I am using public transport and worried about costs

If you’re taking public transport everyday the cost can add up, especially if you’re travelling a long way. We understand this can cause stress and worry as well as taking time. Find out more below.

Or take a step back to explore other travel and parking issues.

How can I save money on public transport?

It’s often cheaper to travel outside of peak hours, so if you can time your journey to be later than rush hour you might save some money. You can use journey planner sites like Traveline to plan your route.

There are quite a few railcards available if you are taking the train regularly. There are options for every age and they can give you a 30 - 50% discount on the cost of tickets.

You can find a full list of railcards available nationally on the National Rail website and you can find a list of regional railcards in some places.

To help people with cost of living pressures and save on everyday travel costs, the government is extending their bus fare cap at £2.50 until 30 November 2024. You can find participating bus companies and routes on the gov.uk website.

If you need to travel into London you can compare daily caps and travelcard prices on the TFL website.

It can be tricky to work out which option is best for you. If you would like to talk to someone to help you, you can get in touch with us via email or you can book a video call.

Other ways to save costs on public transport

You might have a close family member or friend who could give you a lift. For some people this might be someone from their local community or faith group. We understand that it can be difficult to ask for this help, but often people want to support you but don’t know what is most useful. You might find people are happy to do this for you.

Depending on how close you are to hospital, you might want to consider walking. It’s a personal choice whether it would help, but walking can be very beneficial both for physical and mental health.

Hospital accommodation

You might be able to reduce travel costs by staying at the hospital or close by. Ask about free hospital accommodation for parents and carers of babies who are staying on the neonatal unit. Some hospitals have rooms or accommodation available for parents and carers.

You could try asking a member of staff on the unit - they will be used to these types of questions. If they don't know they may be able to suggest someone who might be able to help.

If you need further information and support you could try asking Patient Advice and Liaison Service (PALS). This is an unbiased and confidential service in every hospital that offers support to patients and their families. You can usually find signs for this department near the reception in each hospital, or their phone number on the hospital’s website.

Do you want help with something else?