Train tickets: advance fares and a railcard change everything

Walk-up train fares in Britain are among the most expensive in Europe, but "Advance" tickets bought weeks ahead for a specific train can cost a quarter of the price. Split-ticketing sites find cheaper combinations on the same journey. If you're 16–30, over 60, or traveling as two adults together, a railcard costs about the price of one long trip and takes a third off most fares for a year, including for visitors.