Rail Travel: Tips on Cheap Tickets

[pompeyrich]

Ultracheap, you could get a "DAYSAVE" (http://www.southernrailway.com/buytickets/daysave/TicketDetails.php?var=aVN0YXJ0RGF5PTE2JmlTdGFydE1v bnRoPTA4JmlTdGFydFllYXI9MjAwNiZpU3RhcnRTdGF0aW9uSW Q9OTk5MiZpRW5kU3RhdGlvbklkPTk5OTImaVBhc3NlbmdlckNh dGVnb3J5PTImYk1vZGVsPTEmaVNlc3Npb25JZD05OWJhN2MzNz hjZmNhYzVkNTI4OTJhMjEwMmM3Yzk3MQ==) ticket from Southern for £20 for up to 4 adults, you have to book online a week before you want to travel and you can only use Southern trains from Victoria you cant travel before 10a.m. but there is a train at 10;06 arriving at Brighton at 10:58.

[UltraCheap]

The daysave is a great deal, thanks!! It will come in handy one of these days very soon. Unfortunately, I need to travel this week (Thursday or Friday), so I wont be unable to book one of these for this journey.

[UltraCheap]

Well, I have scoured every train company website in hope of a deal from London to Brighton. The best price I found is 27 for 2 people through South West Trains.

Next time around, I will plan ahead and get the Daysave deal. Also, the half price Network Railcard on offer right now by South West Trains (10 instead of 20) would have also been a great purchase for my journey, however the only place to buy railcard is at a South West ticket office, which in central London happens to be Waterloo (which work for this time around).

At least next time I will know how to get a much better deal!

[starlite]

for future reference, the best way to get to Brighton from London is the Thameslink. At the moment they are doing £6 day returns, and it's usully only £10.50 for an open return.
It stops at kings cross, farringdon, city, blackfriars and london bridge so very easy too!

[letsgobilliejoe]

for future reference, the best way to get to Brighton from London is the Thameslink. At the moment they are doing £6 day returns, and it's usully only £10.50 for an open return.
It stops at kings cross, farringdon, city, blackfriars and london bridge so very easy too!

I've been on their website to look for myself and it appears the cheapest returns are £27 for two people online. Is it £6 each in person on the day? If not, the cheaper option appears to be the daysave (£11 each according to the website).

[redseven]

Is there a way to search for the cheap tickets only, I want to travel from Reading to Leeds and Reading to Stratford-u-Avon at some point in the next month, I'll go when it is cheapest. Does a search exist that allows me to do this?

Thanks

[UltraCheap]

for future reference, the best way to get to Brighton from London is the Thameslink. At the moment they are doing £6 day returns, and it's usully only £10.50 for an open return.
It stops at kings cross, farringdon, city, blackfriars and london bridge so very easy too!

I have only found tickets for 2 people for £27, online and I also rang the national rail information line to confirm. How are you getting tickets for £6 each way, or £10.50 open return?

Many thanks!

[evesham1988la]

Is there a way to search for the cheap tickets only, I want to travel from Reading to Leeds and Reading to Stratford-u-Avon at some point in the next month, I'll go when it is cheapest. Does a search exist that allows me to do this?

Thanks

For Reading to Leeds cheap tickets can be found by searching for two singles on the National Rail website (www.nationalrail.co.uk) and buying Virgin Value Fares booked in advance from £12 each way or from £28 First Class each way.

For Reading to Stratford-upon-Avon, you will need to change at Leamington Spa - singles for this are from £10 each way.

[starlite]

I have only found tickets for 2 people for £27, online and I also rang the national rail information line to confirm. How are you getting tickets for £6 each way, or £10.50 open return?

Many thanks!

Hi the offer is on posters in mainline central london stations.
There may be t&c's I am not aware of , i.e travel on specific days.
We bought £6 tickets from London Bridge station, it was a day return on a tuesday.
I hope this helps.

[jenny_f]

Anyone know the cheapest way to travel from Letchworth to Reading?

Cheers in advance


Journey is on 16th September!

[UltraCheap]

http://www.gner.co.uk/gner/greatvaluefares/

Lonon to Leeds £19 return
London to Newcastle £20 return
Berwick on Tweed to york £22 return
London to Edinburgh £25 return
Inverness to London £29

:rotfl:

[pompeyrich]

Ultracheap, you missed out one little word out "FROM", you have to book quite early to get the £9:50 ones. There seems to be more availability to and from Peterborough rather than London but I haven't managed to work out a chaep way of getting from London-P'boro so not much good really !!

[macbee1972]

Apex and other cheap advance fares are generally available 6-8 weeks before the date of the journey.The earlier you book the cheaper your fare can be.

[macbee1972]

Megabus are even cheaper than National Express.If you book well in advance (seats released 45 days before date of departure) you can get some really cheap seats-fares start from £1.Had a look today and you could travel from London to Inverness for £6 single and London to Newcastle for £1 on Friday 29th Sept.(subject to availability at time of booking).They also run a service called Megatrain which has train fares starting from £1 too.Today they have fares from Edinburgh to Manchester,London to Portsmouth etc.. travelling on Fri 29th Sept for £1 single..(subject to availability at time of booking). 50p booking fee per transaction.

[macbee1972]

If you travel from Bristol Parkway to Waterloo instead of Paddington and choose a train which changes at Salisbury and either Bristol Temple Meads or Filton Abbey Wood the fares are £24.30 for a cheap day return, £33.00 for a saver return or £38.80 for an open return.I know it's a lot of hassle to have to change trains but the saving is quite substantial. Train leaving Bristol Parkway at 07.08 would get into Waterloo at 10.49 (15 min tube journey to Paddington)

[starlite]

Megabus are even cheaper than National Express.If you book well in advance (seats released 45 days before date of departure) you can get some really cheap seats-fares start from £1.Had a look today and you could travel from London to Inverness for £6 single and London to Newcastle for £1 on Friday 29th Sept.(subject to availability at time of booking).They also run a service called Megatrain which has train fares starting from £1 too.Today they have fares from Edinburgh to Manchester,London to Portsmouth etc.. travelling on Fri 29th Sept for £1 single..(subject to availability at time of booking). 50p booking fee per transaction.

Megabus is only for the megapatient though! Especially for such a long journey as London - newcastle.
They to tend divert off track to stop at random places and some services take twice as long as national express. They're terribly uncomfortable too.
I'd personally rather pay a bit more for the train and retain my sanity!lol.

[jenny_f]

anyone advise on the letchworth to reading journey?

[starlite]

Do you mean letchworth nr. Luton?
If so you'll almost certainly have to travel to luton (maybe cheap local bus?) then london then reading.
The Luton - London can be booked fairly cheaply on thameslink or first capital connect. No idea about London - reading
But make sure you check if booking two seperate legs is cheaper than booking as a whole journey, it almost certainly will be. iyswim.

[jenny_f]

meaning letchworth garden city, which is near hitchin, baldock, ashwell etc

[starlite]

yep, same place, tbh rail is cheaper from luton or stevenage to London than direct from letchworth. so it'd be best to look into that.

[devesh254]

Hey there...could someone please help me with the following:

1 adult,with a Young Persons Railcard Travelling on Sunday September 17 morning (arriving no later than 2pm) from London to Manchester.

I am then returning on the same day September 17 evening (departing no earlier than 8pm) from Manchester to London.

Don't mind travelling by train or coach. However coach does take extremely long so train will be much preferred!

I am having a very hard time finding cheap fares for this route, so all and any help will be much appreciated! The cheapest I can do now is London to Manchester by Megabus (£4) and the return leg by Train for £35.50!!!!!

The last time I booked this trip I used a scotrail half price link...is there any similar link available now? Or are there are promotional codes for virgin or the trainline? I am aware that Quidco offers 30p cashback for Nat Express and 1% off £25 tickets at the trainline...but still I am finding the price for the return leg too expensive!

Thanks :-)

[katsplat1]

When is the best time to book?

I want to book return fares for 4 adults going to London from Leicester on Sunday 11th Nov am returning on Tuesday 13th Nov pm. So far cheapest is over £200.

Any idea on forthcoming deals with Midland Mainline?

[starlite]

you can get a 4 sight ticket up to 7 days in advance, for £48 for the 4 of you, or book as singles rather than a return for £6 each, same price really!

[letsgobilliejoe]

Megabus is only for the megapatient though! Especially for such a long journey as London - newcastle.
They to tend divert off track to stop at random places and some services take twice as long as national express. They're terribly uncomfortable too.
I'd personally rather pay a bit more for the train and retain my sanity!lol.

Well we take the megabus every couple of months from Manchester to London. It takes 4 1/2hours, and is £1 each way each, whereas the cheapest fares on National Express are £10.50 and it takes a min of 6 hours.

I'm personally waiting for the day when megatrain do manc-london services! :rotfl:

[pompeyrich]

Hey there...could someone please help me with the following:

1 adult,with a Young Persons Railcard Travelling on Sunday September 17 morning (arriving no later than 2pm) from London to Manchester.

I am then returning on the same day September 17 evening (departing no earlier than 8pm) from Manchester to London.

Don't mind travelling by train or coach. However coach does take extremely long so train will be much preferred!

I am having a very hard time finding cheap fares for this route, so all and any help will be much appreciated! The cheapest I can do now is London to Manchester by Megabus (£4) and the return leg by Train for £35.50!!!!!

The last time I booked this trip I used a scotrail half price link...is there any similar link available now? Or are there are promotional codes for virgin or the trainline? I am aware that Quidco offers 30p cashback for Nat Express and 1% off £25 tickets at the trainline...but still I am finding the price for the return leg too expensive!

Thanks :-)

National rail site showing saver returns at £37:70 for your trip with a yp railcard which isnt the cheapest but at least you would save sitting on the bus up there.

[jenny_f]

cheapest way from huddersfield to milton keynes with a YP card?

I won't be travelling until the end of september but will book in advance

cheers guys

[jenny_f]

I've searched the threads and have been looking for a link for a website set up by a student which tells you the cheapest available fares, can anyone remember it?

Cheers

[katsplat1]

you can get a 4 sight ticket up to 7 days in advance, for £48 for the 4 of you, or book as singles rather than a return for £6 each, same price really!

I wondered what that 4 sight ticket was. It was coming up but not allowing me to chose it. So it is only available 7 days in advance? Is it limited?

[willplaice]

any chance anyone can help me with this ....

I have an anual zone 2 Season Ticket... and often need a monthly season to reading...

If I travel off peak, a day return costs me 8.50 (with all the discout)
this ticket is "zone 2 boundry" to Reading return..


I can't get this ticket as a weekly/monthly return, why not ???

is there a cheaper way to go this ?

many thanks ! Will

[jenny_f]

anyone any advise on the hudds to mk journey?

[pompeyrich]

anyone any advise on the hudds to mk journey?



Huddersfield-Manchester £5:40 then Manchester-MK for £8:25 both fares are singles with yp railcard.

You might get a better deal from Hudd-Man from HERE (http://www.tpexpress.co.uk/mytpe/students.asp) using the half price student deal, the prices shown on the page are returns. Hudd-Man £6:60 return using the link

[jenny_f]

thanks so much!!!!

do u know which company the man>MK part of the journey is with?

thanks again

[jenny_f]

would going from Leeds work out cheaper? I can only buy singles to/from leeds whereas manchester i'd have to get a return. Although I wouldn't want to do this journey on the return leg.

cheers for all your help

national express cheaper?

[pompeyrich]

thanks so much!!!!

do u know which company the man>MK part of the journey is with?

thanks again

Man-MK on Virgin, got the prices from National rail.co.uk, The Man-MK bit has to be pre-booked and is only valid on the specific train you select from the fare page, no flexibility at that price.

It's about the same price from Leeds or Huddersfield to Manchester for a single.

You can only get to MK coachway by National express, which is apparently junction 14 of the M1 and is £20 single,

If money is the main consideration you could get the Megabus from Leeds to London then from London to Milton Keynes for £2:50 single. Leave Leeds at 13:20 and get to MK at 21:40 a long time but dirt cheap !!

[odds-n-sods]

It can actually be the time involved in working out the permutations of selling a set of tickets like the above example. Ticket Booking Offices dont' have the time to research that you all can.

Weekly tickets are cheaper than standard tickets over 5 days use, you need to decide when you are going to travel to see which one is cheaper.

And one tip I haven't sen yet:

Don't buy tickets on the train when the ticket office is open!

Wait in the que even if you have to get the train after the one you had planned on (or give yourself MORE time to buy a ticket and get to the station earlier) as conductors can't sell cheap day tickets from a station that has an open booking office.
And if you are travelling on a train company that doesn't use conductors DON'T decide not to buy a ticket on the chance you won't get caught - the fine is whatever the judge decides it will be once it goes to court, never mind the £20 penalty fare on top of having to buy your ticket, too. And the embarrassment.

[John_Davros_Cooper]

Journey Help

I am planning two journeys and they have been called at reasonably short notice...

Journey one

Friday 1st Sept - London to Kendal (any time)
Sunday 3rd Sept - Kendal to London (afternoon onwards)

Wednesday 6th Sept - London to edinburgh (any time)
Thursday 16th Sept - Edinburgh to London (arrive back no later than 10pm)


So I am looking about and can see the generic fairs of around £45 to kendal and then might megabus it to edinburgh and back for around £30.

That said - any bright suggestions? I have a young persons railcard and won't be booking until tommorow evening...

Warm Regards and Thanks!
John

[jenny_f]

how about mega train from manchester if you can get a cheap ticket to manchester?

we did manchester to edinburgh for £8.25

[frivolous_fay]

Hello all... have just read the article. I've been looking at the national rail site but having put in journey details, I can't see the box Martin mentions 'click here for single fares'. Any pointers?

I'm planning to travel from Luton to Solihull in a little over a week's time.

