Rail Travel: Tips on Cheap Tickets

[Livingthedream]

Can anyone help with my journey..?

I like to regularly travel to Carlisle from London to visit family but even if I try to book well in advance, the tickets are always about £90 return.. I usually travel after 5pm on a Friday, returning Sunday afternoon - I know these are probably peak times but it's just so frustrating that even the "book in advance" rule doesn't apply.. Petrol is almost cheaper but the drive can be an absolute nightmare!! Any suggestions would be greatly appreciated!

As this is a regular journey and if booking in advance doesn't work then try split tickets. You can also try using the station in Bold as a 'via' option in most train fare search engines.

London KX to Leeds - Leeds to Carlisle
London KX to Newcastle - Newcastle to Carlisle
London St Pan to Sheffield - Sheffield to Carlisle
London Euston to Birmingham NS - Birmingham NS to Carlisle
London Euston to Manchester Pic - Manchester Pic to Carlisle
London Euston to Crewe - Crewe to Carlisle

You are travelling an V Peak times but hopefully a mix and match of the above might save you some money and if you don't mind taking a bit longer than travel London to Crewe by London Midland instead of Virgin they charge £20 Super off peak Retun for that part of the journey.

[A.J.]

Hello, does anyone know of any discounts on family rail cards? The codes on this thread are all out of date. thank in advance.

[Livingthedream]

Hello, does anyone know of any discounts on family rail cards? The codes on this thread are all out of date. thank in advance.

Have you tried using the promotional code NXEC20 and you'll pay just £20.80.

Its apparently valid until tomorrow the 14th Sept

Link (http://www.nationalexpresseastcoast.com/Special-offers/20-off-Family-and-Friends-Railcard/)

[melb]

Livingthedream you're really helpful and thanks to you I've booked 2 adults and 2 children leeds to london for £66 (plus I'll have to pay the £20 for the family rail ticket but I hope we'll get more use out of it). I could have travelled for £47 as you said if I'd gone Mon to Thurs but I don;'t know if I can get the Thurs off work so we've gone Sun to Weds. Thanks to another very helpful poster on another board I've booked a family room at premier inn for £147 tltal for 3 nights. I never thought a London holiday would be affordable. thanks again.

[McShambles]

Does anyone know the cheapest (and perhaps quickest) method of going from either Bedford Midland or Sandy to Manchester Piccadilly/Oxford Road with a 16-25 Railcard? Is it cheaper to split the ticket at some juncture or is there a way of going via London that is still cheap (relatively speaking)?

[A.J.]

Have you tried using the promotional code NXEC20 and you'll pay just £20.80.

Its apparently valid until tomorrow the 14th Sept

Link (http://www.nationalexpresseastcoast.com/Special-offers/20-off-Family-and-Friends-Railcard/)

Thank you, purchased.:D

[Livingthedream]

Does anyone know the cheapest (and perhaps quickest) method of going from either Bedford Midland or Sandy to Manchester Piccadilly/Oxford Road with a 16-25 Railcard? Is it cheaper to split the ticket at some juncture or is there a way of going via London that is still cheap (relatively speaking)?

Quick and Cheap don't normally go together on the railways and this journey is a prime example, all these fares quoted are walk on prices with railcard if you have any dates in mind we could try and get you some cheaper advance tickets;

Quick Bedford to Manchester Pic via Chesterfield £34 Off Peak return (Must travel via Chesterfield)

Cheap Bedford to Crewe £9.25 Super Off Peak Return Londom Midland Trains Only, Crewe to Manchester Pic £9.10 Anytime Day Return Virgin Trains Only
Total £18.35

*** With the cheap make sure that you travel on the correct trains ***

[miller]

Are there any off-peak day returns (not savers or advance tickets) available for Reading -> Swindon?

[samwood]

Hi all

I am looking at booking tickets for 1 adult and 1 child (6) from Liverpool Lime Street to London Euston on Friday 27th Nov returning on Sunday. I am looking to travel between 2-4pm both ways. I have looked at raileasy prices and they have quoted me 39.50 as the cheapest ticket. This seems really good value, do they reserve the seats for you? I have only ever used trainline before. Also they are also quoting 74.50 for first class on the outward journey and standard on the return journey?

Is this too good to be true?
Also what do you get for first class seats? I have never used raileasy before and wondered what they are like?
It is a special weekend for my son and it would be nice to travel down first class!

Thanks for your help

x

[KeithP]

Are there any off-peak day returns (not savers or advance tickets) available for Reading -> Swindon?
No Day Returns are available as far as I can see.

