{"id":2528,"date":"2025-05-17T16:00:00","date_gmt":"2025-05-17T16:00:00","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/www.mugfoundry.com\/?p=2528"},"modified":"2025-05-20T13:07:22","modified_gmt":"2025-05-20T13:07:22","slug":"the-uks-cheapest-train-ticket-is-just-10p-but-theres-a-catch","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"http:\/\/www.mugfoundry.com\/index.php\/2025\/05\/17\/the-uks-cheapest-train-ticket-is-just-10p-but-theres-a-catch\/","title":{"rendered":"The UK\u2019s cheapest train ticket is just 10p \u2014 but there\u2019s a catch"},"content":{"rendered":"
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\n\t\t\"Jon\t<\/div>
I got my hands on a train ticket for just 10p (Picture: Jon Fellowes)<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

Commuters, listen up. It\u2019s well-known that rail fares in the UK are wildly expensive<\/a>. But one \u2018secret\u2019 ticket is still available from select stations at a cost of just 10 pence.<\/p>\n

Unbelievable, right?<\/p>\n

Well, there is a catch: it won\u2019t actually take you anywhere.<\/p>\n

I\u2019m referring to the \u2018Platform Ticket\u2019, and if that\u2019s the first time you\u2019ve heard the term, then, rest assured, you\u2019re in good company.<\/p>\n

This little-known rail<\/a> ticket is the cheapest fare<\/a> in the UK, but it isn\u2019t really advertised and getting your hands on one is not always straightforward.<\/p>\n

Dating back to the 19th century, the Platform Ticket is part of a tradition that sees non-travellers greet or see off passengers from the platform side of the gates.<\/p>\n

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The ticket has not risen in price since 1988, meaning it\u2019s beaten inflation<\/a> for the best part of four decades.<\/p>\n

So, are they still easy to buy? Metro<\/strong> went out to put it to the test.<\/p>\n

What is a Platform Ticket?<\/strong><\/h2>\n

First things first, as the name suggests, Platform Tickets should grant you access to the station platform for 60 minutes<\/strong> after being issued.<\/p>\n

Platform Tickets are not valid on trains and are only good for the station where they were issued.<\/p>\n

\n
\n\t\t\"Platform\t<\/div>
Platform Tickets have been a thing since the 1900s (Picture: Jon Fellowes)<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

In addition, a staff member can still ask you to leave the platform for any reason, at any time.<\/p>\n

Who can buy a Platform Ticket?<\/strong><\/h2>\n

In theory, anyone can purchase a Platform Ticket.<\/strong><\/p>\n

However, they are intended for use by anyone who might require access to the platform but does not<\/em> intend to travel by train.<\/p>\n

This could include people looking to wave off their loved ones as they get onto the train or railway enthusiasts on the lookout for a picture of a specific model.<\/p>\n

National Rail states: \u2018If customers are not travelling by train but wish to access the station platform \u2013 for example where there are ticket barriers in operation and they wish to assist someone onto the train or if they are a railway enthusiast \u2013 they may need to buy a Platform Ticket, depending on the discretion of staff.\u2019<\/p>\n

\n
\n\t\t\"Platform\t<\/div>
At just 10p, this is the cheapest ticket money can buy (Picture: Jon Fellowes)<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

Where can I buy a Platform ticket?<\/strong><\/h2>\n

Fancy yourself a bit of train spotting or getting in one cheeky last kiss with your beloved before they depart?<\/p>\n

Well, for starters, you\u2019ll have to hope they are travelling from the right train station.<\/p>\n

Only certain train companies offer platform tickets; even then, you can only purchase them directly from a booking office, not via a machine.<\/p>\n

That means any stations without a staffed ticket office are immediately off the list, and the ticket is unavailable to purchase online.<\/p>\n