[leosheree]

I start a new job in Birmingham in a few weeks but live in Sheffield. Can you help me find the cheapest way to travel to Birmingham from Sheffield daily? I travel by train. I am thinking of getting a season ticket but would appreciate cheaper options. Many thanks

[pompeyrich]

Hello all... have just read the article. I've been looking at the national rail site but having put in journey details, I can't see the box Martin mentions 'click here for single fares'. Any pointers?

I'm planning to travel from Luton to Solihull in a little over a week's time.

When you reach the page that shows you the return fare, just above is a line saying "single fares from £x" and "click here for single fares" just click one of these to get the single fare. I done a quick search for your planned journey and there doesnt seem to be any saving for 2 singles on this route. However if you could get to Leighton Buzzard, there are singles available from £8 as opposed to £13:50 from Luton.

[martinbuckley]

I start a new job in Birmingham in a few weeks but live in Sheffield. Can you help me find the cheapest way to travel to Birmingham from Sheffield daily? I travel by train. I am thinking of getting a season ticket but would appreciate cheaper options. Many thanks

Assuming you need to be there by 0900 daily, a saver return with a railcard is about £19 rtn. No railcard and its about £30.

www.nationalrail.co.uk or www.virgin.com will give you exact fares

HTH

[BeenieCat]

Does anyone know of a way i can get cheap day returns from Darlington to York?
The usual price is around £13 and i hope to get it cheaper.
Thanks

[tigger and george]

Excellent advice there 'odds-n-sods'. Let's not forget something else - as well as the fine, prosecution costs and the embarrassment.......there's that dreaded CRIMINAL RECORD which will accompany such a conviction - something which can have serious consequences when it comes to, for example, applying for a job, obtaining credit etc.

T & G

As one who has many years of experience in dealing with fare evasion matters, it's amazing how many people feel how draconian it is to be charged at the very least the full standard fare for their journey (without any railcard / cheap day / saver discounts) on the spot, if not be issued with a Penalty Fare Notice, or worse reported for, when the vast majority of their fellow passengers are holding perfectly valid tickets!
QUOTE=odds-n-sods]It can actually be the time involved in working out the permutations of selling a set of tickets like the above example. Ticket Booking Offices dont' have the time to research that you all can.

Weekly tickets are cheaper than standard tickets over 5 days use, you need to decide when you are going to travel to see which one is cheaper.

And one tip I haven't sen yet:

Don't buy tickets on the train when the ticket office is open!

Wait in the que even if you have to get the train after the one you had planned on (or give yourself MORE time to buy a ticket and get to the station earlier) as conductors can't sell cheap day tickets from a station that has an open booking office.
And if you are travelling on a train company that doesn't use conductors DON'T decide not to buy a ticket on the chance you won't get caught - the fine is whatever the judge decides it will be once it goes to court, never mind the £20 penalty fare on top of having to buy your ticket, too. And the embarrassment.[/QUOTE]

[tigger and george]

Please refer to my earlier contribution directly above. T and G.
It can actually be the time involved in working out the permutations of selling a set of tickets like the above example. Ticket Booking Offices dont' have the time to research that you all can.

Weekly tickets are cheaper than standard tickets over 5 days use, you need to decide when you are going to travel to see which one is cheaper.

And one tip I haven't sen yet:

Don't buy tickets on the train when the ticket office is open!

Wait in the que even if you have to get the train after the one you had planned on (or give yourself MORE time to buy a ticket and get to the station earlier) as conductors can't sell cheap day tickets from a station that has an open booking office.
And if you are travelling on a train company that doesn't use conductors DON'T decide not to buy a ticket on the chance you won't get caught - the fine is whatever the judge decides it will be once it goes to court, never mind the £20 penalty fare on top of having to buy your ticket, too. And the embarrassment.

[turf]

Hi can anyone help, next monday I am going to gatwick from cambridge and return the following tuesday week, can any help with getting the cheapest tickets possible.

many thanks
shaun

[evesham1988la]

Hi can anyone help, next monday I am going to gatwick from cambridge and return the following tuesday week, can any help with getting the cheapest tickets possible.

many thanks
shaun

Cheap tickets between Cambridge and London can be found at www.thetrainline.com - clicking on 'Print Train Tickets' on the right - for £5 each way at 09.51, 18.21 or 19.21 on the Monday. On the return £5 tickets are not avaliable as yet but expected to be at 08:58, 12:58 or 20:58. I have no idea what time you intend to travel but maybe this can help?

Between London Victoria and Gatwick Airport you can take the Gatwick Express for £18.75 return - by booking at www.gatwickexpress.com/promo and using the code 200006. Using this and if the Cam-Lon times are correct I reckon it will cost you £28.75 + tube or bus fare between Liverpool St and Victoria stations in London.

[haria]

My broke! and good friend wants to travel by train from Newcastle to London on 29/09/06 during the day, arriving in London by 6 pm, Rtn on 03/10/06 (short notice I know) arriving back in Newcastle before 8 pm at latest, without changing at all, or much! if possible, this is very expensive as two singles-lowest fare was £57 rtn. or
possibly another nearby station to Newcastle, (if cheap and easy to transfer! he's not asking for much at this short notice!), I think the journey tires him out, though I did ask him if he could travel Newcastle to Birmingham (as the single fares were cheaper fro this), and then to London, same on the way back by coach, again only if the transfers were easy and quick, with short distance and costs too.

We would very much appreciate anyone's ideas, seen any offers, etc(possibly even the £5 offers currently offered by trainline.co.uk and others, though that I didnt see that for Newcastle. My frind is not able to get the railcard offer.

If anyone does come up with anything, thanks, this is my first post, hope it was ok

A good mate!

[cricketmad]

My broke! and good friend wants to travel by train from Newcastle to London on 29/09/06 during the day, arriving in London by 6 pm, Rtn on 03/10/06 (short notice I know) arriving back in Newcastle before 8 pm at latest, without changing at all, or much! if possible, this is very expensive as two singles-lowest fare was £57 rtn. or
possibly another nearby station to Newcastle, (if cheap and easy to transfer! he's not asking for much at this short notice!), I think the journey tires him out, though I did ask him if he could travel Newcastle to Birmingham (as the single fares were cheaper fro this), and then to London, same on the way back by coach, again only if the transfers were easy and quick, with short distance and costs too.

We would very much appreciate anyone's ideas, seen any offers, etc(possibly even the £5 offers currently offered by trainline.co.uk and others, though that I didnt see that for Newcastle. My frind is not able to get the railcard offer.

If anyone does come up with anything, thanks, this is my first post, hope it was ok

A good mate!

Hi there sorry for the late reply! Although this isn't by train, you could use the megabus service from newcastle to London which will cost £14.50 (at the moment) including booking fee. The details for this is:

29/9/06- 08:45 Depart Newcastle, Neville Street
Arrive London Victoria, Greenline Coach Station 15:25 1 seat = £8.00

3/10/06- 09:00 Depart London Victoria, Greenline Coach Station
Arrive Newcastle, Neville Street 15:40 1 seat = £6.00

Booking fee= 50p

Hope this helps!

[moose53]

I picked up a leaflet from First Great Western about their Ranger and Rover tickets. Basically you can travel for 3 in 7 days (£40, but railcard reductions are valid) or 8 in 15 days (£60) anywhere within "Devon and Cornwall" or "Severn and Solent". Also they do one for "South West" which is both of the above for £70 3 in 7 days or £95 for 8 in 15 days.

I'm sure these are worth buying if you're commuting, it's a huge region, and would probably pay even if you're doing a couple of trips.

I can't see anything about it on their website.

[elljay20]

Hi everyone i'm hoping for some help. My parner and myself are wanting to travel from scarborough to london on the 8/10 leaving around nine in the morning. We need to return from london on the 11/10 at around 10:30. I'm struggeling to find the best price and i have been on the internet all day with a really slow connection trying to find show (done), arrange accomodation (done) and travel (argghhhh). :mad:
My brain is frazzled. Any suggestions as to best prices and where to buy tickets very VERY much appreciated.
Also do i have to print off tickets as soon as i buy as i don't have a printer at home so would go to library to book.
Thanks in advance.
elljay20

[haria]

Hi there sorry for the late reply! Although this isn't by train, you could use the megabus service from newcastle to London which will cost £14.50 (at the moment) including booking fee. The details for this is:

29/9/06- 08:45 Depart Newcastle, Neville Street
Arrive London Victoria, Greenline Coach Station 15:25 1 seat = £8.00

3/10/06- 09:00 Depart London Victoria, Greenline Coach Station
Arrive Newcastle, Neville Street 15:40 1 seat = £6.00

Booking fee= 50p

Hope this helps!

Thanks for the advice, my friend isn't travelling so soon now though- and he hates using a coach service for the long journey! Even though it is cheap?

[malcolmwilliamson]

I'm on GNER's e-mail newsletter list and have today received a message announcing a 4 day (today to Monday), 1/2 million seat sale for travel between 1/11 and 15/12. Seats from £8.45.

No further info. is given and I haven't delved any further cos' I have no plans/need to travel on GNER routes.
From their message it looks like those of you interested will have to try booking on the GNER site http://www.gnertickets.co.uk/buy_tickets/requirements/journey_requirements.asp?sitecode=GNER
and see if you strike lucky for your journey.

[jenny_f]

I've just had the email as well but it confuses me as their cheapest online ticket is £8.45 anyway!!!

[haria]

I'm on GNER's e-mail newsletter list and have today received a message announcing a 4 day (today to Monday), 1/2 million seat sale for travel between 1/11 and 15/12. Seats from £8.45.

No further info. is given and I haven't delved any further cos' I have no plans/need to travel on GNER routes.
From their message it looks like those of you interested will have to try booking on the GNER site http://www.gnertickets.co.uk/buy_tickets/requirements/journey_requirements.asp?sitecode=GNER
and see if you strike lucky for your journey.

Thanks for the info, will check out if my friend is still going to travel!

[Nikiya]

Could someone please advice how to do a return trip (as cheaply as possible) from London to Glasgow or Edinburgh next week end? I read long ago about how to get cheap train tickets but cannot find the thread any more. Traveller is 18. Thanks a lot!

[carolt]

I need to get 2 adults and a child Watford-Stockport (but couldbook London-Manchester and get on and off at those stops if cheaper) - on Sat 2 Dec, coming back Sun 3rd Dec. at any time - but although lots of cheap fares on the Saturday, can't find anything cheap to return on the Sunday. Cheapest total fare is about £55 per adult for a return - no cheap singles for the Sunday - even if bought family railcard, cheapest fares are about £86 total - (plus cost of railcard at £20). So over £100 total!

Does anyone have any ideas on cheaper fares? Has to be train as travelling with lots of small children. As it's quite a long time away, are fares likely to get any cheaper if leave it or not? Do they release any fares nearer the time or have I already missed that?

Thank you!

[evesham1988la]

The single advance fares for Sundays are not normally realeased until a later date than the rest of the week

[carolt]

Thank you! Does anyone know how far in advance single Sunday fares are released, so I can order them as soon as they come out?

Many thanks!

[melbury]

I want to travel between York and Taunton every 2/3 weeks in order to see my girlfriend for a few days. I have tried every possible combination of breaking up the journey into stages, yet the cheapest fare is still the saver return for £64 (with a Young Persons Railcard). I am only a postgraduate student and this cost will break the bank eventually! I have been on the Virgin Trains website to look at the offers for advanced bookings etc yet the search keeps telling me they can't find any tickets for my journey. There must be a cheaper way to do it! Please anyone advise.

[Imperfect_One]

Can anyone find me the cheapest way to travel to london tomorrow from either Stratford-upon-Avon, Warwick Parkway or Leamington Spa - Moreton in Marsh is also an option. I want to arrive ideally between 10 and 11 am and return anytime ater 4:30 pm (the earlier the better). I will continue to research myself but am not a wizz at beating the system with different kinds of tickets/breaking journey down etc.

[gooismeid]

For those of you looking for travel between Manchester and London, try this - you print out your ticket at home. Limited availability (and no weekend trains) but discounted fares, £18 return.

https://www.printtraintickets.com/virgin/viewJourneys.aspx?jid=39-33-1&type=Return&psn=1

[Sam Bee]

For those of you looking for travel between Manchester and London, try this - you print out your ticket at home. Limited availability (and no weekend trains) but discounted fares, £18 return.

https://www.printtraintickets.com/virgin/viewJourneys.aspx?jid=39-33-1&type=Return&psn=1

This is now including London - Birmingham (Virgin) and London - Cambridge (ONE) - and I just saved £48 travelling to Manchester on Thursday...

[Bargain Rzl]

Could someone please advice how to do a return trip (as cheaply as possible) from London to Glasgow or Edinburgh next week end? I read long ago about how to get cheap train tickets but cannot find the thread any more. Traveller is 18. Thanks a lot!Hi, I know this is a bit late for you now, but for next time you should try http://www.firstgroup.com/scotrail/content/caledoniansleeper/index.php
Follow links to the Bargain Berths deals for the overnight sleeper trains - bargain fares start at £19 for a one-way trip. A friend and I have just got a brilliant deal for a "day trip" to Edinburgh, £19 one way and £29 the other, so £48 each in total, that's enabling us to spend a whole day exploring Edinburgh PLUS seeing the show that's our main reason for going - and it means we only need to take one day off work and don't have any additional accommodation costs! Brilliant.

Do bear in mind that the Sleeper doesn't run on Saturday nights, though.

[ash213]

whats the cheapest way of getting to london from bristol, arriving about 11ish in the morning on sunday and returning that evening at about 7ish ?

bus or train, i dont mind.

2 travellers.

[Sparky67]

I'm sure I've seen a thread somewhere previously on getting the best deal for a season ticket - I've just got a job offer in London, and I need to see how much I would need to spend on travel to see if its worthwhile... can anyone point me in the right direction?