Of course, an Off Peak Return or Super Off Peak Return can be used for same day return.

[dzug1]

Are there any off-peak day returns (not savers or advance tickets) available for Reading -> Swindon?

Yes:

Reading to Didcot £5 off peak day return
Didcot to Swindon £8.40 off peak day return

As long as the train calls at Didcot (not all do) that will work.

[dzug1]

Hi all

I am looking at booking tickets for 1 adult and 1 child (6) from Liverpool Lime Street to London Euston on Friday 27th Nov returning on Sunday. I am looking to travel between 2-4pm both ways. I have looked at raileasy prices and they have quoted me 39.50 as the cheapest ticket. This seems really good value, do they reserve the seats for you? I have only ever used trainline before. Also they are also quoting 74.50 for first class on the outward journey and standard on the return journey?

Is this too good to be true?
Also what do you get for first class seats? I have never used raileasy before and wondered what they are like?
It is a special weekend for my son and it would be nice to travel down first class!

Thanks for your help

x

No it's not too good to be true but you will be paying over the odds.

Raileasy and thetrainline charge booking fees - train operating companies don't. You should be able to book exactly the same tickets at the same price with no fee through one of them. Or at Liverpool Lime St station.

And if you are buying discounted advance tickets seat reservations are (virtually) always included.

[exeterben]

Hi all,

Two of us will be travelling from Exeter to Nuneaton at the beginning of December. So far I haven't been able to find anything even remotely cheap. Had a look on National Rail website and they are quoting prices over £100!!!!!
We would be going up on a Friday and coming back on a Sunday.

Many thanks for your help in advance.

[KeithP]

Hi all,

Two of us will be travelling from Exeter to Nuneaton at the beginning of December. So far I haven't been able to find anything even remotely cheap. Had a look on National Rail website and they are quoting prices over £100!!!!!
We would be going up on a Friday and coming back on a Sunday.

Many thanks for your help in advance.
Dates and times of travel will help.

[exeterben]

Beginning of December i.e. the first weekend in December if not that weekend it will be the weekend after but I don't think tickets are on sale for that yet. Times don't really matter so long as it is not ridiculously early.

[dzug1]

Beginning of December i.e. the first weekend in December if not that weekend it will be the weekend after but I don't think tickets are on sale for that yet. Times don't really matter so long as it is not ridiculously early.


You are doing Something Wrong. An off peak, walkon return is £73.70 each, nowhere near £100. You can buy it on the day.

Advance singles (I doubt if they are on sale yet - certainly not for the Sundays) are likely to total around £50 ish each, for the return trip.

Failing that try splitting at Bristol Temple Meads and Cheltenham Spa - £61.50 each total on walkon off peak returns

[KeithP]

Beginning of December i.e. the first weekend in December if not that weekend it will be the weekend after but I don't think tickets are on sale for that yet. Times don't really matter so long as it is not ridiculously early.
As you say, tickets don't appear to be available for w/end 11/13 Dec yet.

Another problem is that there are engineering works between Cheltenham and Birmingham on the first w/end, and between Birmingham and Nuneaton on both w/ends, making cheap tickets difficult to find. Keep looking. You are perhaps a little early.

[exeterben]

As you say, tickets don't appear to be available for w/end 11/13 Dec yet.

Another problem is that there are engineering works between Cheltenham and Birmingham on the first w/end, and between Birmingham and Nuneaton on both w/ends, making cheap tickets difficult to find. Keep looking. You are perhaps a little early.

Cheers keith,

I will have another look later in the week and hopefully something will come up. Surely there must tickets cheaper than £100. That is extortionate.

[dzug1]

Cheers keith,

I will have another look later in the week and hopefully something will come up. Surely there must tickets cheaper than £100. That is extortionate.


If that £100 is for both of you (ie £50 each) then you are going to be hard put to beat it. Cross Country are not very generous with their advance offers these days. If it's £100 each then it's very easy to beat.

Another thought is it could be worth trying for prices via London both with and without a split. Occasionally that is cheaper.

[McShambles]

Quick and Cheap don't normally go together on the railways and this journey is a prime example, all these fares quoted are walk on prices with railcard if you have any dates in mind we could try and get you some cheaper advance tickets;

Quick Bedford to Manchester Pic via Chesterfield £34 Off Peak return (Must travel via Chesterfield)

Cheap Bedford to Crewe £9.25 Super Off Peak Return Londom Midland Trains Only, Crewe to Manchester Pic £9.10 Anytime Day Return Virgin Trains Only
Total £18.35

*** With the cheap make sure that you travel on the correct trains ***

Friday. I will be making the same journey on future occasions though as well.