\n
Comment now<\/title><span class=\"metro-comment-cta__text\">Did you know about Platform tickets? Tell us if you\u2019ve bought one in the comments below<\/span><\/span><a class=\"metro-comment-cta__button\" href=\"#metro-comments-container\">Comment Now<\/a><\/div>\n<\/section>\n<p>To purchase a Platform Ticket, you\u2019ll need to ensure your station is operated by a company that still issues them. <a href=\"https:\/\/metro.co.uk\/author\/transport-for-london\/\" data-type=\"link\" data-id=\"https:\/\/metro.co.uk\/author\/transport-for-london\/\">Transport for London (TfL)<\/a>, for example, <em>do not<\/em> offer Platform tickets.<\/p>\n<p>National Rail says: \u2018Not all train companies still issue Platform Tickets, but where they are still sold, they cost ten pence (10p) and can only be purchased from the station ticket office. There is no charge to assist a disabled passenger to a train.<\/p>\n<p>\u2018At other stations without barriers, unstaffed stations or at stations managed by certain train companies a Platform Ticket may not be required and customers are advised to check with the ticket office, where possible, before entering the platform.<\/p>\n<p>\u2018Each train company will advise their retail staff of their policy on Platform Tickets.\u2019 <\/p>\n<p>Scroll right down, we\u2019ve included the full list of companies that still sell them at the end of this article.<\/p>\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><strong>Do platform tickets really work?<\/strong><\/h2>\n<p>Well, it turns out the answer to whether Platform Tickets work in practice is very much \u2018yes and no\u2019.<\/p>\n<p>Upon learning about the Platform Ticket, I immediately headed to my local station in <a href=\"https:\/\/metro.co.uk\/tag\/chester\/\">Chester<\/a> to try to put the theory into practice.<\/p>\n<p>After waiting in line at the booking office, I managed to purchase my Platform Ticket with minimal fuss and absolutely no quibbling at all \u2013 I simply asked, and received, with the staff member barely raising an eyebrow.<\/p>\n<p>However, as delighted as I was at not causing a big furore at the counter, all of that was about to change. <\/p>\n<p>Heading for the barrier, I eagerly inserted my ticket into the gates, before being immediately told to \u2018seek assistance\u2019.<\/p>\n<figure class=\"img-container shareable-item wp-caption\">\n<div class=\"img-wrap\">\n\t\t<img decoding=\"async\" width=\"646\" height=\"861\" src=\"data:image\/gif;base64,R0lGODlhAQABAAAAACH5BAEKAAEALAAAAAABAAEAAAICTAEAOw==\" class=\"article-image wp-image-22952336 lazyload\" alt=\"Jon Fellowes with a Platform Ticket at Chester Station.\" loading=\"lazy\" data-src=\"http:\/\/www.mugfoundry.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/05\/IMG_20250422_123733_HDR-8c55.jpg\">\t<\/div><figcaption>My Platform Ticket got me through the gates into the station, but the process wasn\u2019t smooth. (Picture: Jon Fellowes)<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<p>While the nice attendant immediately recognised the ticket and let me through, he admitted they \u2018weren\u2019t really used anymore\u2019. <\/p>\n<p>It was at this point of the research that I realised I actually had very little cause to be hanging around on Platform 3B of Chester train station, so, after taking what must have looked to the general public like some very strange photographs, I opted to depart. <\/p>\n<p>However, once again, I was unable to leave without \u2018seeking assistance\u2019.<\/p>\n<p>Fearing I may be forced to reside at Chester Station permanently (and with the imminent arrival of the 12.30 from Liverpool seemingly about to happen behind me), I sought out another member of staff, who also immediately recognised the ticket and let me through, fortunately without quibble or comment.<\/p>\n<p>So, do Platform Tickets work? Well, in my case, ultimately yes. However, you can\u2019t help but think the process was a little smoother in the 1900s. <\/p>\n<p>It\u2019s also worth highlighting that not everyone has that experience, though.