[trubster]

Hi, Just wondering if anyone knows of the cheapest way to get from Sheffield to Newcastle... I do mystery shopping/store audits and I choose newcastle because there is 5 PC Worlds within easy puplic transport routes. I currently get the Advance tickets at £21-£25 return.

There probably is not but just wondering if there is a cheaper way...

Also, found this lil trick for sheffield to leeds... get a south yorkshire 'Day Tripper for £4.50 or a weekly/monthly one' and get a 'West Yorkshire Bus and Rail Day Rover' for £4.50 available from barnsley or darton train station. if you can get these before you travel then you can stay on the train... then you are covered in all west and south yorkshire... for £9 a day! it costs over £15 for a return ticket.. and you can get any bus/train/tram you want!

Thanks... Keep up the great work guys!

[hardpressed]

Hi, I know this is a bit late for you now, but for next time you should try http://www.firstgroup.com/scotrail/content/caledoniansleeper/index.php
Follow links to the Bargain Berths deals for the overnight sleeper trains - bargain fares start at £19 for a one-way trip. A friend and I have just got a brilliant deal for a "day trip" to Edinburgh, £19 one way and £29 the other, so £48 each in total, that's enabling us to spend a whole day exploring Edinburgh PLUS seeing the show that's our main reason for going - and it means we only need to take one day off work and don't have any additional accommodation costs! Brilliant.

Do bear in mind that the Sleeper doesn't run on Saturday nights, though.

Just had a look at this, it's a good deal. Also notice that they have special berths for manual wheelchair users and an escort goes free. Might be of use to someone.

[John_Davros_Cooper]

Just a wee one - need regular travel between London and Swansea that can be booked at around two weeks notice and can't find anything cheaper than the £35 rail fair which would kill be soon enough.....

This would be a weekend usualy travel out friday and back monday though weekday travel out then back is looking more likely.

[munygrabr]

How about three bridges to birmingham international on Tuesday 31st October. I need a return ticket. I have found it for £26.00 but that seems expensive compared to the 'print your own' offer of £7 each way.. it's the connections that are bringing up my price.
Has anyone got a promotion code for that box in the booking page?
Cheers

[rustyjames]

For those of you looking for travel between Manchester and London, try this - you print out your ticket at home. Limited availability (and no weekend trains) but discounted fares, £18 return.

https://www.printtraintickets.com/virgin/viewJourneys.aspx?jid=39-33-1&type=Return&psn=1

Thanks for the reminder. Very happy with three return tickets to London for £54.

[jammy123]

I need a cheap way of getting from coventry to great yarmouth or norwich.
Haven't used a train in years.
central trains want 43.50 does anyone know if this is the cheapest i can get?
Thanks

[evesham1988la]

I need a cheap way of getting from coventry to great yarmouth or norwich.
Haven't used a train in years.
central trains want 43.50 does anyone know if this is the cheapest i can get?
Thanks

Coventry to London Euston (Virgin Trains) - from £10 ('Virgin Advance')
London Euston to London Liverpool St (Tube) - £1.50 (Oyster)
London to Norwich - from £5 ('One Standard Advance')

[liz545]

Can anyone suggest anything cheaper for me - I want to go from London to Leicester on the 17th, travelling about 6pm, and returning sunday 19th in the evening. There doesn't seem to be anything on the midland mainline site at the times I want that's cheaper than about £40, which seems a lot more than their fares usually are.

[pompeyrich]

Can anyone suggest anything cheaper for me - I want to go from London to Leicester on the 17th, travelling about 6pm, and returning sunday 19th in the evening. There doesn't seem to be anything on the midland mainline site at the times I want that's cheaper than about £40, which seems a lot more than their fares usually are.

Try it as 2 singles, if you can travel up at 8pm it is £12 each way, if it has to be 6p.m., the best seems to be, £18 up and £12 back. The cheapest advertised fare for LON-LEI is £6 single, you could try various times of the day HERE (http://nationalrail.co.uk/) to see if there are any tickets at this price but friday and sunday evenings are highly popular times so the cheapest may already be sold out. For these prices you have to travel on the train you book, no flexibility.

[liz545]

thanks - the £12 each way's not great, but an improvement! Thanks for the oher link.

Maybe I'll go by coach! :rolleyes:

[ragjoy]

help please: norwich to swindon on the 24/11 to 26or27/11
any advice please.
i know you can do norwich to london for £10 return but how do you book it.
and when you do book it does it have to be specific times,if i try to book on-line it asks me to give a certain time ie: 1pm or 2pm and so on.
or can you jusy book it open because if i miss a connection then i have no ticket.
sorry to appear thick but i dont do trains............ragjoy

[jenny_f]

Wanting to travel from Chalkwell to York for as cheap as possible, have a YP card. Can be booked in advance

Any advice cheers

[evesham1988la]

Wanting to travel from Chalkwell to York for as cheap as possible, have a YP card. Can be booked in advance

Any advice cheers

Chalkwell to London Fenchurch Street - £5.30 (C2C - No need to buy in advance)
London Fenchurch St to London Liverpool Street - £1.50 (Oyster)
London Kings Cross to York - £9.50 (GNER Standard Advance)

Total: £16.30

[martinbuckley]

help please: norwich to swindon on the 24/11 to 26or27/11
any advice please.
i know you can do norwich to london for £10 return but how do you book it.
and when you do book it does it have to be specific times,if i try to book on-line it asks me to give a certain time ie: 1pm or 2pm and so on.
or can you jusy book it open because if i miss a connection then i have no ticket.
sorry to appear thick but i dont do trains............ragjoy

You can get London to Swindon return for £15 on those dates through nationalrail.co.uk, but you would have to commit to travelling on that train with no amendments.

[designpollyana]

I was wondering if there are any cheaper tickets from Grimsby Town to London on Friday returning on sunday. I can travel anytime friday and the best option I have found is £64. Does anyone know of any cheaper tickets.
thanks

[jenny_f]

any advice on the cheapest ticket from stansted airport to york, with a YP card, avoiding london if at all possible

cheers guys

[pompeyrich]

any advice on the cheapest ticket from stansted airport to york, with a YP card, avoiding london if at all possible

cheers guys

Via Peterborough probably best, Stansted-P'boro £8:90 std. single, buy at the station any train then P'boro-York from £9:50, book in advance GNER set train as booked.

[mad.dog]

I want to get to Edinburgh 8th December and return on the 10th

Any ideas - virgin is out as it's cheaper to fly!

[surfsister]

Hiya any ideas for a ticket return from Ipswich to London Sunday

student but no rail; card yet.

Want to leave at 8am return 6pm.

any help would be great cheapest so far £27!

[alchemista]

Hiya any ideas for a ticket return from Ipswich to London Sunday

student but no rail; card yet.

Want to leave at 8am return 6pm.

any help would be great cheapest so far £27!

You can get a rail card at the same time you visit a station to apply for one. Why don't you just get the rail card?

[surfsister]

You can get a rail card at the same time you visit a station to apply for one. Why don't you just get the rail card?

just wondered if you can get one easily? do you need a phot etc and also I am 17 would I qualify?

thanks

[alchemista]

just wondered if you can get one easily? do you need a phot etc and also I am 17 would I qualify?

thanks

Yes, passport size photo, you qualify for a young person's railcard.

[d0imakeuh0rny]

just wondered if you can get one easily? do you need a phot etc and also I am 17 would I qualify?

thanks

Hi there - a "one" railway guard at your service.....have you tried to book in advance over phone/net...prices from £5 each way...first come, first serve basis

[jenny_f]

I want to get to Edinburgh 8th December and return on the 10th

Any ideas - virgin is out as it's cheaper to fly!

from where? try megatrain

[surfsister]

Hi there - a "one" railway guard at your service.....have you tried to book in advance over phone/net...prices from £5 each way...first come, first serve basis

Hey great thanks did try this as picked up £5 leaflet at station but it is this Sunday I need to go and cheapest I can find is £27 as I want to get there by 10.00 for a course and leave at 18.00, this seems to be peak time so is dearer. (I did find a £10 outward train but doesn't get there til 10.20 so too late)

Any ideas would be great!

[jenny_f]

this might seem a bit of a dumb question, but does anyone know or know how to find out how much a single from Milton keynes to birmingham new street is if you buy it on the day of travel - wlak up fare?

cheers guys

[espresso]

this might seem a bit of a dumb question, but does anyone know or know how to find out how much a single from Milton keynes to birmingham new street is if you buy it on the day of travel - wlak up fare?

cheers guys

It will depend on the day and the time of travel. Have a look on thetrainline. (http://www.thetrainline.co.uk/)

[Little_Em]

Hello all, first post, so hope this hasn't been on here before.

I am currently studying full time and commute from Hull to Huddersfield 3 days a week for lectures. I have a Young Person's Railcard, and have had numerous problems with rail staff not knowing the Ts & Cs.

Basically, I was sold a Saver Return daily for the first few weeks and was then told Northern Rail were making a mistake and this was not valid. The difference between the Saver and Standard Day Fares was £50 a month, not good when you're on very limited funding.

With a little online research, I discovered that the problem lies in the fact that my railcard is not valid before 9am. By travelling "out" from Huddersfield at 5.15pm, and returning from home the following day ;) I can travel on the cheap fare on the same trains. A

Also, on busy services the conductor may not stamp your return ticket. Lots of returns are valid for a month, so reuse and get yourself a "free" coffee to keep warm when your train is late :D

[sparkymark]

Also, on busy services the conductor may not stamp your return ticket. Lots of returns are valid for a month, so reuse and get yourself a "free" coffee to keep warm when your train is late :D[/QUOTE]
be very careful this is also known as fraud - train companies will now prosecute anyone they feel is a fare dodger

[gavina]

Dear money saving experts.

I need to commute from Sheffield to Leeds, taking the Virgin service that stops only at Wakefield.

The cheapest option I can see would be to buy a South Yorkshire Travel Master, which covers all travel in the S Yorkshire area, including Sheffield, and a West Yorkshire Metro card, which covers all travel in the adjacent W Yorkshire area, including Leeds.

The conditions of carriage seem to quite clearly allow this, under section 19(a) below:

"19. Using a combination of tickets
You may use two or more tickets for one journey as long as together they cover
the entire journey and one of the following applies:
(a) they are both Zonal Tickets (unless special conditions prohibit their use);
(b) the train you are in calls at the station where you change from one ticket to
another; or
(c) one of the tickets is a Season Ticket (which for this purpose does not include Season Tickets or travel passes issued on behalf of a passenger transport executive or
local authority) or a leisure travel pass, and the other ticket(s) is/are not."

The definition of Zonal Tickets seems to include the passes I want to use:

"(q) “Zonal Tickets” are those tickets which permit travel only within a defined
area."

Despite the apparent clarity of these conditions, all the ticket office staff I have asked are absolutely adamant that I cannot use this combination of tickets on the Virgin service - though I might be able to use them on a slow train that stops at a station on the junction of the two regions. When I show them the conditions of carriage, they simply say, in effect, that these are just wrong, without offering any specific reason.

Can anyone advise me
a) if the tickets I want to use are permitted by the conditions of carriage?
b) how I can get a definitive judgement?

Thankyou very much for any help you can give me.

G

[Jonapet]

I used to work for the Rail Passengers Committee in the North East - before it was abolished. Unless Virgin has managed some sneaky dispensation in the past year, you can use the two PTE cards to travel between Sheffield and Leeds.
I clarified this when I was working for the watchdog last year.

Try writing to Passenger Voices - which has taken over from the Rail Passengers' Committee. Hopefully they can help you to clarify it again!

[jenny_f]

huddersfield to milton keynes any tips on splitting the journary as all the hudds birmingham cheap ones have gone??

cheers guys

[Little_Em]

Also, on busy services the conductor may not stamp your return ticket. Lots of returns are valid for a month, so reuse and get yourself a "free" coffee to keep warm when your train is late :D
be very careful this is also known as fraud - train companies will now prosecute anyone they feel is a fare dodger[/QUOTE]

Every day I have paid for and hold a valid ticket for the journey - numerous times have I sat there with my ticket ready to show and NO ticket check has been carried out on an hour and a half journey.

I have never "dodged" my fare.

[ruthiejane]

huddersfield to milton keynes any tips on splitting the journary as all the hudds birmingham cheap ones have gone??

cheers guys
You could try booking Huddersfield to Manchester Pic, and then Manchester to Milton Keynes. Its not a valid route for a through ticket, but as two separate tickets it might be quicker and cheaper.

[jenny_f]

booking for a friend now,

wanting to go from huddersfield to brighton outward on the 27th dec about 9am, returning 2nd jan about lunch time
with a YP card

cheers in advance guys

[evesham1988la]

booking for a friend now,

wanting to go from huddersfield to brighton outward on the 27th dec about 9am, returning 2nd jan about lunch time
with a YP card

cheers in advance guys



Out

11:35 Huddersfield to Wakefield Westgate (arr 12.08) - £1.45

12.17 Wakefield Westgate to London Kings Cross GNER (arr 14:12) - £9.50

14.40 Kings Cross Thameslink to Brighton (although due to engineering works there is a replacement bus service between Redhill & Three Bridges adding an extra half hr journey time) arr 16.06 – this portion bought as Saver Rtn - £17.70



Rtn

09.34 Brighton to Kings Cross Thameslink (arr. 10.47) – bought as part of Saver Rtn

11.10 Kings Cross to Wakefield Westgate (arr 13.17) - £9.50

13.29 Wakefield Westgate to Huddersfield GNER (arr 14.04) - £1.45

Total: £39.60

Only the GNER portions - Wakefield to Kings Cross needs to be bought in advance as they are quota controlled.

[carolgwen]

In Eastbourne you can buy a rail ticket to London for £10.00 per person or £20.00 for 4 people return, from the Tourist Information Bureau. There are travelling restrictions and the ticket needs to be bought in advance, but you can still have a good day out in London. It's called a day save ticket.
Not many people know this!