[KeithP]

Friday. I will be making the same journey on future occasions though as well.
There are plenty of Advance Singles from Milton Keynes to Man. Pic. for £22.00 on Friday. only takes about 1hr 40mins.
Train from Bedford St.Johns to MK = £6-odd single.
Possibly both cheap and quick eh?
:beer:

[dzug1]

There are plenty of Advance Singles from Milton Keynes to Man. Pic. for £22.00 on Friday. only takes about 1hr 40mins.
Train from Bedford St.Johns to MK = £6-odd single.
Possibly both cheap and quick eh?
:beer:

Bedford St Johns is an odd choice but if OP is local he'll know if it suits him. Same fare same train from the main Bedford station.

But better still - X5 bus from Bedford bus station to Milton Keynes railway station. Quicker, cheaper (£5.80 single, £10 return) and no change at Bletchley

[Nicolefury]

Hey, wondering if you guys could help

I'm needing tickets from Birmingham (any station), I need to get to Finsbury park eventually, but am quite happy to change whereever for the cheapest deal, I can find cheapish tickets there, but nothing back? I ned to travel back after 6pm, and after 8am i nthe morning, but need to arrive by 12 at the latest., any ideas?

TIA x

[KeithP]

Hey, wondering if you guys could help

I'm needing tickets from Birmingham (any station), I need to get to Finsbury park eventually, but am quite happy to change whereever for the cheapest deal, I can find cheapish tickets there, but nothing back? I ned to travel back after 6pm, and after 8am i nthe morning, but need to arrive by 12 at the latest., any ideas?

TIA x
Date? Out and back.

Or at least... day of the week?

[Nicolefury]

Trust me to forget the date...17th October which is a saturday, returning the same day. Main problem im having is getting cheaper tickets on the way back, on the way there we've been able to find them for around £7

[KeithP]

Hey, wondering if you guys could help

I'm needing tickets from Birmingham (any station), I need to get to Finsbury park eventually, but am quite happy to change whereever for the cheapest deal, I can find cheapish tickets there, but nothing back? I ned to travel back after 6pm, and after 8am i nthe morning, but need to arrive by 12 at the latest., any ideas?

TIA x
Trust me to forget the date...17th October which is a saturday, returning the same day. Main problem im having is getting cheaper tickets on the way back, on the way there we've been able to find them for around £7
That £7 ticket is to Euston only isn't it? You need a Underground ticket too.

If you are prepared to spend a little more time on the train, a Super Off Peak Return on London Midland Trains only is only £15.00 to Euston.
Of course with this ticket you have some flexibility re train times too.

[dzug1]

There is a £14.90 walk on 'super off peak single' available from Euston using London Midland trains only. Takes about an hour longer than Virgin and you may have to change at Northampton. You can buy it on the day

Chiltern have £10 e-tickets on the 1750 and 2050 departures from Marylebone - you have to go to the e-ticket section of Chiltern's website to find these and book now

[Nicolefury]

How do we know for certain we can buy those tickets on the day? I don't want to get to the station to be told theres no cheap tickets, and we need to pay through the nose!

Ive checked literally every ticket site, and seriously cant find anything for the way home! The main problem is the last train from birmingham back to ours is 11pm, so any train that gets back from london needs to be back for around 10.30 to ensure we get the train.

[KeithP]

How do we know for certain we can buy those tickets on the day? I don't want to get to the station to be told theres no cheap tickets, and we need to pay through the nose!

Ive checked literally every ticket site, and seriously cant find anything for the way home! The main problem is the last train from birmingham back to ours is 11pm, so any train that gets back from london needs to be back for around 10.30 to ensure we get the train.
"How do we know for certain we can buy those tickets on the day?"
Firstly, you could assume that a couple of unknown people have told you the truth.
Perhaps not a good idea.

Alternatively, verify the information yourself.
You could go to your local staffed railway station and ask...
"I have heard a rumour that Super Off Peak Single and Super Off Peak Return tickets are available for purchase on the day of travel. Is this true?"

Please post the answer you are given.

p.s
There are four London Midland trains that leave Euston after 6pm so that you can arrive at New Street before 10:30pm.
While you are at the station verifying the ticket info, you could perhaps confirm the train times too.

