticket to Edinburgh at half term and return is £50, 2 x singles, £35.
Omio/ Uber also do fee-free changes on Advance tickets, which with 10% cashback makes them very appealing if you might need to do that. The process is a bit of a pain – you have to book the new journey (same origin & destination) then message customer services, but you get a full refund for the original ticket.
This is a very useful and underrated feature.
It can make the cheapest tickets more flexible than booking direct with the train company.Good a time as any to remind people that a £212 annual season ticket from Hatton to Lapworth gets you an annual gold card. This can work out really well for some travel patterns. Unlike the Network Railcard, there is no minimum fare, it works from 09:30, can be used in first class, includes the West Midlands and can be loaded to an Oyster card for discounted off-peak TFL services.
Do note if buying at a ticket office, the ticket office needs to be within the Gold Card area. They will either issue you the season ticket on a Gold Card, or if being added to a smartcard they should supply a Gold Record Card. You’ll also most likely need a photo for the Season Ticket Photocard. It’s the Gold card / record card that allows you the discounts, hence why you need to make sure this is provided.
(admittedly, most of my information is stated on the link @aseftel included)
I have used Uber a bit, but am in the TfL contact less area. What I’ve found odd is that it offers / sells me off-peak returns (for same price or more as I’d pay using contactless) after I’ve specified a post 4pm return time from London.
Peak/off peak restrictions are not necessarily the same for train tickets and Oyster/Contactless. For example, from my local station:
– Contactless peak based on when you tap: 06:30-09:30 and 16:00-19:00 on weekdays (technically it is 06:35-09:27 / 16:05-18:57 with grace period)
– Ticket peak is only for routes departing after 04:29 and arriving/departing London before 10:00 on weekdays – i.e. no afternoon peak
– Train tickets also have a super off-peak on weekends and bank holidays that is cheaper return than contactless off-peakThe Hatton – Lapworth season Gold Card is a great trick that certainly can work for some people. The less expensive, more restrictive, and probably more well known version of this is the Network Railcard, which is the standard price of £35 per year, but can occasionally be had for a discount from various apps like The Trainline, Trainpal, and some others.
It’s usable in Greater London and the surrounding areas, but do check the map, as it’s based on the old Network SouthEast area.
As long as your journey begins after 10:00am, you get 33% off tickets, though Monday to Friday there is a minimum fare of £13.
Unlike the Gold Card you can’t apply the discount to an Oyster card, but if you live in a station outside London the discount does apply to the entire cost of Day Travelcard fares that include travel in Zone 1-6 and a return journey to and from your station. Depending on your journeys this could pay for itself if you were making three or more Tube journeys in a day, two or more National Rail journeys within the zones in a day, or most notably, in one journey if you’re taking the Elizabeth line to Heathrow.
For example, travelling from Cambridge to Heathrow on a Saturday:
– Cambridge to London Kings Cross: £16.75 Super Off-peak Single with a Network Railcard
– London Kings Cross – Heathrow on Tube/Elizabeth line: £13.90 Oyster/ContactlessOr with a Day travelcard:
– Cambridge to London Zone 1-6: £23.75 with a Network Railcard, saving £6.90
You would never see this if you were searching for single tickets, because it’s cheaper to buy a Day Return then just not use the Return portion.
Check your employer’s staff offer site.
We’re:-
“Exclusive” Advance tickets on Avanti.
10% Discount on Scotrail.
25% Discount on Northern Advance tickets.
20% Discount on TPX Advance tickets.
10% Discount with Omnio
5% Discount with TrainpalI notice TrainPal gets processed as Trip.com
No idea if this triggers the Trip.com discount I’ve seen on a few of my cards though
No idea if this triggers the Trip.com discount I’ve seen on a few of my cards though
Oh what cards do you have trip.com incentives?
Check your employer’s staff offer site.
We’re:-
“Exclusive” Advance tickets on Avanti.
10% Discount on Scotrail.
25% Discount on Northern Advance tickets.
20% Discount on TPX Advance tickets.
10% Discount with Omnio
5% Discount with TrainpalI have some offers but nothing this good – £4 off my first TrainPal purchase though which I’ll use to get back tonight!
UberOne 10% is OK for me , Uber cash back is as good as cash
Oh what cards do you have trip.com incentives?
Currently showing on my MBNA (4% cashback till 29/10) – think I saw it somewhere else too, but can’t see where now!
Why not just use Uber to get 10% back in Uber/Uber Eats credit as long as there’s no real, comparable cashback available on any card?
Agree, Uber One for 10% with an Avios/rewards card is pretty good value
So I performed my own pet hate of asking in Daily Chat thread the other day whether there were any train discounts kicking around, then slowly leaving the information there to die. Probably deserves its own thread (where it might also slowly die, or not!)
Great idea on the thread – almost worthy of a sticky!
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