GroupSave train tickets: How to save money on group travel

GroupSave is a discount for groups of between three and nine people travelling together on the same journey during Off-Peak hours. Rather than everyone paying full price, the group gets a reduced fare of usually around a third (1/3) off.

As it's a percentage, you stand to save more on longer journeys with more expensive fares - this makes it especially appealing for holidays to places like Devon or Yorkshire.

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You can use GroupSave during Off-Peak hours when three to nine of you travel together in Standard Class on routes throughout England. The discount isn't available in First Class nor on most routes in Scotland and Wales.

For the ticket to be valid, you must travel together for the entirety of the journey, too - everyone has to start and finish the journey at the same station and use the same train.

• c2c
• Chiltern Railways

• Elizabeth line

• Gatwick Express
• Great Northern
• Great Western Railway*
• Greater Anglia
• London Northwestern Railway
• London Overground
• Southeastern

• Southern

• South Western Railway
• Stansted Express**

• Thameslink

• West Midlands Railway

Follow these quick and easy steps to book GroupSave tickets on TrainPal:

1. Enter your route and dates and select 3 or more passengers in the search bar. Then hit search.
2. Click "Apply Discount" on the GroupSave popup window - this appears after you hit search for journeys where GroupSave is valid.
3. Compare the fares and journey options in the search results - they are ordered by departure time, and you can use filters to narrow down your preferences.
4. Select your chosen departures and hit Continue to book. Fill in the passenger details and make payment.

You'll then receive your e-tickets via email and through the TrainPal website or app instantly.

GroupSave is the best option when you are booking on the day (or close to the departure date) and also need flexibility. That's because it's valid on the flexible Off-Peak standard fare, which has no advance booking conditions and is refundable if you need to cancel. It's also valid on all departures during Off-Peak hours, rather than being tied to one specific time.

As the GroupSave discount isn't valid with already discounted fares, it may not be the best option if there are Advance tickets available for your journey. These are heavily discounted tickets that go on sale 12 weeks before departure and are usually much cheaper than Standard Off-Peak fares - even with the ⅓ GroupSave discount.

That's because Advance fares are more restrictive - you have to select a specific departure time, and there's a fee (plus fare difference) if you want to change. They're also non-refundable in the event you cancel, too.

Now if you don't need flexibility for your group trip, Advance tickets are often a cheaper option than GroupSave. This is especially true if you have a Railcard, as you can apply this discount to Advance fares (you can't with GroupSave). Availability of Advance fares is limited, though, and prices do go up as tickets sell - so you'll want to book early to get these discounted fares.

To maximise GroupSave savings, be sure to compare GroupSave prices with other fare types to see which ticket is the best option for you. This means that it's a good idea to do two searches on TrainPal - one with GroupSave discount applied and the other without it (select "No thanks" when you get the GroupSave popup or search for less than 3 passengers).