[dzug1]

How do we know for certain we can buy those tickets on the day? I don't want to get to the station to be told theres no cheap tickets, and we need to pay through the nose!

Ive checked literally every ticket site, and seriously cant find anything for the way home! The main problem is the last train from birmingham back to ours is 11pm, so any train that gets back from london needs to be back for around 10.30 to ensure we get the train.

Sigh :confused:

If the ticket has 'advance' in its name, then it can only be bought in advance and can sell out.

If it has anytime, off peak or superoffpeak in its name then it can be bought on the day at the same price as online and never never sells out.

To find London Midland times online, go into 'advanced options' and set a route of via Northampton or if there's a 'cheaper slower routes' option use that.

[Emms]

Looking for train tickets from Edinburgh or Glasgow to London for two people on the 20th October in the morning sometime, and back on the 22nd October early evening. Best I have managed to find is

National express east coast Edinburgh to London
20th 11:00 £48.10
22nd 18:00 £85.40

Total £133.50 for two people

If anyone can help us find it cheaper it would be much appreciated :)

Emma

[KeithP]

Looking for train tickets from Edinburgh or Glasgow to London for two people on the 20th October in the morning sometime, and back on the 22nd October early evening. Best I have managed to find is

National express east coast Edinburgh to London
20th 11:00 £48.10
22nd 18:00 £85.40

Total £133.50 for two people

If anyone can help us find it cheaper it would be much appreciated :)

Emma
Have you thought about flying?
Less than £120 for two from either Glasgow or Edinburgh to Luton or Stanstead.
Ok, you still have to get from airport into London, but maybe the time saved will compensate. You decide.

:beer:

[dcds47]

Looking for train tickets from Edinburgh or Glasgow to London for two people on the 20th October in the morning sometime, and back on the 22nd October early evening. Best I have managed to find is

National express east coast Edinburgh to London
20th 11:00 £48.10
22nd 18:00 £85.40

Total £133.50 for two people

If anyone can help us find it cheaper it would be much appreciated :)

Emma


If you can go by bus, try megabus

£20.50

glasgow to london return :money:

or Ryanair have cheap fights at the moment - finish midnight

[Bogof_Babe]

Quick one on behalf of a friend - do you have to buy a ticket for a baby of under 1 year old, if it can travel on its parent's lap?

[KeithP]

Quick one on behalf of a friend - do you have to buy a ticket for a baby of under 1 year old, if it can travel on its parent's lap?
No.

(I assume you are asking about rail travel)

[Bogof_Babe]

Lol yes thanks Keith, I did mean rail travel. Any chance you could elaborate a bit, i.e. up to what age can a child travel free?

[Stompa]

Lol yes thanks Keith, I did mean rail travel. Any chance you could elaborate a bit, i.e. up to what age can a child travel free?
According to National Rail: "2 children under the age of 5 can travel free with each fare paying passenger".

[Bogof_Babe]

Wow that's good, because at least one of them would be occupying their own seat. My friend has two but I'm not sure whether the elder one is five yet. Many thanks for the info.
- I wasn't sure where to find it.

[Inky]

Hi folks, hope you can help.

I'm looking to travel from Aberdeen to Liverpool by any means.(2 people)

Leave on Friday 25th afternoon/evening, arrive Saturday morning.

Bus isn't really an option due to the timescale.

Best I can find is £170 train journey with a couple of changes.

I'd be willing to travel from Edinburgh/Glasgow as long as I've got enough time to get there.

Happy to fly but can't find any flights.

Any help is much appreciated.

[Livingthedream]

Hi folks, hope you can help.

I'm looking to travel from Aberdeen to Liverpool by any means.(2 people)

Leave on Friday 25th afternoon/evening, arrive Saturday morning.

Bus isn't really an option due to the timescale.

Best I can find is £170 train journey with a couple of changes.

I'd be willing to travel from Edinburgh/Glasgow as long as I've got enough time to get there.

Happy to fly but can't find any flights.

Any help is much appreciated.

Use the NXEC (http://www.nationalexpresseastcoast.com/) website, as it gives you a 10% discount as your travelling on one of there advance tickets;

Put Aberdeen to Liverpool Lime st and click 'more options' select 'via' and add York do your search for 25th after 12:00 and you should get

Leave Aberdeen 14:49 arrive Liverpool LS 22:58 advance single £99.70 for 2 adults, there's also a later train for the same price if your brave :p

[Save Money Hound]

thetrainline dot com is good. Try and book tickets as early as you can before your proposed travel date and try to travel off peak. It's much easier to book online.

qjump dot co dot uk for buying tickets online is also worth a shot.

