Rail Sale
The anniversary Rail Sale 2025 is now over.
You can find out more on our dedicated page where you’ll find some useful information about Rail Sale tickets and other snippets of ‘small print’.
What are the Rail Sale destinations?
The sale covers a whole host of places across Great Britain. The best way to find out where you can go is on the dedicated National Rail page where you’ll find the full terms and conditions as well as a journey planner to help you find Rail Sale bargains. Remember to head back to us to plan your journey to avoid any hidden booking or refund fees you may be charged by another retailer.
Which tickets are discounted?
For the most part, you’ll find that Advance tickets benefit from the 50% discount. However, if a company doesn’t offer Advance tickets, then they might offer discounted Off-Peak tickets as an alternative.
How far in advance do I need to buy tickets?
You’ll need to buy Rail Sale tickets at least three – seven days in advance depending on which train company you are travelling with. They’re available to buy between 14 January and 20 January for travel between 17 January and 31 March.
Why can’t I find any discounted tickets?
These tickets are available on a first-come, first-served basis. We’d recommend looking at less busy times of the day if you’re not able to find the ticket that you want. As well as this, we’d recommend looking for journeys with just one rail company, or even better, a direct train. This will give you the best chance of finding the cheapest tickets.
Can I use a Railcard or get a child discount?
You cannot use a Railcard with Rail Sale tickets. So, when you search for them on the Railsmartr site, make sure that you don’t add any Railcard discounts. Child discounts are available.
Are Rail Sale tickets refundable?
In the vast majority of cases, these tickets are Advance tickets. They aren’t refundable, but you can change your date of travel in the usual way without the need to pay any extra admin fees. You can find out more about refunding and changing tickets here.
If your journey is disrupted and you decide not to travel, then you’re entitled to a fee-free refund.
