Cheap train ticket London-Leuchars Thur 25 Sep

[lisasheehy]

Hello moneysavers! My boyfriend and I are off to a wedding in Montrose on Sat the 27th September..... we thought we would go to Leuchars first to see a friend on thur 25th and just get a local bus/train - only 1 hr away... I was thinking I was dead organised by looking at tickets now but was surprised at the prices! I have a 16-25 rail card and it is about 70 quid for a return just for me. For me and my boyfriend (no railcard) it comes to 175 quid! This is on raileasy, trainline, national express, virgin etc............

If anyone has any tips for splitting journeys around scotland its very welcome as we are going to visit a friend in Brora, 70 miles nrth of inverness as well before getting back to london for the end of the month 30th Sept....

Thanks
Lisa
:mad: :eek: :confused:

[Hintza]

There is a code for 10% off Scotrail tickets at hotukdeals. Might help.

[dzug1]

You are being over-organised and trying to book before the cheap tickets come out. Wait a week or so - they will be there

[somabc]

It would probably be cheaper to fly. The nearest airport is Edinburgh, but there is also Dundee & Aberdeen or Glasgow. I find the cheapest flights are Ryanair Stansted to Prestwick. You can get a train from Prestwick to anywhere in Scotland for half price if you show them your booking or boarding card on the train. you could fly home from Inverness with Flybe or Easyjet.

For trains I find the best deals on National Express East Coast, buy two singles rather than a return normally for less than £100.

[lisasheehy]

Thank you everyone for your replies, it is much appreciated. Will wait a wee bit for cheaper tickets but flying back from inverness sounds quite sensible - it is a loooong way!

[gner_ex]

If you are pressed for time, travel back from Inverness overnight on the sleeper.

Finally, do you really think £70 for a 400 mile journey is overpriced - it sounds amazing value to me! Just imagine what the petrol would cost to drive there.

[an_ecunemical_matter]

Hey lisasheehy!! Good irish name.
Fr Jack here. I'm in the choo choo trade.

Firstly-refer to this-http://www.atoctravelagents.org/clientfiles/File/TOC%20Booking%20Horizons%2003%20Jul%2008.htm
So as at 3rd July weekdays on National Express East Coast(formerly GNER) are open till 19th Sept and weekends till weekend of 6/7th. Yer biggest problem is is that while you might get a cheap ticket out you can't tell if there's going to be cheap one back at the weekend because its 2 weeks behind. Buy the outward in the the hope and sods law says you won't get a cheap one back-i've seen it happen loads of times. The general rule is that if you can't get a cheap ticket both ways its more economic getting a Saver.

Second,is yer man under 26,if he is he should buy a railcard. If he buys a ticket for over £72 he's broke even on the railcard straight away. The £175 fare you mention is the Standard Open Return price though with the railcard so I think you've got a bit mixed up there. Saver returns(off peak on weekdays,which is easily do-able) are £69.45 with railcard and
£105.20 without.

Thirdly,looking at the previous Thursday(which is normally a good guide) there's a £16.85 single DIRECT(woo hoo!) at 1400 from Kings cross to Leuchars-£11.15 with 16/25 railcard!!! Slightly dearer is available at 1600 also. I think you should gamble on this before getting your coming back.

Next-Leuchars to Montrose,walk up and pay £7 with railcard,£10.70 full fare on the day of travel,no advance booking exists.

Then-Montrose to Brora,do you realise it takes 5 1/2 hours!!!!! There are £13.20 railcard(£19.90 full) fares again on the previous week.

Coming back,the bloke who said "Fly" is probably right!!! The sleeper is a cool option but cheap berths may be hard to get on a Sunday night. The previous week does show a £20.15 railcard(£30.50 normal) single on the Sunday night overnight but its a long way in a seat!!!! The twin berth supplements would be £34 each with these tickets. Unless a cheaper "package" type ticket comes along.

So there!!! PM me if you want to know any more.

Father Jack.