[peterholland]

just bought £10 of bio diesel in wifes car it was 74.9 per litire from charles henry street BIRMINGHAM b12 osd if car still working will fill mine up

[UltraCheap]

Hello,

I am looking to book 2x tickets to go from London to Cookham (can also go to Maidenhead and get a lift from there).

Tickets are coming up as £32 pounds for 2 people, which is really expensive.

I don't have a railcard, but would consider buying one. With the railcard, the price comes down to £21.20.

Can anyone recommend a better deal?

Departing 9 December and returning 10 December. Flexible on schedule, and could depart on 8 December.

Wish there was a way to catch a bus there, but I haven't found any buses heading that way.

Also, I wish there was a way to get a bargain deal to a farther destination and then hop off the train early (Maidenhead and Cookham don't seem to fall within the train company deals).

If you have recommendations I would greatly appreciate to hear about them!

Many thanks!
:A

[AP]

Dear money saving experts.

I need to commute from Sheffield to Leeds, taking the Virgin service that stops only at Wakefield.

The cheapest option I can see would be to buy a South Yorkshire Travel Master, which covers all travel in the S Yorkshire area, including Sheffield, and a West Yorkshire Metro card, which covers all travel in the adjacent W Yorkshire area, including Leeds.

The conditions of carriage seem to quite clearly allow this, under section 19(a) below:

"19. Using a combination of tickets
You may use two or more tickets for one journey as long as together they cover
the entire journey and one of the following applies:
(a) they are both Zonal Tickets (unless special conditions prohibit their use);
(b) the train you are in calls at the station where you change from one ticket to
another; or
(c) one of the tickets is a Season Ticket (which for this purpose does not include Season Tickets or travel passes issued on behalf of a passenger transport executive or
local authority) or a leisure travel pass, and the other ticket(s) is/are not."

The definition of Zonal Tickets seems to include the passes I want to use:

"(q) “Zonal Tickets” are those tickets which permit travel only within a defined
area."

Despite the apparent clarity of these conditions, all the ticket office staff I have asked are absolutely adamant that I cannot use this combination of tickets on the Virgin service - though I might be able to use them on a slow train that stops at a station on the junction of the two regions. When I show them the conditions of carriage, they simply say, in effect, that these are just wrong, without offering any specific reason.

Can anyone advise me
a) if the tickets I want to use are permitted by the conditions of carriage?
b) how I can get a definitive judgement?

Thankyou very much for any help you can give me.

G

I used to travel from Sheffield to Wakefield to work between 2001 and 2005 and have been using a South Yorkshire TravelMaster ticket and a season ticket between Moorthorpe and Wakefield for my journeys on Virgin Train. I have had the odd argument with one or two train managers but generally there was no problem as this combination of tickets satisfy condition 17(c) of the National Rail Conditions of Carriage because the South Yorkshire TravelMaster ticket is not regarded as a season ticket for the purpose of that section.

However, somebody recently posted on this site saying that Virgin Trains are cracking down on the use of this combination of ticket.

See: http://forums.moneysavingexpert.com/showthread.html?p=2172724#post2172724

The Terms and Conditions at the back of the 'new style' zonal travelmaster says that: 'This ticket is valid ... to/from Denby Dale, Moorthorpe and South Elmsall rail stations, provided the train stops at these stations.' As I understand, these wordings can override what is said on the National Rail Conditions of Carriage.

To get round this problem, I would suggest:

1. Use a RailMaster ticket instead of the TravelMaster. This ticket is only valid on trains and supertrams and costs £51.40 monthly. Virgin Trains have been making a big deal out of the TravelMaster but nothing is said about the RailMaster.

or

2. Use the Northern Rail limited stop service via Barnsley. Northern Rail appears to continue to accept combinations of ticket on this service. The station at the boundary of South Yorkshire and West Yorkshire along this route is Darton and somehow this station is not mentioned in the Terms and Conditions at the back of the TravelMaster ticket.

Although I no longer travel on this route since 2005, I am interested to see how this development gets on, especially when more train fare rises are on the horizon (after the new year).

[liz545]

I realise I probably should've booked earlier, but I want to travel from Leicester to Manchester on either the 30th or 31st of December, then from manchester to London on the 1st or 2nd of January - any suggestions as to cheap fares or ways to split the journey? Thanks.

[brucers9]

Hello!

I'm trying to book tickets from Plymouth to Heathrow on 29/01/07 (am) and returning on 20/02/07 (am).

The fares I'm finding on qjump etc are about £140, or with two singles £100 each, but can anyone help me find a cheaper option?

BB

[evesham1988la]

Hello!

I'm trying to book tickets from Plymouth to Heathrow on 29/01/07 (am) and returning on 20/02/07 (am).

The fares I'm finding on qjump etc are about £140, or with two singles £100 each, but can anyone help me find a cheaper option?

BB

www.megatrain.com - altho the dates you want have not been released yet, you can buy a ticket between Exeter and London for £1 each way(by buying through this website) plus add-on the fare from Plymouth to Exeter (from £3 each way) and the Tube Fare from Waterloo to Heathrow - £3.50 (Oyster). Total - from £8.50 rtn.

[anewman]

With a little online research, I discovered that the problem lies in the fact that my railcard is not valid before 9am. By travelling "out" from Huddersfield at 5.15pm, and returning from home the following day ;) I can travel on the cheap fare on the same trains.
Good idea. If you lived within west yorkshire the better option would be to get a wy student metro pass though I think :)

[mcallister1]

I got a great deal on taking the whole family up to Dundee from Chelmsford by booking early- however, trying to book my 16yr old to go from Chelmsford to Dundee 19-22 jan I can't get it cheaper than £29.70 each way, and that is with a yp card. I tried going via Glasgow on Virgin but couldn't get it cheaper because of crossing Scotland. Now I am thinking she would be better going from Stansted on easyjet where she can fly for £24 to Edinburgh then megabus it to Dundee.
Any thoughts? Tried the GNER offer but it was £30 each way. Any advice gratefully received.

[pancakequeen]

As I no longer have a car I need to travel from Preston to Lancaster for work every day, can someone please give me the cheapest way of travelling by rail. Thanks

[alchemista]

As I no longer have a car I need to travel from Preston to Lancaster for work every day, can someone please give me the cheapest way of travelling by rail. Thanks

What have you researched and found yourself?

[wobblebottom]

Hiya folks, not posted in this bit before, but Im after a day return from Stoke on trent- Any Central London station for a days sightseeing, leaving 8 ish return 6 ish..

for 2 adults.. cheapest ive find if i book now is £25.00 EW Per person on virgin, am i better booking this now.. (part of someones xmas pressy) or would it be cheaper on the day ? 13th jan preffered day of travel..

Hope you guys n gals can help

[evesham1988la]

Hiya folks, not posted in this bit before, but Im after a day return from Stoke on trent- Any Central London station for a days sightseeing, leaving 8 ish return 6 ish..

for 2 adults.. cheapest ive find if i book now is £25.00 EW Per person on virgin, am i better booking this now.. (part of someones xmas pressy) or would it be cheaper on the day ? 13th jan preffered day of travel..

Hope you guys n gals can help

Hi - the fare you have found is not £25 each way per person but for 2 people - so overall it is £50 return for two people. Yes, book now as it will be more expensive on day of travel.

[wobblebottom]

thanks i knew what i meant.. but typed it wrong.. thanks for taking the time to look for me..

Now.. just to raise the funds..before xmas ! eeeekkkkkk!!!

[the.weekender]

liz545
I have checked out midlandmainline.com and found the following, if you have a railcard it should be cheaper.
You need to book 3 singles.
Sat 30th Dec Leics 1236-Manchester 1503 change sheffield cost £6.
Mon 1st Jan Man'r 1318 _Sheffield 1408 single £12.20
Mon 1st Jan Sheffield 1427-St Pancras 1645 cost £11.50 or £17.00 First Class
You need to book ASAP and can have the tickets sent to your home or collect them at Leicester Station Fasticket machine.
You can adjust the times to suit yourself and check availabilty, the main thing when the fares come up is to click on SINGLE fares

[bargainbasement]

Hi I am wanting to book in advance to try and get some cheap tickets to go with my £1 hotel room in London. Date of travel is 11/3 returning 12/3 not too bothered about times. I don't travel by rail much can anyone help me out, the cheapest I can find so far is £40 but I think that is just for one person single!!:confused:

[evesham1988la]

Hi I am wanting to book in advance to try and get some cheap tickets to go with my £1 hotel room in London. Date of travel is 11/3 returning 12/3 not too bothered about times. I don't travel by rail much can anyone help me out, the cheapest I can find so far is £40 but I think that is just for one person single!!:confused:

Darlington to London Kings X: The chepest that I can find is £38.50 return.

11/3
1059, 1158, 1303, 1328, 146, 1404, 1500, 1533, 1559, 1630, 1704, 1731, 1759, 1900, 1930, 2006, 2058 @ £27.50

12/3
1430, 1900, 2000, 2100, 2200 @ £11

[Poor_Commuter]

Query regarding First Capital Connect/GNER season tickets to London

A friend of mine travels from Hertford to Kings Cross and saves approx £800 PA by buying a ticket from Hertford to the edge of Zone 6, where his tube ticket takes over. His train stops at that station so its apparently fine although its never an offered option on renewal.

Does anyone know of a way to do this from Stevenage to KX ? I've just gone for renewal to find its increased to £3528 PA which hurts !!!!

Any suggestions, loopholes, etc .. gratefully received.

All I can offer in return is that if you order your season online they usually send it out 2 weeks beforehand and its perfectly valid to use !

Thanks,

Impoverished.

[trubster]

Does anyone have any idea of the cheapest way of gettting from sheffield to london and sheffield to newcastle?

Thanks

Kev

[evesham1988la]

Sheffield to London - £6 each way (Standard - with free tea/coffee) or £12 (First Class) each way - when booked in advance.

Sheffield to Newcastle - £9 each way - when booked in advance.

[trubster]

Sheffield to London - £6 each way (Standard - with free tea/coffee) or £12 (First Class) each way - when booked in advance.

Sheffield to Newcastle - £9 each way - when booked in advance.

who do I order this through? can I get it on the standard GNER Website?

[evesham1988la]

who do I order this through? can I get it on the standard GNER Website?

Yes... put your details in and then when the times and prices appear click on "Single Fares." These are quota controlled so the cheaper fares sell out fast and not flexible - i.e. you have to select and travel on a specific train.

[samsyerman]

I am looking to travel to Boscastle on the 17th March from Exeter Airport and return on the 24th March. I do not see any rail company which travels all the way to Boscastle and I do not know what is the nearest station.

Any help is much appreciated.

samsyerman

[trubster]

Sheffield to London - £6 each way (Standard - with free tea/coffee) or £12 (First Class) each way - when booked in advance.

Sheffield to Newcastle - £9 each way - when booked in advance.

This may sound like I am taking the p*$$ but can u get railcard discounts with that?

[evesham1988la]

I am looking to travel to Boscastle on the 17th March from Exeter Airport and return on the 24th March. I do not see any rail company which travels all the way to Boscastle and I do not know what is the nearest station.

Any help is much appreciated.

samsyerman

The nearest rail station to Boscastle is Bodmin Parkway which is 20 miles away. Trains run direct between Exeter St Davids and Bodmin Parkway - £4 each way when booked in advance through www.fgw.co.uk. There is a direct bus connection between Exeter Airport and Exeter St. Davids. However, the bus connection between Bodmin Parkway and Boscastle is a little tricky using buses 555 & 594 via Wadebridge. Bus times are available through www.transportdirect.info. The good news is that you can buy a day ticket to be used on both buses for £5 (Adult)/£10(Family)

[evesham1988la]

This may sound like I am taking the p*$$ but can u get railcard discounts with that?

Yes - Sheffield to London with the railcard discount is from £4.60 each way though there is no discount for First Class.

Sheffield to Newcastle is reduced to £6.25 each way.

[trubster]

Yes - Sheffield to London with the railcard discount is from £4.60 each way though there is no discount for First Class.

Sheffield to Newcastle is reduced to £6.25 each way.
Thanks v. Much for that... I cant believe it is only 4.60 each way that is over100 miles down the road, I cant even get to Retford (35 miles away) for that!!!

[WHISKEY]

you may be better off buying two single tickets i just got
one way from dundee to kings cross cost £15.50
kings cross to dundee cost £15.50
or the other option was a return costing £103.00
i saved £72 wow

[trubster]

Is there a way of reserving a seat for a baby under 5 online? or do I have to go to the train station?

Thanks

Kev

[funkin]

Hi. I'm looking for fares for four people travelling from Twickenham going to Looe in Cornwall on Friday 16th March, and returning sometime on Monday 19th. This'll be South West Trains to Reading, then First Great Western down to Plymouth/Liskeard.

Cheapest I've found looks to be a saver return, which is 70 pounds each return. Single fares seem to be 69 pounds each, each way. The people travelling would much rather train than drive, but at 280 pounds total (return), the prospect of being crammed in a car for 5 hours+ (ignore traffic) actually sounds appealing!

There must be a bargain out there....anyone care to take up the challenge :)

Thanks in advance.

[vegtablepatch]

Can anyone suggest a cheaper cost than £49.80 for return s'ham to london
for a weekend trip 19th Jan to 21st Jan. I would prefer to travel by train but happy to get bus to brighton or could use car for part of journey if parking not too expensive.
Any suggestions to reduce the price?
Thanks
Vegie:)

[evesham1988la]

Hi. I'm looking for fares for four people travelling from Twickenham going to Looe in Cornwall on Friday 16th March, and returning sometime on Monday 19th. This'll be South West Trains to Reading, then First Great Western down to Plymouth/Liskeard.