[dzug1]

thetrainline dot com is good. Try and book tickets as early as you can before your proposed travel date and try to travel off peak. It's much easier to book online.

qjump dot co dot uk for buying tickets online is also worth a shot.

I'm afraid that's seriously BAD:embarasse advice. Both those organisations charge you a fee for booking and/or delivery.

You can buy the self same tickets from any train operator's website without paying any extra - and occasionally get a discount as well.

[Bogof_Babe]

Noticed something today on my trip from Manchester Piccadilly to Hereford - my reserved seat was under one of those "please give up this seat if an elderly or disabled person needs it". You'd think they would not allocate those seats to pre-booking customers wouldn't you? There were plenty of unreserved seats, so if they'd jigged the reserved seat numbers a bit they could have avoided this.

Luckily it was half empty, but in other circumstances I might have had to give up my reserved seat if an elderly person got on. It would make more sense if they had those notices above seats that are not going to be pre-allocated.

[KeithP]

Bogof_Babe, you are quite right.

Start writing your email to the train operating company (if you haven't already).

You never know, this may not have dawned on them.

[Bogof_Babe]

Me again, the pest :o.

Just wondering if Advance tickets are withdrawn or severly restricted during the December/Christmas period. I seem to remember they fizzled out last year for a few weeks, and I'm struggling to find anything this year later than 6th December so far.

Fair enough if this is the case, but if someone could confirm then I can stop searching every day!

[dzug1]

That's because by and large they haven't been released beyond 6 December yet.

They may be fewer in number over the holiday period but they shouldn't be absent altogether.

[Bogof_Babe]

Cheers Dzug, I knew you or Keith would be able to clarify :). I'll keep checking then.

[exeterben]

Hi guys,

Anybody know of a cheap ticket from Exeter to Nuneaton? If not Nuneaton we could go to Coventry if it works out cheaper. Two of us will be leaving on Friday, December 11th, and then returning on Sunday, December 13th.
Don't mind splitting trains either if it makes the cost cheaper.
Really don't want to drive this one so am hoping for a cheapish train ticket. Don't mind what time of the day we go and return.
Any help is much appreciated.

Cheers in advance.

[Bogof_Babe]

As Dzug1 has explained a couple of posts above, Advance tickets are not generally available for travel beyond 6th December at the moment.

I'd imagine if you give it a few days you should be able to find something on the National Express website.

[dzug1]

Hi guys,

Anybody know of a cheap ticket from Exeter to Nuneaton? If not Nuneaton we could go to Coventry if it works out cheaper. Two of us will be leaving on Friday, December 11th, and then returning on Sunday, December 13th.
Don't mind splitting trains either if it makes the cost cheaper.
Really don't want to drive this one so am hoping for a cheapish train ticket. Don't mind what time of the day we go and return.
Any help is much appreciated.

Cheers in advance.


If the advance tickets don't materialise at suitable times Bristol and Cheltenham are the places to split.

[KeithP]

Hi guys,

Anybody know of a cheap ticket from Exeter to Nuneaton? If not Nuneaton we could go to Coventry if it works out cheaper. Two of us will be leaving on Friday, December 11th, and then returning on Sunday, December 13th.
Don't mind splitting trains either if it makes the cost cheaper.
Really don't want to drive this one so am hoping for a cheapish train ticket. Don't mind what time of the day we go and return.
Any help is much appreciated.

Cheers in advance.
Hello again Exeterben.

Its only six days since you first asked this question... post #2013 (http://forums.moneysavingexpert.com/showpost.html?p=25086909&postcount=2013).

You appear to have totally overlooked Dzug's response then...
You are doing Something Wrong. An off peak, walkon return is £73.70 each, nowhere near £100. You can buy it on the day.

Advance singles (I doubt if they are on sale yet - certainly not for the Sundays) are likely to total around £50 ish each, for the return trip.

Failing that try splitting at Bristol Temple Meads and Cheltenham Spa - £61.50 each total on walkon off peak returns

when you say...
Surely there must tickets cheaper than £100. That is extortionate.


There is also no indication that you have seen Dzug's next post...
If that £100 is for both of you (ie £50 each) then you are going to be hard put to beat it. Cross Country are not very generous with their advance offers these days. If it's £100 each then it's very easy to beat.

Another thought is it could be worth trying for prices via London both with and without a split. Occasionally that is cheaper.

