Stansted Express train tickets

We all know how expensive travel can be, but you could secure great deals on your long-distance rail journeys by booking in advance. Advance train tickets are, of course, tickets that you can buy before the date of travel. They're Single tickets sold for both Standard and First Class seats, usually made available 12 weeks before departure. 

You can mix and match Single fares for the cheapest possible return journey. Just be aware that Advance train tickets aren't flexible. In other words, once you buy your Advance tickets, you’re usually tied to the exact trains and dates shown. 

As a bonus, you can use your Railcard for further discounts. So you can look forward to even cheaper train tickets if you have a:

• 16-25 Railcard
• 26-30 Railcard
• Senior Railcard
• 16-17 Saver
• Network Railcard
• Disabled Persons Railcard
• Veterans Railcard

Learn more about Advance train tickets. 

Perfect for when your schedule isn’t quite set in stone, Standard train tickets are flexible train tickets that let you take full control of exactly when you’ll be making your journey.

Standard train tickets are flexible – so you can catch any train on the outbound travel date booked. You can book Standard train tickets in advance, right up to the same day of travel.

Learn more about Standard train tickets.

If you’re travelling on the Stansted Express regularly, Season Tickets offer unlimited travel between two given stations on a weekly, monthly, 28-day (Flexi) or annual basis. You can even specify a custom duration for a Season Ticket if none of those periods fit your schedule. Using a Season Ticket can save you over 1/3 compared to buying peak daily return tickets 5 days a week. All you'll need to get started is a valid Photocard.

Find out more about Season Tickets.

Our top tips for securing cheaper train tickets include keeping an eye on when Advance tickets are released and booking as far ahead as you possibly can. Alternatively, you can sometimes secure a cheaper fare by booking two single journey tickets rather than a return ticket.

Find out more about cheap train tickets.

GroupSave is a type of train ticket discount for those travelling in groups of three to nine people. They're ideal if you want to travel with friends or family (excluding child tickets), as they could help you get as much as 1/3 off the cost of your fares. Score!

Find out more about GroupSave train tickets.

On Stansted Express trains, there is no limit to the amount of luggage you can bring on board. You can store your luggage in the overhead racks, or the luggage storage areas provided.

Stansted Express does not offer a catering service on its trains, however, you’re welcome to bring food and drink on board to eat during the journey.

Stansted Express offers free WiFi as standard on all its trains, as well as plug sockets at your seat. You can charge your devices on the go, listen to music or just catch up on your emails.

You can take up to two animals on board Stansted Express trains. There may be a fee for extra pets. Dogs should be kept on a lead, while other pets should stay in a pet carrier throughout the journey.

Passenger Assist, a nationwide service, is available on Stansted Express trains. This includes planning the journey, boarding and alighting the train and helping you at the station. You can book this directly with Stansted Express.

Flexible tickets (Off-Peak, Super Off-Peak and Anytime tickets)

If you change your mind about travelling, these types of tickets can be refunded online for a fee.

You have 28 days from expiry of the ticket to request a refund and return your ticket. If you have a mobile ticket and it has already been scanned, you can no longer claim a refund on that journey.

Advance Single ticket

Advance Single tickets cannot be refunded but they can be changed for a fee.

Changes are only allowed for a different time/date of travel, so you need to stick to the same departure and arrival stations. Visit this page for more information on changing your ticket.

SplitSave

Similar rules apply to a combination of tickets.

The Flexible tickets can be refunded. The Advance Single tickets can only be changed. However, if you have a combination of Advance and Flexible then all the tickets can be changed.

If you originally got your ticket by calling our contact centre, we charge a set £5 fee.

For tickets bought online or using our app, the refund fee is based on the value of the ticket that is being cancelled. The breakdown of refund fees for tickets bought online or using our apps is as follows:

Refund for a cancelled train

If your train is cancelled, you can use your existing ticket to travel on the next available service:

• Advance Singles – hop on the next available train with the same train operator.
• Flexible tickets – options such as Off-Peak and Anytime tickets offer flexibility, and you can travel at various times of the day.

Remember to check the conditions of your ticket in case you can only travel with a certain operator/route.

If you can't take the next train or decide not to travel, you’ll be entitled to a refund.

The quickest and easiest way to refund your ticket is to do it online. Log in to My Bookings, select your booking, and click on refund tickets.

Compensation for a delayed train

If your train was delayed but you still managed to complete your journey, then a ticket refund is not available. However, the train operators themselves do offer compensation. Please see this article on how to claim compensation via the Delay Repay scheme.

If you have an account:

1. Find your booking on our website in My Bookings or within our App under 'My Tickets'.
2. Select 'Refund my tickets'.

If you don’t have an account:

1. Find your confirmation email and click ‘Manage booking’.
2. Follow the steps above to request a refund.

Refunds can take an average of 3-5 days to process. You can check the status of your refund in your account. Here's a guide to what the statuses mean:

• Refunded / Refund Approved – You've done everything you need to, and your refund is on the way back to you. It will appear in your account within 5 days.
• Refund Processing / Refund – Action Required – Before we can process your refund, we may need you to return your tickets.
• Refund Rejected – We’re unable to refund your tickets. This could be because you've scanned your e-ticket or activated your Mobile Ticket.