Cheapest I've found looks to be a saver return, which is 70 pounds each return. Single fares seem to be 69 pounds each, each way. The people travelling would much rather train than drive, but at 280 pounds total (return), the prospect of being crammed in a car for 5 hours+ (ignore traffic) actually sounds appealing!

There must be a bargain out there....anyone care to take up the challenge :)

Thanks in advance.

Firstly, in the South of England, four people travel for the price of two on Saver Returns and Cheap Day Returns (this is called Groupsave) so automatically halving the price of the walk-up fare you have found down to £140rtn for 4.

Cheap advance singles between Reading and Liskeard for your dates looks like they haven't been released yet.. so these will be £13 each way.

An alternative slower journey to consider would be to take the SouthWest trains service from Waterloo to Exeter which is £1 each way when booked in advance at www.megatrain.com.

[evesham1988la]

Can anyone suggest a cheaper cost than £49.80 for return s'ham to london
for a weekend trip 19th Jan to 21st Jan. I would prefer to travel by train but happy to get bus to brighton or could use car for part of journey if parking not too expensive.
Any suggestions to reduce the price?
Thanks
Vegie:)

The standard return price is £24.90 and not £49.80 which would be for two. However you can buy a ticket called a Southern DaySave for £10, which allows unlimited travel on Southern Trains for that day after 10am weekdays and all day saturday/sunday. Obviously you will need to buy two tickets for each of the two days you wish to travel. These can be only be bought by clicking here (http://www.southernrailway.com/buytickets/daysave/DaySave.php?iSessionId=ef07d5bbedc66997efe29722a63 0e3b5&bNewImport=true&sEvent=TicketDetails&SOUTHERN=ef07d5bbedc66997efe29722a630e3b5&COMMS=ef07d5bbedc66997efe29722a630e3b5&__utma=80915733.118501060.1167837831.1167837831.11 67837831.1&__utmb=80915733&__utmc=80915733&__utmz=80915733.1167837831.1.1.utmccn=(organic)|ut mcsr=google|utmctr=southern|utmcmd=organic)
and must be bought at least 7 days in advance.

[funkin]

Cheap advance singles between Reading and Liskeard for your dates looks like they haven't been released yet.. so these will be £13 each way.
Thanks ever so much for your suggestions. Any idea when the cheap advance singles get "released". I though there was a 13 week thing for timetables to be published, but do these sometimes appear nearer the date of travel.

Do you know if the saver returns are available as a walk-on fare or do these need to be booked in advance? The groupsave deal sounds great.

[weaholt]

Hi everyone,

Myself and my husband are due to go to London for the weekend on Friday the 30th of March until Sunday the 1st of April. Have been searching around and have gathered from this site that I need to get in there 12 weeks prior to travel for a good deal - which is this Friday. I have been looking at fares using the week before as a guideline but the return fare is pretty dear at £61.90 each - more than we can afford.

I have tried the spliiting of the journey into multiple tickets but it came out dearer still! Any tips that I've missed?? It would be greatly appreacited!!

thanks :)

[weaholt]

oops duplicated post!

[asot]

If you travel towards London at peak times you pay a premium for your tickets. Purchasing the same tickets but in the opposite direction can save you significant amounts.

One, totally random, example is:

Fratton TO Guildford (Heading towards London)
Standard Day Return £20.90

Guildford TO Fratton (Heading away from London)
Standard Day Return £14.70

In this particular case a weekly ticket is £299.6 so there are no savings to be made if you travel 5 days per week on this route.

However savings vary depending on the stations involved. My particular journey costs are reduced by 33% even when compared with a weekly ticket saving me £10/week.


Obviously this means on your outbound journey you use your return ticket and your return journey you use your outbound ticket. I don't see this being a problem though; how could they possibly prove that you hadn't travelled the other direction already. However, officially it's against the rules:

17. Using a return ticket
A return ticket (including a two-part return ticket) is only valid for the outward
journey shown on that ticket if the ticket is completely unused. You may not use
the outward part of a return ticket after you have used the return part.

[vegtablepatch]

The standard return price is £24.90 and not £49.80 which would be for two. However you can buy a ticket called a Southern DaySave for £10, which allows unlimited travel on Southern Trains for that day after 10am weekdays and all day saturday/sunday. Obviously you will need to buy two tickets for each of the two days you wish to travel. These can be only be bought by clicking here (http://www.southernrailway.com/buytickets/daysave/DaySave.php?iSessionId=ef07d5bbedc66997efe29722a63 0e3b5&bNewImport=true&sEvent=TicketDetails&SOUTHERN=ef07d5bbedc66997efe29722a630e3b5&COMMS=ef07d5bbedc66997efe29722a630e3b5&__utma=80915733.118501060.1167837831.1167837831.11 67837831.1&__utmb=80915733&__utmc=80915733&__utmz=80915733.1167837831.1.1.utmccn=(organic)|ut mcsr=google|utmctr=southern|utmcmd=organic)
and must be bought at least 7 days in advance.
Thank you evesham1988la. I misunderstood my quote thought it was per person not total for 2 persons. Have used the link you provided and the price of £40.00 period return to london is excellent. Just hoping now that I will get a good price for a 4* hotel for 2 nights on lastminute.com auction.

[evesham1988la]

Thanks ever so much for your suggestions. Any idea when the cheap advance singles get "released". I though there was a 13 week thing for timetables to be published, but do these sometimes appear nearer the date of travel.

Do you know if the saver returns are available as a walk-on fare or do these need to be booked in advance? The groupsave deal sounds great.

The Saver Return is available as a walk-on fare. I'm pretty sure that you can get Groupsave on this but to be sure ask at your local station.

[evesham1988la]

Hi everyone,

Myself and my husband are due to go to London for the weekend on Friday the 30th of March until Sunday the 1st of April. Have been searching around and have gathered from this site that I need to get in there 12 weeks prior to travel for a good deal - which is this Friday. I have been looking at fares using the week before as a guideline but the return fare is pretty dear at £61.90 each - more than we can afford.

I have tried the spliiting of the journey into multiple tickets but it came out dearer still! Any tips that I've missed?? It would be greatly appreacited!!

thanks :)

Click on singles and the fare magically falls to £16.50 single for the 08.09 or 11.11 departure from Blackpool North. However, these advance single fares are released later on weekends so they are not showing up at the moment.

[neily_boy72]

Does anyone know of any codes or promotions that are available and work on the site? I've tried a few codes that were posted previously on this site, but they now don't appear to work? Any help would be appreciated!

[evesham1988la]

Does anyone know of any codes or promotions that are available and work on the site? I've tried a few codes that were posted previously on this site, but they now don't appear to work? Any help would be appreciated!

The code for the Gatwick Express expired at the end of 2006. Instead of paying £26.80 for a Standard Open Return on the Gatwick Express you could take the Southern service from Gatwick Airport to London Victoria, taking 5 minutes longer but costing only £17.80.

[bananakinz]

I'm looking to go to Blackpool on Sat 3rd March to meet up with some friends.
I will be going from Redhill, Surrey to Blackpool, but can get to most other local train stations! the price quoted is £73 return - does anyone know of any discount codes for trainline, or if I can get this cheaper?

Many thanks

[ImFrugal]

Hi - I'm new to this.
Can anyone tell me if the Ryde Esplanade and Ryde St John's Road Gold Card Trick is still valid. Details of this seemed to have been taken off of the cheap train tickets page. I am a shift worker and live in Dartford and travel off peak to london bridge regularly. I don't travel often enough to make a season ticket worthwhile.

Thanks

[Spikey]

are they any codes out there for any of the rail networks?

[evesham1988la]

I'm looking to go to Blackpool on Sat 3rd March to meet up with some friends.
I will be going from Redhill, Surrey to Blackpool, but can get to most other local train stations! the price quoted is £73 return - does anyone know of any discount codes for trainline, or if I can get this cheaper?

Many thanks

You should be able to buy Virgin Value singles for £16 each way although they havent been released yet.

[bananakinz]

Thanks for that - do you know roughly when Virgin release these fares?

[trubster]

I commute from Sheffield to Wakefield to work each day and by buying a South Yorkshire TravelMaster ticket together with a season ticket between Moorthorpe and Wakefield is costing me £107.95 per month instead of the full season ticket price of £133.50 between Sheffield and Wakefield. This combination of ticket is valid on a through train which does not call at Moorthorpe station (e.g. 0712 Virgin Train) as permitted under Condition 17(c) of the National Rail Conditions of Carriage, which says:

17. A combination of tickets
You may use two or more tickets to travel on one train journey as long as together they cover the entire journey and one of the following applies:

(a) they are zonal tickets;
(b) the train you are on calls at the station where you change from one ticket to another; or
(c) one of the tickets is a season ticket, which for this purpose does not include season tickets or travel passes issued on behalf of a passenger transport executive or local authority, and the other ticket(s) is/are not. You must comply with any restriction of use to a particular Train Company's trains shown on the tickets (see Condition 10).

I have met a number of other regular passengers travelling from Sheffield (or Dronfield and Chesterfield) to Leeds each day and I would strongly advise them to do the same.

South Yorkshire Zone TravelMaster ticket: £63.50 per month;
One Month season ticket between Moorthorpe and Leeds: £72.20 per month;
Making it £135.70 per month altogether.

One full season ticket between Sheffield and Leeds: £151.00 per month.

By buying a combination of tickets as above, a saving of £15.30 per month can be made, plus the cost of all public transport to and from Sheffield station as the TravelMaster ticket is valid on all buses and trams as well whilst the season ticket between Sheffield and Leeds is valid on trains only, and the cost of a FirstMonth ticket on the bus will cost an additional £39 per month.

This combination of tickets satisfy condition 17(c) because the Moorthorpe to Leeds season ticket is the season ticket required and the South Yorkshire TravelMaster ticket is the 'other' ticket when the condition says clearly that it is not to be regarded as a season ticket for this purpose.

My other favourite ticket is the Derbyshire Wayfarer ticket when it can be used in conjuction with a Cheap Day Return ticket from Burton on Trent for travel to Birmingham.

Derbyshire Wayfarer - valid between Sheffield and Burton on Trent: £7.50 (includes a free child place!)

Cheap Day Return from Burton on Trent to Birmingham: £5.90 - making it £13.40 in total.

A full saver return between Sheffield and Birmingham costs a wapping £27.30 - plus half fare for a child if you are taking one.

By buying a combination of ticket as above, a saving of at least £13.90 can be made just for one day out! However, in this case, the trains that you travel must call at Burton on Trent station as neither ticket is a season ticket and so condition 17(b) applies.

How does this work, Is this legal? I have been told by the staff at sheffield station that the train MUST stop at Darton as that is the "Boundry Station" or I would have to buy a ticket from Barnsley to wakefield on the leeds fast train or a ticket from sheffield to wakefield on the virgin train...

Help please?!?!

[Roland]

Thanks for that - do you know roughly when Virgin release these fares?

Looking at www.nationalrail.co.uk (http://www.nationalrail.co.uk), you should be able to get £20.00 each way via Euston. The cheaper £16.00 appears to be via Reading and Birmingham. These fares are currently available until about early February. So, keep checking every week, the price will eventually drop.

[nedchester]

I notice that in the Sunday Times Martin quotes the following about tickets from Wales to London as compared to Chester to London. For example a Chester to London Saver is not valid on peak trains whereas a Shotton to London (7 miles further) is:

"Saver fares are often less likely to be available on more popular routes, especially commuter routes. This means it’s sometimes possible to buy a ticket for a longer journey that incorporates your route at a cheaper price and make some serious savings.

For example Chester to London peak times saver fares aren’t usually available, but they are for some journeys starting in Wales, going via Chester, meaning it’s absurdly actually substantially cheaper to travel further. Many people do this, it’s known as travelling 'short', but sadly it's a no go as it's against the ticket's terms and conditions, and you can get kicked off a train if you do"

Not strictly true the conditions of a Saver ticket are that you cannot 'BREAK' your journey on the outward portion. If you start your journey at Chester rather than Shotton then you can't 'break' your journey as you haven't started it yet!!!!!!

[skintscotsman]

hi, i wonder if someone could give me help on travelling from

Edinburgh to Coventry on Fri 9 Feb
Coventry to Edinburgh on Sun 11 Feb

I would need to travel afternoon on Fri but I am flexible for travelling on the Sunday.

Best I could find was about £60. Can anyone suggest anything cheaper?

[pompeyrich]

hi, i wonder if someone could give me help on travelling from

Edinburgh to Coventry on Fri 9 Feb
Coventry to Edinburgh on Sun 11 Feb

I would need to travel afternoon on Fri but I am flexible for travelling on the Sunday.

Best I could find was about £60. Can anyone suggest anything cheaper?

Do you have a deadline to be in Coventry on the friday? If not, try Megatrain.com HERE (http://www.megatrain.com/) 12:05 to Morpeth arr 13.22 for £1, then Morpeth-Coventry for £12 single, this means a 2 hour wait in Morpeth, dep 15:23 arr Cov 19:49 change at Brum but for £13 its cheap enough.

Return on the Sunday for £17 dep Cov 14:25 arr Edi at 21:15 no changes. Ok so not the fastest but pretty good at £30 return

[skintscotsman]

no, don't have a deadline to be in coventry but 2 hrs is an awful long time to wait:rotfl:

supposei could spend the time with a good book

cheers!

[bliss]

hi, could anyone offer any assistance??

I'm wanting to travel from lockwood/slaithwaite/huddersfield (all hudds stations dnt mind which really) to Leamington Spa on the 24th Jan (depart after 12.30 ish) and coming back on friday 26th Jan (prefer aftnoon departure)

Thank you

[bliss]

oh the cheapest i've found is doin two singles, hudds to leam 9.55, and leam to hudds 9.55, only certain trains tho.

