Cotswold Line Railbus

Train Fares

Rail travel is often perceived as being expensive. This is an untruth. There are cheap fares, especially if you can book in advance and are flexible about when you can travel. There are a variety of tickets for you to use on the rail network, so you are bound to find one that is tailored to your particular needs. We have given a brief summary of the main ticket types below to help you.

Season Tickets

If you make the same journey more than three or four times a week you may find that season tickets offer better value for money compared to buying daily tickets. Season tickets allow you unlimited travel at any time between the two stations on the ticket for however long the ticket is valid. They are ideal if you want to make frequent trips, such as the journey to and from work or school or university.

You can buy a season ticket for seven days or any period between one month and a year: If you are buying a season ticket valid for one month or longer for the first time, you will need to go to a staffed ticket office with a passport-size photo for the accompanying photocard and complete a season ticket form. You can download an application form here.

Once you have your photocard you may be able to buy seven day season tickets at self-service ticket machines, and renew your monthly or longer season ticket over the telephone or online. In addition to rail only season ticklets, you can add combined bus travel, or unlimited travel across London.

Plusbus Season Ticket

You can now buy your train season ticket and your bus season ticket at the train station in just one easy transaction – saving you time and money!

With a Plusbus Season Ticket you don't have to drive in peak hour traffic, or hunt around for a parking space. Simply hop-on any bus, show your Plusbus Season Ticket to the driver and away you go!

They are available to 170 towns and cities across Britain. They are valid for set periods to match your train season ticket: and give you unlimited bus travel on all participating bus operators’ services around your origin, or destination town.

Visit the Plusbus website

Travelcard Season Ticket

London Underground roundel London Buses roundel London Overground roundel Docklands Light Railway roundel

If you're commuting from Oxfordshire into London, a Travelcard Season Ticket offers unlimited travel within all six London Travelcard Zones on London Underground, London Buses, London Overground, Docklands Light Railway, Croydon Tramlink and National Rail services for the period for which the ticket is valid. It also includes travel between the starting station and the boundary with Zone 6 at West Drayton. A map of the London Travelcard Zones and Connections can be found here.

Annual Gold Card

If you buy an annual season ticket for a journey entirely within the Network Area you will get automatically be issued with Gold Card instead. These offer additional discount benefits to holders and anyone who travels with them. Discounts are normally available for travel at or after 1000 hours on Mondays to Fridays, but an easement allows them to be used on the 0824 train from Worcester (Kingham dep. 0911; Charlbury dep. 0920). Full terms and conditions for the Gold Card can be found here

Day Ticket to London

If you're travelling into London you can buy an Advance, Anytime or Off-Peak ticket to London Paddington.

You should buy a One Day Travelcard, which includes your return train fare to and from London, if you also want unlimited travel around London by London Buses, London Underground, Docklands Light Railway, Croydon Tramlink or London Overground. Travelcards are available for Peak or Off-Peak travel.

One Day Peak Travelcards can be used at any time, whilst One Day Off-Peak Travelcards can only be used after 09:00 on weekdays (any time at weekends). There are also restrictions on using Off-Peak Travelcards on trains leaving London Paddington between 16:30 and 19:00 on weekdays (no restriction at weekends).

Non-regular train tickets

If you do not use use the train on a regular basis, there are three main types of non-regular ticket available to buy.

These are single (one-way) tickets offering great value for money on many longer distance journeys. These tickets are subject to availability. You must book in advance, over the telephone or online, and travel on a specific train service.

Generally, the earlier you book the better deal you'll get. You can mix and match Advance fares for a return journey.

Advance fares are valid only on the date and train shown on the ticket and are non-refundable. You can change the time or date of travel before departure of the first reserved train. An administration fee and any difference in fare will be payable.

National Railcard holders get 1/3 off all Standard Class Advance fares. Senior, HM Forces and Disabled Persons Railcard holders also get 1/3 off all First Class Advance fares. To find out more click here

These are fully flexible walk-up tickets, with no time restrictions on when you can travel. Perfect for people who need complete flexibility.

You can buy Anytime tickets in advance, over the telephone or online, or immediately before you travel and you can travel on any train. With this ticket you can also break your journey at stations along the route of travel.

Anytime Single and Anytime Day (Single and Return) tickets must be used on the date shown on your ticket. For Anytime Return tickets, the outward journey must made on the date shown on your ticket and return journeys must be made within one calendar month.

You can reserve a seat on many longer distance services and reservations are recommended on busy services.

National Railcard holders get 1/3 off all Standard Class Advance fares. Senior, HM Forces and Disabled Persons Railcard holders also get 1/3 off all First Class Advance fares. To find out more click here

Off-Peak tickets are, as their name suggests, cheaper fares for travelling during periods when trains are generally less busy.

You can buy Off-Peak tickets in advance, over the telephone or online, or immediately before you travel.

Offering good value for money, these tickets may require you to travel at specific times of day, days of the week or on a specific route. The travel restrictions for your Off-Peak ticket will depend on the journey you are making and will be advised when you buy your ticket.

Where there is more than one Off-Peak fare for a journey, the cheapest fare with the most restrictions will be called Super Off-Peak.

Off-Peak Single and Off-Peak Day (Single and Return) tickets must be used on the date shown on the ticket. For Off-Peak Return tickets, outward journeys must be made on the date shown on your ticket and return journeys must be made within one calendar month.

National Railcard holders get 1/3 off all Standard Class Advance fares. Senior, HM Forces and Disabled Persons Railcard holders also get 1/3 off all First Class Advance fares. To find out more click here

Discounts and ways to save money on your train ticket

Alongside Advance, Anytime and Off-Peak Standard and First Class tickets, there are many ways for you to save money on your train travel. To find out more click here