Student Travel Tips: Train

Taking the train in Birmingham and beyond? Here are six tips to keep you on track.

1. Get a young person's railcard (even if you are not so young)

The young persons' railcard has long been a student staple, offering a third off  most train tickets. Costing £30 for a year it soon pays for itself. Mature students over 25 and studying more than 15 hours per week are also eligible. 

2. Download the WMR app for local tickets

 University, Selly Oak and Five Ways are the closest stations to campus. Local services are operated by the train company West Midlands Railway. Download their app to your phone--the quickest and easiest way to buy tickets for journeys into Birmingham.

3. Away for the weekend? Advance tickets offer the best value

 Armed with your young persons' railcard, you can book trips to visit family, friends and places new. Advance tickets are by far the best value for one-off journeys, and you can find them with a good travel planner like the Trainline. Tickets are ususally released 12 weeks in advance, sometimes earlier, so get searching!

4. Take a season ticket if you travel frequently

 If you rely on a the train to commute to university, a placement, or part-time job, then consider a season ticket. Swift lets you travel anywhere within the West Midlands. West Midlands Railway offer a cheaper season ticket between named local stations, and use this tool to find your season ticket if you live further afield. 

5. Make massive savings by travelling in a group

 If you are heading into Birmingham with visiting family and friends, or your flatmates, then you can get excellent value group tickets for up to nine people. Travel by train and you can get 2 for 1 entry into many attractions near and far. 

6. Don't be shy!

If you have any questions about bus travel, don't hesitate to get in touch with Edward, sustainable travel officer at UoB. Just email sustainabletravel@contacts.bham.ac.uk