<\/p>\n<div class=\"metro-embed__twitter\">\n<figure class=\"wp-block-embed is-type-rich is-provider-twitter wp-block-embed-twitter\">\n<div class=\"wp-block-embed__wrapper\">\n<blockquote class=\"twitter-tweet\" data-conversation=\"all\" data-width=\"500\" data-dnt=\"true\">\n<p lang=\"en\" dir=\"ltr\">I bought the CHEAPEST rail ticket in the UK! <a href=\"https:\/\/t.co\/1gbw1cVlhB\">pic.twitter.com\/1gbw1cVlhB<\/a><\/p>\n<p>\u2014 The Right Track (@OnlyRightTrack) <a href=\"https:\/\/twitter.com\/OnlyRightTrack\/status\/1914109478317728197?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw\">April 21, 2025<\/a><\/p><\/blockquote>\n<\/div>\n<\/figure><\/div>\n<p>Travel social media documentarian @OnlyRightTrack had a very different experience with his Platform Ticket, as it was both difficult to purchase and ultimately did not grant him access to the station platform.<\/p>\n<p>As such, whether your 10p ticket is really worth the novelty, only you can judge. <\/p>\n<p>Plus, it depends on how much of a hankering you have for those really expensive lattes.<\/p>\n<div class=\"factbox\" data-ico=\"factbox_article\" data-track-module=\"factbox_article\">\n<h2 class=\"factbox-title\">\n\t\t\t\tTrain companies that still sell Platform Tickets\t\t\t<\/h2>\n<div class=\"factbox-content\">\n<p>The complete list of train companies that still offer platform tickets includes:<\/p>\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>Avanti West Coast<\/li>\n<li>c2c<\/li>\n<li>Chiltern Railways<\/li>\n<li>CrossCountry<\/li>\n<li>East Midlands Railway<\/li>\n<li>Gatwick Express<\/li>\n<li>Grand Central<\/li>\n<li>Great Northern<\/li>\n<li>Great Western Railway<\/li>\n<li>Greater Anglia<\/li>\n<li>Heathrow Express<\/li>\n<li>Hull Trains<\/li>\n<li>Island Line<\/li>\n<li>London Northwestern Railway<\/li>\n<li>Merseyrail<\/li>\n<li>Northern<\/li>\n<li>ScotRail<\/li>\n<li>South Western Railway<\/li>\n<li>Southeastern<\/li>\n<li>Southern<\/li>\n<li>Stansted Express<\/li>\n<li>Thameslink<\/li>\n<li>TransPennine Express<\/li>\n<li>Transport for Wales<\/li>\n<li>West Midlands Railway<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p><strong>Source<\/strong>: National Rail<\/p>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<p class=\"\"><strong>Do you have a story to share?<\/strong><\/p>\n<p class=\"\"><strong>Get in touch by emailing <a href=\"mailto:MetroLifestyleTeam@Metro.co.uk\">MetroLifestyleTeam@Metro.co.uk<\/a>.<\/strong><\/p><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>I got my hands on a train ticket for just 10p (Picture: Jon Fellowes) Commuters, listen up. It\u2019s well-known that rail fares in the UK are wildly expensive. But one \u2018secret\u2019 ticket is still available from select stations at a cost of just 10 pence. Unbelievable, right? Well, there is a catch: it won\u2019t actually […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":2530,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[17],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-2528","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-travel"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"http:\/\/www.mugfoundry.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2528","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"http:\/\/www.mugfoundry.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"http:\/\/www.mugfoundry.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"http:\/\/www.mugfoundry.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"http:\/\/www.mugfoundry.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=2528"}],"version-history":[{"count":3,"href":"http:\/\/www.mugfoundry.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2528\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":2535,"href":"http:\/\/www.mugfoundry.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2528\/revisions\/2535"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"http:\/\/www.mugfoundry.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/2530"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"http:\/\/www.mugfoundry.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=2528"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"http:\/\/www.mugfoundry.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=2528"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"http:\/\/www.mugfoundry.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=2528"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}