[cliver029]

Be aware that you might even get your Rail card cheaper from your local council offices.
Mine (South Cambs) charges £16 not £20

Regards

Clive

[jenny_f]

I've just tried booking two student getaway fares (transpenine express). National rail says they are available but when i select any of the vendors they aren't there/available - help!!! we want them for saturday

[zoelife]

I will be travelling from either Bristol to York return or Wolvehampton or Birmingham to York return in jan or feb I haven't decided exactly when so will be flexible and open to advice whn is best monetarily or otherwise (likelyhood a weekend may be involved but any options considered)

I have a "disabled persons railcard" which should mean that I get 1/3 off both mine and my carers ticket. I do want to stay on the same train with as few physical changes as possible due to ease of journey.


I know that there is a stunning amount of knowledge shared by fab people like you - so write to me ;)

hear from you soon

[Mojo29]

I will be travelling from either Bristol to York return or Wolvehampton or Birmingham to York return in jan or feb I haven't decided exactly when so will be flexible and open to advice whn is best monetarily or otherwise (likelyhood a weekend may be involved but any options considered)


Bristol - Cheltenham Day Single (valid on day of purchace only) £5.75
Cheltenham - Wolverhampton Open Return (valid for 1 mth) £14.40
Cheltenham - Bristol Day Single (valid on day of purchace only) £5.75
Total £25.90

These are valid at any time of the day, - however a Saver Return for the whole journey is only 5p more.

[Bully1]

Here's one for you.

Down here in the west country, the new improved service is so overcrowded that the conductors cannot get down the train to sell you a ticket.

Simply choose a station where there is no ticket office, and travel to another without ticket office.

I travel from Oldfield Park to Filton Abbey Wood every day (£6.50 return), but have only managed to buy 3 tickets since the 10 dec changes.

I estimate a saving of about £110.50

Give it a go!

:T

[VardreRFC]

Has anyone any ideas on getting the route Swansea to Stockport any cheaper than £59 Return.

We ( 5 of us) need to arrive before 1pm on Sat 20th January (for a rugby game) leaving anytime on the next day.

Thanks in advance

[Mice_Elf]

Are there any good deals to reduce a London monthly season ticket? Currently goes from St Neots -> King's Cross (I think) every day and then gets the tube / DLR to Canary Wharf. This is every morning and then he reverses it to come home every night.

Currently costs us £400+ every month. Are there any ways that we can reduce this without adding too much to the journey times? He already leaves at 6:00am to be in work for 8:30am and rarely manages to make it home by 19:30, unless he leaves before 5...and he's supposed to stay in work until 5:30.

Can we reduce this or shall we just live with it? :S

[evesham1988la]

Has anyone any ideas on getting the route Swansea to Stockport any cheaper than £59 Return.

We ( 5 of us) need to arrive before 1pm on Sat 20th January (for a rugby game) leaving anytime on the next day.

Thanks in advance

By booking before 1800 the day before it will be £45. In the south of the country, four people travel for the price of two - although I do not know if this this applies in Wales - so it will be best to ask at your local station.

[LisaChristie]

Can anyone help please?

My brother needs to go from Redhill (surrey) to York on the 1st June and return 3rd June.

Can anyone advise the cheapest method and route, your help is much appreciated!
Thank you!

[LisaChristie]

Can anyone help please?

My brother needs to go from Redhill (surrey) to York on the 1st June and return 3rd June.

Can anyone advise the cheapest method and route, your help is much appreciated!
Thank you!

[evesham1988la]

Can anyone help please?

My brother needs to go from Redhill (surrey) to York on the 1st June and return 3rd June.

Can anyone advise the cheapest method and route, your help is much appreciated!
Thank you!

Cheap fares haven't been released yet for June.
To travel via London Kings Cross - fares will be available from £20.50 each way with GNER - with a total journey time from Redhill of 3hr20.
An alternative route would be via Reading which is a much longer route (5hr30 - 6hr) though fares are from £11 each way.

[LisaChristie]

Thank you evesham1998la, really helpful. My brother will look into this in April as I think this is when they are releasing the timetable. thanks again

[yeslek]

anyone know of any cheaper tickets for travel between london and stafford

at the momemnt i can get two singles, 12.50 each way but its still £9 more expensive than the coach. (i'd prefer to go by train as its less than half the time)

any help much appriciated

[anniednvn]

Hi Yeslek.
A little long winded, but depending on when you want to go,you may want to look at Megatrain from London to Manchester (v cheap), then Manchester to Stafford (can be as little as £5 single), you will prob need to check yourself though. Good Luck!!

[evesham1988la]

Hi Yeslek.
A little long winded, but depending on when you want to go,you may want to look at Megatrain from London to Manchester (v cheap), then Manchester to Stafford (can be as little as £5 single), you will prob need to check yourself though. Good Luck!!

Megatrain is not available between London and Manchester. £12.50 is the cheapest fare available between London and Stafford.

[jenny_f]

i'm wanting to get from york to stevenage on 3rd feb departing 17:00-17:30, I've looked and i can't find any cheapish tickets,

other options are to letchworth, baldock or ashwell

anyone suggest anything or know if the virgin coupons from daily mail will work for this route?

[nwsurrey]

Cheap tickets? Not so cheap with the Trainline!!!!

When I need to travel by train, I usually book my tickets on line in order to benefit from the most competitive fares. The Trainline is an excellent website to explore timetable and find out about fares available.

Just two things customers should be aware of:
- The rainline automatically adds a travel insurance (£2 for a return ticket) and you always need to remember to opt out of this option (bit like asking for a coffee and ending up with a coffee AND a muffin)
- The Trainline adds a credit card charge (another £2) if you choose this mode of payment. Nothing wrong with that in principle but the charge is not clearly displayed.

So if you don't pay attention, a £20 return ticket ends up costing £24 - a whopping 20% increase!!!!! Furthermore if you try to call the Trainline, your call is being transfered to India!

What's the solution? Use the Virgin Trains website to buy your train tickets: there is no charge for credit cards and the travel insurance is not automatically added!!! And if you are used to the Trainline web site and their speedy delivery of train tickets, don't worry the the Virgin Train web site is powered by the Trainline so same service, just much more customer friendly

[jenny_f]

i'm wanting to get from york to stevenage on 3rd feb departing 17:00-17:30, I've looked and i can't find any cheapish tickets,

other options are to letchworth, baldock or ashwell

anyone suggest anything or know if the virgin coupons from daily mail will work for this route?

anyone????

[Roland]

i'm wanting to get from york to stevenage on 3rd feb departing 17:00-17:30, I've looked and i can't find any cheapish tickets,

other options are to letchworth, baldock or ashwell

anyone suggest anything or know if the virgin coupons from daily mail will work for this route?

York and Stevenage are both on the East Coast Main Line and are served by GNER not Virgin.

A single fare with a direct train to Stevenage should be £22.50. You will need to change at Stevenage to get to any of the other stations you quoted.

[snowy]

Can anyone help me with cheap tickets from manchester to london april 23?, cheapest so far is around £50 each tia

[dmarshbcfc]

If travelling a long distance journey twice or more in a week and it costs more than £375 and no season ticket is available. buy an little publicised ticket known as an 7 day all line rover is available for £375. which gives unlimited travel on the national rail network (excluding heathrow express and eurostar)

[niccy]

hi, i wonder if i have got the cheapest tickets if anyone can tell me otherwise i would be most grateful.
Thurso to Edinburgh 9 feb return 11 feb
1 adult two kids (under 15) £69.50

with family railcard

thank you

[evesham1988la]

hi, i wonder if i have got the cheapest tickets if anyone can tell me otherwise i would be most grateful.
Thurso to Edinburgh 9 feb return 11 feb
1 adult two kids (under 15) £69.50

with family railcard

thank you

that is the cheapest i can find...

[terri_06_uk]

Hi could someone help me find the cheepest way to go from saltburn in cleveland to stoke-on-trent on the 24th feb till 25th feb. Or if anyone have any money off codes for trainline.
Thanx
Terri

[ashlar77]

A warning to all moneysavers!

I have been regularly buying a split ticket between Oxford and Sheffield. Buying tickets to and from Leamington Spa saves over 10pounds per ticket!

I have been doing this for months with no problems.

Today, I went to the FastTicket machine to collect pre-booked tickets. The second leg of the journey was not printed by the machine.

I queried this at the ticket office and they said the FastTicket Machines have (as of today) been programmed not to give out split journey tickets! The ticket seller did print me out the second leg ticket, but he gave me a telling off (why? it's a legal ticket!) and I nearly missed my train.

In future, if you are doing this, leave plenty of time to collect your tickets or get the tickets delivered in advance...

[Bella_b]

Hi everyone,

I've been reading about the split fare saving trick and thought i'd give it a go myself as I need to go to Manchester next week. I travel quite a lot on trains as my boyfriend lives up north and never realised this trick so thanks guys! :D

I have a Young Person's railcard and it cuts 1/3 of fares which is good but I usually end up having to pay the Saver Return fare because I don't book early enough (I don't often know the dates I need to go until about a week before.)

Anyway, next Tuesday 27th feb I'm meeting up with my boyfriend and we are going to see The Feeling together, our favourite band! (I managed to get tickets on Ebay :D quite cheaply!) I've done a little research for the train trip and have found out I could save £2.40 on the saver return YP price.

Young Person's Saver Return Oxford to Manchester Piccadilly £38.75

YP Saver Return Oxford to Birmingham New Street £17.15 +
YP Birmingham New Street to Manchester Piccadilly £19.20 = Total £36.35

I've also tried singles for each part but it works out more expensive.

I have a few questions that I would like to ask all you fellow MSEs! :)

1) If i'm using split tickets even though the train i'm on is direct to my destination, do I have to get off and change trains?

2) Is there a limit to how many tickets you can have split between places?

3) Are YP travelcards ok to use with split tickets?

4) Is Birmingham New Street a good place to split the journey from Oxford?
(I just thought it was about half way). Would Oxford - Lemington Spa be better? Please tell me if you think it would be better to split it at another point along the journey. :)

Finally, I'm wondering whether all in all you guys can find me a ticket for cheaper than the split ticket price I've found of £36.35!

I'm quite flexible on times.. but can't travel before 9am (railcard restrictions) and would like to have arrived in Manchester by at least 5pm (if not before) as concert is at 7pm, and have to meet up beforehand etc.
By the way, I'm returning the next day, Wednesday 28th Feb but have to be back by 6pm.

If you could have a think about this, I would really appreciate it! :D

Many thanks,
Bella :dance:

[darbsterj]

Hi
I am a lurker on this site and don't post very often but need to buy a train ticket from Leeds to London on the morning of the 10th March returning the following day mid morning and the cheapest I seem to be able to find it is £70 per person (2 adults travelling). Can anyone help me improve on this? Not wise to the tricks of the trade yet!
Thanks
Louise

[Anon]

Hi
I am a lurker on this site and don't post very often but need to buy a train ticket from Leeds to London on the morning of the 10th March returning the following day mid morning and the cheapest I seem to be able to find it is £70 per person (2 adults travelling). Can anyone help me improve on this? Not wise to the tricks of the trade yet!
Thanks
Louise

Look at your options by going from Leeds to Peterborough, Peterborough to Kings Cross. Singles are generally cheaper for each leg (but on www.gner.co.uk (http://www.gner.co.uk) you can search for Return and then switch the option to singles as this saves time - plus if you book through them, you get an additional 10% saving on some fares and also don't get charged for booking). A quick search of these options brings the fare down to less than £50 (need to be careful to check times unless you are happy to change trains).

Anon

[guycross]

Hiya, I am writing from Chile!!

I return home to the wonderful UK in May, and thought I could save myself pounds by booking some travel now!

I am travelling from Colwyn Bay - Leuchars (Scotland) and I am not sure how to split my journey.

Could you advise me.

Thanks


guy

[evesham1988la]

Hiya, I am writing from Chile!!

I return home to the wonderful UK in May, and thought I could save myself pounds by booking some travel now!

I am travelling from Colwyn Bay - Leuchars (Scotland) and I am not sure how to split my journey.

Could you advise me.

Thanks


guy

If you're travelling on a weekday, you can go between Manchester to Edinburgh for £1 - when booking in advance through www.megatrain.com

You can buy a return between Colwyn Bay & Manchester for £22.60
and between Edinburgh and Leuchars for £11.40 return through www.firstgroup.com/scotrail/

[jenny_f]

I'm looking for a mate

Wanting the cheapest route from York to Stansted/Bishops Stortford going on either the 2nd or 3rd March and returning 10/11/12 March (ideally 11th).

On the Friday earliest travel time is 17:30

Do have a YP railcard.

Cheers in advance guys

[fairymarie]

hi got to go blackburn to euston or kings cross 9th march arrive by midday and return after 7pm same day. can anyone get it cheaper than £95 for 1 adult & 1 child? thanx

[trubster]

hi got to go blackburn to euston or kings cross 9th march arrive by midday and return after 7pm same day. can anyone get it cheaper than £95 for 1 adult & 1 child? thanx

Have you got a Family Railcard? £20 for 12 months and 1/3 off most train fare's

[loucroft]

Hi - please help

I wondered if anyone could guide me, don't usually use trains.

We're booking to go from Kings Cross to Edinburgh Waverley - 10.45 depart from KC (21/04) and 12pm depart from Edb (23/04).

My mates have booked this for £25 booking two singles, I'm being quoted by gner £38 per single ticket.

I've gone to national rail, they quoted me £24.50 per single, making it just under £50 but then say which vendor I want to pay through. When I select gner it just sends me right back to the gner site where the prices are still really high.

I don't want to pay nearly fifty quid more than my mates paid, it's meant to be a cheap weekend! Does anyone have any ideas to get this price down - can't find promo codes etc anywhere and we want to be on the same train.

HELP!! please!

Cheers
Lc

[pompeyrich]

Select First Scot Rail as the vendor, you will not pay any charges with them and the tickets will be the same.

