Comparison
SaveMyFare vs buying direct:
which is cheaper?
SaveMyFare sells resale tickets at below face value. Trainline and train operators sell new tickets at full price. Here is an honest comparison of both options, including where each one falls short.
The quick answer
Use SaveMyFare when
- ›Travelling in the next few days on a busy intercity route
- ›The face value Advance has already sold out
- ›You want the lowest possible cash price and have no railcard
- ›You are flexible on departure time within a day
Buy direct when
- ›You are booking weeks or months in advance
- ›A railcard discount makes a new ticket cheaper overall
- ›You need a flexible ticket (Off-Peak or Anytime) you can change
- ›No SaveMyFare listing exists for your route
Feature comparison
Buying “direct” means the train operator’s own website (no booking fee). Trainline adds a fee on top of face value.
| Feature | SaveMyFare | Buying direct | Trainline |
|---|---|---|---|
| Typical price SaveMyFare discount depends on what sellers list | 20–60% below face value | Full face value | Full face value |
| Booking fee | 10% buyer fee | None (own website) | Up to £1.50/ticket |
| Availability Operators release Advance fares up to 16 weeks ahead | Depends on sellers | All routes and dates | All routes and dates |
| Railcard discounts Railcard-discounted resale tickets exist, but only work for a buyer holding that same railcard | Only if listed | ✓ | ✓ |
| Escrow protection | ✓ | N/A | N/A |
| Flexible / changeable tickets Most listings are Advance fares; Off-Peak or Anytime tickets appear only when a seller lists one | Rare | ✓ | ✓ |
| Valid at gatelines | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ |
| Delay Repay eligibility Your passenger rights are the same regardless of how you bought the ticket | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ |
| Best for | Last-minute travel on popular routes | Flexible or future bookings | Future bookings with fee convenience |
A worked example
London to Edinburgh, Saturday departure. The original Advance ticket cost £139. The seller can no longer travel and lists it at a discount.
Face value (new ticket)
£139
Via operator or Trainline
SaveMyFare total
£93.50
Listed at £85 + £8.50 fee
You save
£45.50
33% off face value
Prices are illustrative. Actual savings depend on what sellers list and when.
How buying on SaveMyFare actually works
Buying direct means picking a fare and paying, that’s it. Buying resale has a couple of extra steps built in specifically to protect you as the buyer. Here’s exactly what happens, in order.
Find your route
Search a specific journey on the marketplace, or browse everything currently listed from your departure station.
Check the listing before you commit
Every listing shows the journey, the original face value, the asking price, and the fare type. Compare it against what a new ticket would cost you before deciding.
Pay securely at checkout
Payment is taken by card through Stripe. The total price, including the buyer fee, is shown clearly before you confirm, there are no charges added afterwards.
Get your ticket
Your ticket is emailed to you as soon as payment goes through.
Travel as normal
The ticket works at gatelines and on board the same as any other ticket for that service. Your passenger rights, including Delay Repay, are unaffected by how you bought it.
If something's wrong
You can raise it directly through SaveMyFare rather than having to chase the seller yourself, and our team steps in to resolve it. See how buyer protection works.
How the fees compare
SaveMyFare charges a 10 per cent buyer fee on the asking price. That fee funds ticket verification, escrow and buyer protection. Even with the fee, most purchases are materially cheaper than face value.
SaveMyFare
10% of asking price
Added on top of seller's price at checkout
Train operator (direct)
No booking fee
Full face value, no add-ons
Trainline
Up to £1.50/ticket
On top of the same face value fares
On a £30 listing, the SaveMyFare fee is £3. On a £90 listing, it is £9. These amounts are shown clearly before you confirm payment — there are no hidden charges.
Where SaveMyFare falls short
Buying direct from a train operator or Trainline has real advantages that SaveMyFare cannot match in every situation.
No guaranteed availability
Listings exist only when someone wants to sell. If no one has listed a ticket for your route and date, there is nothing to buy. Operators always have inventory. SaveMyFare does not.
Limited railcard availability
Railcard-discounted tickets do get listed on SaveMyFare, but only a buyer who holds that same railcard (16-25, Senior, Network, Two Together) can use one. Most listings are sold at full price with no railcard requirement, so if you hold a railcard, check whether a new discounted ticket actually works out cheaper than the SaveMyFare total.
Fewer flexible fares
Most listings are Advance tickets, since sellers are usually offloading a fare they can no longer use rather than one they could simply refund. Off-Peak or Anytime tickets do appear when a seller lists one, but you can't rely on finding a changeable fare, it depends entirely on what's currently listed for your route.
Not ideal for far-future bookings
Advance fares go on sale up to 16 weeks ahead and are cheapest early. If you are booking well in advance, the operator’s own Advance fares are often the best option, and SaveMyFare will have no listings for that date yet.
Common questions
Is SaveMyFare cheaper than Trainline?
Usually yes, if a ticket for your journey is available. SaveMyFare lists resale tickets at below face value — typically 20 to 60 per cent off. Trainline sells new tickets at full face value plus a booking fee of up to £1.50 per ticket. If the route and date you need has a listing on SaveMyFare, it will almost always be cheaper. If nothing is listed, you will need to buy new.
Is SaveMyFare the same as buying from a train operator?
No. SaveMyFare is a resale marketplace — the tickets were originally purchased by someone else who can no longer travel. Buying direct from a train operator (such as Avanti, LNER, or CrossCountry) means buying a new ticket at full face value. The two services are complementary: SaveMyFare can offer steep discounts when someone else's plans have changed, but operators will always have more availability, especially for future dates.
What is the catch with SaveMyFare?
There are two main limitations. First, availability depends on sellers: if no one has listed a ticket for your route and date, there is nothing to buy. Second, SaveMyFare adds a 10 per cent buyer fee on top of the asking price. So a ticket listed at £30 costs you £33. Even with the fee, most purchases are significantly cheaper than face value.
Can I use a railcard on SaveMyFare?
No. Railcard discounts apply only to new ticket purchases from train operators and authorised retailers. Resale tickets on SaveMyFare are already discounted from the original face value, but no further railcard reduction can be applied. If your railcard discount would bring a new ticket below the SaveMyFare price, buying new is better value.
What happens if the train is cancelled after I buy from SaveMyFare?
Your passenger rights are the same as any other ticket holder. If the operator cancels or significantly delays the service, you can claim a refund or delay repay through the train operator directly. The SaveMyFare ticket does not change your rights at the station. Train cancellations and refunds explained →
When is it better to buy direct instead of using SaveMyFare?
Buy direct when: you are travelling far in advance (Advance fares go on sale up to 16 weeks ahead and are often cheapest then); you need a railcard discount that would beat the SaveMyFare price; you need a flexible ticket that can be changed or refunded; or no SaveMyFare listing exists for your journey. For last-minute travel on popular intercity routes, SaveMyFare is usually the cheaper option. Why Advance fares get more expensive closer to departure →
Are SaveMyFare tickets valid at the barrier?
Yes. Resale tickets are physically the same tickets originally issued by the operator. They work at gatelines and on board in the same way as any other ticket on that service. Every ticket is reviewed by our team before listing to confirm it is valid, transferable, and for the journey stated.
See what’s available on your route
Search discounted resale tickets and compare against face value before you decide.