Britain’s biggest winter rail sale began on Tuesday, 6 January 2026, as the Great British Rail Sale went live across almost the entire national rail network, releasing more than three million discounted UK train tickets — with savings reaching up to 76% on major routes — into the booking system for a one-week rail sale. This is reported by The WP Times, citing the official Department for Transport website and the Great British Rail Sale announcement.
The campaign runs from 6 to 12 January and covers journeys taking place between 13 January and 25 March 2026, according to a press release issued by the Department for Transport and Transport Secretary Heidi Alexander MP. Nearly all train operators across England, Scotland and Wales are taking part, making reduced advance and off-peak fares available on thousands of routes.
The 2026 rail sale follows the government’s decision to freeze regulated rail fares for the first time in 30 years, a policy designed to ease cost-of-living pressure on households while encouraging more people to return to rail travel during the winter period. Ministers say the combination of frozen fares and large-scale ticket discounts is intended to make train travel more affordable for commuting, family visits and short leisure trips.
Large price cuts are being applied across long-distance, commuter and leisure services. On some routes, fares have been reduced by more than half. Exeter to London Waterloo is available for £10, down from £41.70, representing a 76% reduction. Portsmouth to London Waterloo has been cut to £10 from £24.60, while Manchester Piccadilly to Manchester Airport is priced at £1.20, down from £2.90.
London and the South East feature heavily in this year’s rail sale. Popular leisure routes such as St Pancras to Canterbury and St Pancras to Whitstable have both been reduced by 50%, while Charing Cross to Tunbridge Wellsis available for £4. Inter-city routes including Sheffield to London and Nottingham to London have also been cut by half.
The Department for Transport said the discounted tickets are designed to support half-term travel, weekend breaks and everyday commuting, while helping boost tourism, hospitality and retail during the quieter winter months. Rail industry figures say the sale also helps to fill seats on off-peak services that would otherwise run with spare capacity.
Last year’s Great British Rail Sale resulted in more than one million tickets sold, generating around £9 million in revenue for the rail industry and saving passengers an average of £8 per journey. The 2026 sale is significantly larger, with over three million fares released across the network.
The promotion comes as the government moves forward with the creation of Great British Railways, a new public body that will bring together track, timetables and ticketing under one organisation. Ministers say this will simplify fares, cut bureaucracy and improve reliability across Britain’s rail network.
Tickets can be purchased through train operators’ websites, mobile apps and station ticket offices during the sale period. Availability is limited, and many discounted fares require advance booking and fixed travel times.
Great British Rail Sale 2026 – key discounted fares
| Route | Sale price | Normal price | Saving |
|---|---|---|---|
| Exeter → London Waterloo | £10.00 | £41.70 | 76% |
| Portsmouth → London Waterloo | £10.00 | £24.60 | 59% |
| Manchester Piccadilly → Manchester Airport | £1.20 | £2.90 | 59% |
| Bolton → Manchester Piccadilly | £1.00 | £2.50 | 60% |
| Blackpool North → Manchester Piccadilly | £3.50 | £7.90 | 56% |
| Liverpool Lime Street → Wigan North Western | £1.60 | £3.70 | 57% |
| Newcastle → Middlesbrough | £2.00 | £5.20 | 62% |
| St Pancras → Whitstable | £7.50 | £15.10 | 50% |
| St Pancras → Canterbury | £8.10 | £16.20 | 50% |
| London Marylebone → Birmingham Moor Street | £7.00 | £14.00 | 50% |
| Nottingham → London Terminals | £23.00 | £46.00 | 50% |
| Sheffield → London Terminals | £25.50 | £51.00 | 50% |
| Charing Cross → Tunbridge Wells | £4.00 | £8.10 | 51% |
| Ashford International → Ramsgate | £2.70 | £5.40 | 50% |
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