[jenny_f]

anyone advise on the cheapest way to get from Huddersfield to Stevenage on leaving 01/04 at 17:00 or later and returning 06/04 anytime, preferably afternoon.

could travel down on 02/04 if needed to

[Roland]

Hi - please help

I wondered if anyone could guide me, don't usually use trains.

We're booking to go from Kings Cross to Edinburgh Waverley - 10.45 depart from KC (21/04) and 12pm depart from Edb (23/04).

My mates have booked this for £25 booking two singles, I'm being quoted by gner £38 per single ticket.

I've gone to national rail, they quoted me £24.50 per single, making it just under £50 but then say which vendor I want to pay through. When I select gner it just sends me right back to the gner site where the prices are still really high.

I don't want to pay nearly fifty quid more than my mates paid, it's meant to be a cheap weekend! Does anyone have any ideas to get this price down - can't find promo codes etc anywhere and we want to be on the same train.

HELP!! please!

Cheers
Lc

I have checked both National Rail and GNER websites and on both the fare is £24.50 each way. If you book through the GNER website, there is a 10% web discount, bringing the fare to £23.80 for each single. There are no further charges levied. The £12.50 fares for each train appear to have sold out.

[mrs T]

We are a family of five (2 adults 3 kids) looking to travel Aberdeen - York return at easter. Trainline quotes £205 with no railcard but I wonder if anyone who knows anything about rail cards could tell me if I could save by buying a family rail card? We are unlikely to use a railcard for another journey this year.

[evesham1988la]

We are a family of five (2 adults 3 kids) looking to travel Aberdeen - York return at easter. Trainline quotes £205 with no railcard but I wonder if anyone who knows anything about rail cards could tell me if I could save by buying a family rail card? We are unlikely to use a railcard for another journey this year.

By buying two singles, the cheapest return ticket for 2 adults & 3 kids is £155 - without a railcard. Using a Family Railcard, it does not reduce the price of advanced GNER singles.

What are the actual dates you are looking for?

[mrs T]

By buying two singles, the cheapest return ticket for 2 adults & 3 kids is £155 - without a railcard. Using a Family Railcard, it does not reduce the price of advanced GNER singles.

What are the actual dates you are looking for?

3rd and 5th of april. Where do I find £155?

[Chaufeurse1956]

I live on the outskirts of Durham and was quite surprised at the variation in train prices. I am travelling to Milngavie, Scotland in April and was quoted £60 for a single from Chester-le-Steet to Milngavie. So, I did a Chester-le-Street to Newcastle which came in at £3.40 and a Newcastle to Milngavie which was £12.45 making the journey £15.85! I shake my head in wonderment as to how GNER can hope to get away with that. Still I suppose if you are not as persistant in hunting down good prices as most MSE's are then that is what will happen. The joke was I emailed GNER and said send the tickets in one envelope - can't they replied, two different reference numbers so they will be sent out in two separate envelopes - ok, fine by me as GNER pay the postage!

Cheers,

Chris

[newUKshopper]

I need some help finding the cheapest fare from Paddington to Evesham or somewhere not too far from Stratford upon Avon.
I will be traveling sometime after 8:30pm and hopefully before 10pm on a Thursday evening but don't know exactly how long it will take me to get through customs etc at the airport.

I haven't decided on the trip back so not sure if I should buy that yet but if it would be possible to get a very cheap return on Monday morning or early afternoon, I might take that.

I am so lost when it comes to traveling in the UK so all help will be greatly appreciated.

[Chaufeurse1956]

I need some help finding the cheapest fare from Paddington to Evesham or somewhere not too far from Stratford upon Avon.
I will be traveling sometime after 8:30pm and hopefully before 10pm on a Thursday evening but don't know exactly how long it will take me to get through customs etc at the airport.

I haven't decided on the trip back so not sure if I should buy that yet but if it would be possible to get a very cheap return on Monday morning or early afternoon, I might take that.

I am so lost when it comes to traveling in the UK so all help will be greatly appreciated.

Hiya,

Take a look at http://www.firstgreatwestern.co.uk/Default.aspx - you will need to register but that is no biggie. I took a look using the gner site, purely because I am registered with gner, and their price was £29 for a single leaving London Paddington at 1352 hours on Monday 2 April as an example. I have found that using the website of the company that services the line is usually cheaper.

Let me know if I can help at all. Best wishes,

Chris

[newUKshopper]

Hiya,

Take a look at http://www.firstgreatwestern.co.uk/Default.aspx - you will need to register but that is no biggie. I took a look using the gner site, purely because I am registered with gner, and their price was £29 for a single leaving London Paddington at 1352 hours on Monday 2 April as an example. I have found that using the website of the company that services the line is usually cheaper.

Let me know if I can help at all. Best wishes,

Chris


Thank you Chris.

My biggest problem is knowing where I should be looking, UK geography isn't my strongest point :).
I think I am already registered with First Great Western since I travelled with them last year but I have never heard of this Gnear until I read about it here. What is that?

[Chaufeurse1956]

Thank you Chris.

My biggest problem is knowing where I should be looking, UK geography isn't my strongest point :).
I think I am already registered with First Great Western since I travelled with them last year but I have never heard of this Gnear until I read about it here. What is that?


GNER is the North East carrier - I live in Durham so that is my preferred choice - it is always cheaper to go to the carrier on that line - in my experience anyway.

I am going out in a couple of mins now - drop me an email at Chaufeurse43@aol.com and I will help all I can when I get back in a couple of hours - ok?

Chris

[evesham1988la]

I need some help finding the cheapest fare from Paddington to Evesham or somewhere not too far from Stratford upon Avon.
I will be traveling sometime after 8:30pm and hopefully before 10pm on a Thursday evening but don't know exactly how long it will take me to get through customs etc at the airport.

I haven't decided on the trip back so not sure if I should buy that yet but if it would be possible to get a very cheap return on Monday morning or early afternoon, I might take that.

I am so lost when it comes to traveling in the UK so all help will be greatly appreciated.

Hi, I replied to your post on tripadvisor.co.uk.
There are no discounts on the route from Paddington to Evesham (which is rubbish).

[jenny_f]

anyone advise on the cheapest way to get from Huddersfield to Stevenage on leaving 01/04 at 17:00 or later and returning 06/04 anytime, preferably afternoon.

could travel down on 02/04 if needed to


Anyone?!?!

greatly appreciated

cheers

[newUKshopper]

Hi, I replied to your post on tripadvisor.co.uk.
There are no discounts on the route from Paddington to Evesham (which is rubbish).

Thank you evesham. At least I found the 50% off the Heathrow Express on the tripadvisor forum :)

[evesham1988la]

Thank you evesham. At least I found the 50% off the Heathrow Express on the tripadvisor forum :)

Yes lol, I post the codes for the HEx and GEx from this website on tripadvisor.

[jenny_f]

anyone please i'm booking tonight, cheapest i've got is 33:40

anyone advise on the cheapest way to get from Huddersfield to Stevenage on leaving 01/04 at 17:00 or later and returning 06/04 anytime, preferably afternoon.

could travel down on 02/04 if needed to

[alchemista]

I'm trying to help a friend. I'm going to suggest the Southwest Trains weekly season ticket unless one of the experts here has a better suggestion for daily travel for the weekdays between Waterloo-Farnborough(Main)??

"
(The train from Waterloo to Farnborough Main is only a 35-40 minute hop.) My question for you: what is the best type of train ticket to get if I plan to be making the round-trip every day for a week? Is there some kind of weekly pass?
"

[The_Bloodster]

I'm buying tickets for 2 adults and 1 child to go to Scarborough on Saturday 10th from Manchester and the cheapest I can find is £52.30 despite yesterday there being one for £49.85 which is now only available on my return time.

I notice on Trainline they have a place for promotion code - is there one or can anyone suggest a cheaper ticket!!

Managed to get it to £49.20 by doin two open return tickets

Manchester ---> Leeds £20.35
Leeds ---> Scarborough £28.85

Is this allowed and is there problems with open returns? The price is the same if I do a normal return and state the time. I suppose a open return is safer in case anything delays the match I'm going to.

[trubster]

Yes it is allowed, and I would say to definatly get a Family Railcard, £20 with 1/3 off all your journeys (Min 1 Adult AND 1 Child)

£16.43 Discount off £49.20!!!

[The_Bloodster]

That price already includes the family railcard though :(

[lickylonglips]

Am looking to travel (1 adult return - no railcard) between Blackpool North and London Euston over half term. Can travel any dates after May 25th, but must be back by June 3rd. Am getting prices around £65 return. Am sure I have seen returns for £33 recently, though. Can anyone help, please?

[trubster]

BLACKPOOL NORTH 11:11 Train NORTHERN RAIL
PRESTON 11:38 11:52 Train VIRGIN TRAINS
LONDON EUSTON 14:03

£16.50 Single with NO RAILCARD

The tickets are limited but if you book far enough in advance you should get some, "Virgin Value Advance C"

Hope this helps

[trubster]

Sorry, forgot to say, the tip to finding these tickets are by booking singles rather than a return.

source of timetable + price info: www.gner.co.uk

[lickylonglips]

Sorry, forgot to say, the tip to finding these tickets are by booking singles rather than a return.

source of timetable + price info: www.gner.co.uk

It's 12 weeks in advance that I'm trying to book, but still not havingany joy on any dates.... Am I doing something wrong?

[Mystiqueuk]

Hi All,

New member here, so apologies if this has been asked before....

I will be moving to Chelmsford soon, along with my husband, and will be commuting in from Chelmsford to Liverpool Street every day.
Does anyone have any ways to make this journey any cheaper than the £255 a month I will have to pay?
We currently live in london at the moment and only pay £100 each for a Z1-3 season ticket, but we are making our first steps on the property ladder in Chelmsford, so this is quite a big jump for us.

Thanks in advance

[trubster]

It's 12 weeks in advance that I'm trying to book, but still not havingany joy on any dates.... Am I doing something wrong?

The cheap tickets are only available 12 weeks in advance to 6pm day before, keep checking and make sure it is actually 12 weeks to the day.

Kev

[Roland]

Here is an interesting acticle about rail fares from BBC News.

http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/magazine/6442947.stm

[AP]

Here is an interesting acticle about rail fares from BBC News.

http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/magazine/6442947.stm

Very Interesting!

See also:

http://travel.guardian.co.uk/article/2007/jan/04/railtravel.cheaptickets

http://www.tiscali.co.uk/money/guardian/features/2006/06/17/change-here-for-cheaper-rail-fares/2

http://www.guardian.co.uk/commentisfree/story/0,,1780324,00.html

http://www.mirror.co.uk/catchall/tm_method=full%26objectid=15018644%26siteid=89520-name_page.html

http://money.guardian.co.uk/print/0,,329506576-112259,00.html

http://www.timesonline.co.uk/tol/news/uk/article406008.ece

http://www.findarticles.com/p/articles/mi_qa3724/is_200008/ai_n8909800#continue

[Bunnies]

Hi All,

Can anyone help me?

I've recently secured a new job at London Victoria and am looking to travel to work by train every week, including some saturdays. Can anyone give me any ideas how i can save money on a Monthly Ticket from either Horsham or Christs Hospital in West Sussex to London Victoria?? I have been quoted £284 or £273 a month, any ideas anyone??

Thanks All :j

[babybunny]

Hi everyone,

I need to travel from London to Stafford on 2nd June arriving no later than 1pm, returning to London on 3rd June arriving no later than 10pm.

I have a network railcard, but the cheapest I have managed to find so far is £90.20 for two people. The advanced fares don't seem to be available yet, even though it is less than 12 weeks until the trip.

Does anyone have any tips on making this journey cheaper?

Thanks for any help you can give me!

[pompeyrich]

Hi everyone,

I need to travel from London to Stafford on 2nd June arriving no later than 1pm, returning to London on 3rd June arriving no later than 10pm.

I have a network railcard, but the cheapest I have managed to find so far is £90.20 for two people. The advanced fares don't seem to be available yet, even though it is less than 12 weeks until the trip.

Does anyone have any tips on making this journey cheaper?

Thanks for any help you can give me!

The £90:20 fare is a standard "walk up" fare available on the day of travel so no point in booking that just now. Sometimes, especially at weekends and due to engineering work, "value" fares aren't released until nearer the departure day, so keep checking and when you see them book them.

[bobdauilda]

Can anyone help me get a cheap deal from Cardiff to London on Thurs 22nd March?? Need to be there for 1330 hours and dont mind a late return.... 2 singles cost £27 total so far so anyone with a better deal please let me know!

[tightasagnats]

Hello All,

I'm travelling from London to Salop (Whitchurch) (which is on the Crewe line) on Fri 6th April - needing to arrive by about 15:00-18:00. Returning Fri 13th April after about 13:00.

So far cheapest I have found is a megabus return to Birmingham for £13.00 and then a saver return from Birmingham to Salop with one change for £19.00 on the train.

Any help much appreciated!

Best wishes
T

[evesham1988la]

Hello All,

I'm travelling from London to Salop (Whitchurch) (which is on the Crewe line) on Fri 6th April - needing to arrive by about 15:00-18:00. Returning Fri 13th April after about 13:00.

So far cheapest I have found is a megabus return to Birmingham for £13.00 and then a saver return from Birmingham to Salop with one change for £19.00 on the train.

Any help much appreciated!

Best wishes
T

Bear in mind that a return (returning within 1 month) is available between London Marylebone and Birmingham Snow Hill for £15 anyway (+ £1 add-on if you need to travel from anywhere in the M25 by train).

Unfortunately (for you), there is a £5 discount code on tickets (rather than transactions) of £20 or more - and as the Saver Return between Birmingham and Whitchurch is £19, it isn't much use to you.

[iwannabeonthebeach]

Hi, I'm looking for a return ticket from Exeter to London on either 11/12th April. It's for a day trip, so not too bothered about arrival times but obviously wanna be there for long enough to make it worth while, so looking to arrive approx 10/11 and leave 4/5/6. I've found saver return for £59, or two separate tickets would work out at £47. I've tried the advice above about booking tickets to different stations along the way but am a bit confused!
Any help appreciated.

