The best time to book Christmas train travel and when to avoid strike days

The UK could save £43m by organising their travel in advance this Christmas, according to one ticket seller.

Trainline surveyed 2,000 adults from across the UK and found almost half (46%) are prioritising travelling to see family and friends over buying them a gift this year.

But despite prioritising quality time, just one in eight (12%) plan to book train tickets in advance and only 9% will book with a railcard, missing out on huge savings (booking with a railcard saves you a third off journeys).

When it comes to booking train travel, the earlier the better. Many train firms have had their Christmas travel tickets available for a while, so the sooner you book the cheaper it will be.

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Tools that split your ticket can also help you save some pennies - so double-check your route on websites like TicketSplit and TrainSplit.

Trainline said customers could make an average saving of £88 per booking - the equivalent of 480 mince pies or seven Jiggly Pets Noodle Pups, one of the predicted top toys of Christmas 2022 - by not waiting until the last minute to book their festive travel.

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When are train companies striking?

More than 40,000 members of the Rail, Maritime and Transport union across Network Rail and 14 train operating companies will strike on 13, 14, 16 and 17 December and on 3, 4, 6 and 7 January.

There will also be an overtime ban across the railways from 18 December until 2 January 2, meaning RMT be taking industrial action for four weeks.

Major ports and airports are also set to be disrupted, which could spell bad luck for anyone trying to visit family overseas.

According to Skyscanner, the best days to travel is usually between the 28 and 31 December - following the Christmas rush, prices drop off quite significantly.

Read more: Which industries are striking this winter and why?

A passenger information message is displayed beside temporary closure barriers, as rail workers in Britain strike over pay and terms, at Waterloo Station in London, Britain, August 18, 2022. REUTERS/Toby Melville

If you need a getaway before the big day, the 16 December might be your best bet.

As for the busiest day - avoid Friday 23 December, this tends to be when most people make a move.

If you find your journey cancelled amid train strikes, you can get your ticket refunded.

Search Delay Repay and the relevant train company to apply for compensation.

-sky news