[sparkymark]

New member here, so apologies if this has been asked before....

I will be moving to Chelmsford soon, along with my husband, and will be commuting in from Chelmsford to Liverpool Street every day.
Does anyone have any ways to make this journey any cheaper than the £255 a month I will have to pay?
We currently live in london at the moment and only pay £100 each for a Z1-3 season ticket, but we are making our first steps on the property ladder in Chelmsford, so this is quite a big jump for us.

Thanks in advance

a season ticket is the cheapest way for a daily commute , so no other way to save - sorry

[AP]

New member here, so apologies if this has been asked before....

I will be moving to Chelmsford soon, along with my husband, and will be commuting in from Chelmsford to Liverpool Street every day.
Does anyone have any ways to make this journey any cheaper than the £255 a month I will have to pay?
We currently live in london at the moment and only pay £100 each for a Z1-3 season ticket, but we are making our first steps on the property ladder in Chelmsford, so this is quite a big jump for us.

Thanks in advance

a season ticket is the cheapest way for a daily commute , so no other way to save - sorry

The season ticket between Chelmsford and London Terminals has now gone up to £268.80 per month. You could buy an annual season ticket valid for 12 months for £2800.00 which you can pay by monthly direct debit, equals £233.33 per month.

An annual season ticket holder has the benefit of buying a standard saver return at 1/3 discount for the holder and a travelling companion, plus accompanying children travels at £1 each return for all journeys within the Network South East area, stretching from Kings Lynn to Exeter and also from Worcester to Hastings.

You might be interested to know that a standard day return from Chelmsford to London costs £20.20. But the same ticket from London to Chelmsford costs only £12.10. So if you want to just go to London for one day early in the morning, buy a return from London to Chelmsford and use the return portion to go out and the outward portion to return!

[kittycatface]

https://www.printtraintickets.com/one/
£6 single Cambridge - London Liverpool St if you book and print out online. Times avail are restricted but there are generally 3 times avail for each day.

It will take approx 1/2 hr longer than the Kings Cross line but works out about 1/2 price

If anyone is on the One train network its worth a look - but am not sure if they do anything except camb-london for this cheap.

[babybunny]

The £90:20 fare is a standard "walk up" fare available on the day of travel so no point in booking that just now. Sometimes, especially at weekends and due to engineering work, "value" fares aren't released until nearer the departure day, so keep checking and when you see them book them.

Hi, some value fares have now shown up for this journey, but they are different on Virgin website and the trainline website. Is this normal?!

My journey is London to Stafford on 2nd June arriving no later than 1pm, returning to London on 3rd June arriving no later than 10pm. I have a network railcard.

The best I can find is £25 for two singles to Stafford and £45 for two singles to London making £70 total.

I suppose I could also book the £25 tickets using trainline and get an additional £5 off with the promotional code, but the £45 tickets aren't on the trainline so I would have to book these through Virgin, whbut that would be ok.

But is there a cheaper way I have missed?

Many thanks

[pompeyrich]

Hi, some value fares have now shown up for this journey, but they are different on Virgin website and the trainline website. Is this normal?!

My journey is London to Stafford on 2nd June arriving no later than 1pm, returning to London on 3rd June arriving no later than 10pm. I have a network railcard.

The best I can find is £25 for two singles to Stafford and £45 for two singles to London making £70 total.

I suppose I could also book the £25 tickets using trainline and get an additional £5 off with the promotional code, but the £45 tickets aren't on the trainline so I would have to book these through Virgin, whbut that would be ok.

But is there a cheaper way I have missed?

Many thanks

The £45:00 fare with Virgin doesn't really exist as a single, it is half of the £90:20 return but can only be booked if you book the outward part too.
Advanced fares for travel on a Sunday, and sometimes Saturday, are usually released later than the weekday ones, this is because the train companies don't know what, if any, engineering work, there will be over the weekend. The obvious problem this causes is that by the time the Sunday fares are released the others may have gone !!

[daftstar]

Hello.

I only want to go from London to Birmingham International but the fares are an arm+leg!

I want to travel on June 10th (Sun) and return 18th (Mon)

When do Virgin Advance fares become available?

x

[dzug]

If you can meet its rather stringent off peak restrictions, you can get a return for £15 with Chiltern from Marylebone, changing to Virgin at Leamington. It's a walk on fare so you don't need to book. To find validity, put High Wycombe in the via box on the website.

Alternatively, going by Silverlink to Northampton and Central from there is cheaper than Virgin for walkup fares.

VV tickets are available now for both dates.

[tjretro]

I'm trying to find the cheapest way to get to Bristol Parkway from Gloucester, most of the time getting to Bristol before 9am. As it is before 10:15 I can't use my railcard. It just seemed that £195 for a month ticket was a bit steep for a 35min journey!! :mad:

[MikeAngove]

Hi all,

I'm hoping someone can please help. I'm looking to travel from gloucester to darlington on Friday 6th AM until Monday 9th PM. I'm unable to find any offers at this short notice. Can anyone recommend anything please?

MikeA

[dzug]

I'm trying to find the cheapest way to get to Bristol Parkway from Gloucester, most of the time getting to Bristol before 9am. As it is before 10:15 I can't use my railcard. It just seemed that £195 for a month ticket was a bit steep for a 35min journey!! :mad:

Price a standard day return and see how many journeys you'd need to make to make the season pay.

If you travel on a Virgin train, I believe you CAN use your rail card. Only trouble is I don't think there's many Virgin trains call at Gloucester these days so you'd probably have to get to Cheltenham first which would negate any saving.

[dzug]

Hi all,

I'm hoping someone can please help. I'm looking to travel from gloucester to darlington on Friday 6th AM until Monday 9th PM. I'm unable to find any offers at this short notice. Can anyone recommend anything please?

MikeA

You're going to need to do your own legwork, but try splitting the rail journey at one or more of Birmingham, Derby, Sheffield, Leeds and York. You may find there's special offers still there for part of the journey, or you may find that the full fares add up to less than the through fare. No guarantees though.

Or try National Express - £56 return.

[Humhum]

if we move to Cambridge, one of us will have to commute back to London (New Barnet station) 5 days a week for the foreseeable future (but not forever, hopefully). That's First Capital Connect - whose website discloses no season ticket prices unless you have a photocard number.

Anyone knowing what a monthly season card would cost?

[scudder]

I travel Birmingham to Euston regularly and book in advance. Virgin Trains have changed their web layout and are not showing the cheapest tickets for my
journey. I can 'phone Virgin and get the cheap fare - too inconvenient.

Yesterday I saved £45.50 by using the Trainline on one return and on 3 other return tickets I saved £26 on each set representing a saving of 3 x £26.00 and 1 x £45.50 a total of £123.50. Although there is a total £2.00 C Card Charge.

I have complained to Virgin Trains, who responded.... "Our website offers the most-economical fares available for your journey travelling with Virgin Trains. They are divided into four easy to understand ticket categories,....However, you should know that there may be just a few occasions when other tickets are available that are not included here....."

[Roland]

I travel Birmingham to Euston regularly and book in advance. Virgin Trains have changed their web layout and are not showing the cheapest tickets for my
journey. I can 'phone Virgin and get the cheap fare - too inconvenient.

Yesterday I saved £45.50 by using the Trainline on one return and on 3 other return tickets I saved £26 on each set representing a saving of 3 x £26.00 and 1 x £45.50 a total of £123.50. Although there is a total £2.00 C Card Charge.

I have complained to Virgin Trains, who responded.... "Our website offers the most-economical fares available for your journey travelling with Virgin Trains. They are divided into four easy to understand ticket categories,....However, you should know that there may be just a few occasions when other tickets are available that are not included here....."

My advice is to avoid thetrainline. Their credit card charges make them more expensive than the ticket ordering sites offered by the train operators. Most of these do not surcharge credit card customers.

http://nationalrail.co.uk/tocs_maps/tocs/

I personally use the GNER website, I can order tickets for any rail journey in the UK and collect through FastTicket machines. These ticket sites, including thetrainline, are all basically the same and are partially owned by Virgin Trains.

[TimothyEBaldwin]

If going from A to B and C check if a ticket from A to B is valid via C, or a ticket from A to C is valid via B; the result may be surprising. For example Selby to York is valid via Leeds and Selby to Huddlesfield is valid via York. Another option may be a ticket to D valid via B and C, in this case your train must stop at D.

Remember a break of journey is not permitted with Saver Singles or the outward portion of a Saver Return, and the outward portion of a ticket must be used in one day if possible.

[malcolmwilliamson]

https://www.printtraintickets.com/one/
£6 single Cambridge - London Liverpool St if you book and print out online. Times avail are restricted but there are generally 3 times avail for each day.

It will take approx 1/2 hr longer than the Kings Cross line but works out about 1/2 price

If anyone is on the One train network its worth a look - but am not sure if they do anything except camb-london for this cheap.

I haven't used www.printtraintickets.com/one but my own research on the National Rail site showed me that you can get a one way ticket from London (Liv St) all the way up to Norwich and beyond to places as distant as Cromer and Gt Yarmouth for just £6. The return journey can also be £6.
(These journeys are all more expensive from Kings X using FCC for at least the first leg.)
From my experience it seems that you usually have to book at least 2 weeks ahead to get these prices.

Great value and all credit to One.

[wickywocky]

Here's a trick to try if you're buying more than one ticket...

I went onto the GNER website to buy two tickets for travel next week but it wasn't coming up with cheap enough tickets when I searched for two. When I searched for one a couple of trains showed cheap tickets.

So, added one at the cheaper price, went back, searched again and it was still showing one at the cheaper price on the same train. Added that thinking that at some point it was going to tell me that the seat wasn't available, but it's all gone through!

I run the risk that the seats won't be together, but I'll pick them up a few days early and ask at the station for new reservations if they're not.

I was getting annoyed that I was not offered the one seat at the cheap fare plus one more expensive one when searching for two, but it's worked out in my favour.:j

[wigglywoozle]

I'm hoping that someone will be able to help me. I need to travel from Redruth, Cornwall to Kendal in the Lake District in the middle of May and return a week later. I'm not 100% on the dates yet but know it will be the middle of May. The cheapest fare I can find (if I purchase a student rail card) is £92 something return. Is there a way of splitting the tickets so it'll be cheaper? Unfortunately I don't know any stations past Plymouth because I don't venture out of Cornwall very often so wouldn't have a clue how to split tickets.

Any help very gratefully received.

Kate x

PS. I will have my 2 year old daughter with me, and although I know she doesn't cost me any extra, I would prefer a route with as few changes as possible :)

[dzug]

I'm hoping that someone will be able to help me. I need to travel from Redruth, Cornwall to Kendal in the Lake District in the middle of May and return a week later. I'm not 100% on the dates yet but know it will be the middle of May. The cheapest fare I can find (if I purchase a student rail card) is £92 something return. Is there a way of splitting the tickets so it'll be cheaper? Unfortunately I don't know any stations past Plymouth because I don't venture out of Cornwall very often so wouldn't have a clue how to split tickets.

Any help very gratefully received.

Kate x

PS. I will have my 2 year old daughter with me, and although I know she doesn't cost me any extra, I would prefer a route with as few changes as possible :)

You can on the right trains do the journey with one change - into the branch line train to Kendal and Windermere. Either at Preston or Oxenholme.

The cheapest possible fare for the through journey (ignoring rail cards) is £24.50 single on a Virgin advance ticket - few and far between but you might get lucky particularly if you can jiggle your dates a day or two.


To split your journey experiment with Bristol Parkway, Cheltenham Spa and Birmingham New Street as ticketing points.

[Littlemum]

Have just spent a useful few minutes on the trainline site and successfully knocked ££ off train fares for myself and my son. Thanks Martin for the tips.Really enjoy the website.: ::T

[shezza3105]

i have to travel by train from scarborough to manchester on the 5th of may which is a bank holiday weekend. i never travel by train so i have no idea which is the best tickets sites or anything. i am returning the next day and stopping off at leeds both ways for a couple of hours. do i get a ticket for leeds and then another for leeds to manchester or can i get one for all the way but where i can stop off in leeds for a bit and then get back on the train with the same ticket? please help!

[dzug]

i have to travel by train from scarborough to manchester on the 5th of may which is a bank holiday weekend. i never travel by train so i have no idea which is the best tickets sites or anything. i am returning the next day and stopping off at leeds both ways for a couple of hours. do i get a ticket for leeds and then another for leeds to manchester or can i get one for all the way but where i can stop off in leeds for a bit and then get back on the train with the same ticket? please help!

If you get a saver ticket (which is the cheapest walk on ticket) you will not be able to break your journey in Leeds going out. You would need to get two savers, Scarborough to Leeds and Leeds to Manchester. The good news is that that's actually a few pounds cheaper anyway.

For the Scarborough to Leeds sector there may be TPEX tickets available if you book in advance for specific trains. There's nothing similar Leeds to Manchester.

[Snoopy06]

Cool Group booking Cheap deals Promotional Codes pls
Hey all, Just wondering if anyone knew of the cheapest way to get a group booking from crewe to lancaster via virgin trains, if there were any promotional codes etc.

Its for the 2nd and 3rd of June ages away but everywhere so far is quite expensive or doesn't have a group booking option...anyways any information would be great..

Keep posting

[trubster]

Is there any tricks to getting cheaper tickets to newcastle from sheffield? I normally get the 9.50 saver singles with railcard, just wondering if there is any promo codes that work

Cheers

Kev

[jinkssick]

Hiya, I plan to go to bournemouth from the 5th may, no return needed.

its from london. I found a £12 ticket from megatrain, and thats not too bad but I found one with better timing but its called APEX train single fare at 17.80.

Whats Apex? and do you know any cheaper journeys?