To find the booking horizons, look at the National Rail Enquiries website (http://www.nationalrail.co.uk/times_fares/booking_horizons.html),
although this is sometimes out of date by a few days.

Good luck with your search. :beer:

[zacspeed]

Where would I look for a cheap ticket from Norwich To London on Dec 5th, returning on the 6th?

[Livingthedream]

Where would I look for a cheap ticket from Norwich To London on Dec 5th, returning on the 6th?

The NXEA (http://www.nationalexpresseastanglia.com/) website is a good place to start, as it will give you an online discount of 10% on NXEA advance tickets. Just had a quick look and on your dates you gave you can get advance singles for £7.10 each way

[exeterben]

Hello again Exeterben.

Its only six days since you first asked this question... post #2013 (http://forums.moneysavingexpert.com/showpost.html?p=25086909&postcount=2013).

You appear to have totally overlooked Dzug's response then...


when you say...



There is also no indication that you have seen Dzug's next post...


To find the booking horizons, look at the National Rail Enquiries website (http://www.nationalrail.co.uk/times_fares/booking_horizons.html),
although this is sometimes out of date by a few days.

Good luck with your search. :beer:

Cheers Keith,

OK the best I have managed to find is £50 return each, so that is £100 for two of us. Is there anything cheaper out there? I really don't want to drive this one but at the minute it looks like it is going to work out cheaper to do so.

[dzug1]

Cheers Keith,

OK the best I have managed to find is £50 return each, so that is £100 for two of us. Is there anything cheaper out there? I really don't want to drive this one but at the minute it looks like it is going to work out cheaper to do so.


It's really unlikely that you will find anything cheaper than that.

So unlikely that I can't be bothered to look.

[exeterben]

It's really unlikely that you will find anything cheaper than that.

So unlikely that I can't be bothered to look.

Thanks for your help. I have managed to find a way of getting there and back for £32 but it includes a mixture of two trains on the way up and the train and two different buses on the way back. No wonder people aren't getting out of their cars and onto public transport, it costs to much and is far too complicated.

[amjad.khan]

Hi Guys

want to travel to Leeds on the Sun 27th Sept anyone know the cheapest as possible return route to get there?

Thanks in advance

Amjad

[Bogof_Babe]

Hi Guys

want to travel to Leeds on the Sun 27th Sept anyone know the cheapest as possible return route to get there?

Thanks in advance

Amjad

Where are you starting from?

[amjad.khan]

Where are you starting from?

doh peterborough mate so far i got a standard off peak for £29.50 return was just wondering if there was a cheaper route?

[Bogof_Babe]

Are you returning the same day?

[dzug1]

Hi Guys

want to travel to Leeds on the Sun 27th Sept anyone know the cheapest as possible return route to get there?

Thanks in advance

Amjad

Start in Headingly or somewhere like that?;)

Seriously you can't hope for a sensible answer if you don't give your starting point. And the return date - it's not clear if it's the same day or not.

[amjad.khan]

Are you returning the same day?

yes mate thanks

[dzug1]

What you've found is a superoffpeak day return - valid on any train on a Sunday and you don't need to book.

Given that the normal peak single fare in the week is £56 you are doing quite well. The cheapest advance single I can find for that Sunday is £26 so that's no use to you - booking earlier might (or might not) have helped. The theoretical cheapest fare is £9.55 single.

[amjad.khan]

QUOTE=dzug1;25307819]What you've found is a superoffpeak day return - valid on any train on a Sunday and you don't need to book.

Given that the normal peak single fare in the week is £56 you are doing quite well. The cheapest advance single I can find for that Sunday is £26 so that's no use to you - booking earlier might (or might not) have helped. The theoretical cheapest fare is £9.55 single.[/QUOTE]

Thanks dude your da man cheers for your help :money:

[lingojingo]

Can anyone help me find a cheaper fare from either Huddersfield or Honley to Swindon and back over Christmas?

I want to go down on 21/22/23 Dec and return 29/30 Dec

In previous years I've done it fairly cheaply by breaking the journey into lots of stages and having multiple tickets, but I can't seem to beat the 'anytime off peak return' fare of £75.50 (last year was considerably less and included DD too, she had a young persons railcard)

Any help very much appreciated

Edited to say just realised advance tickets may not be available yet, I'm too organised!

[dzug1]

Edited to say just realised advance tickets may not be available yet, I'm too organised!


Yep - the furthest ahead advance tickets are available is 12 December - and not for all train companies

[Bogof_Babe]

I've been waiting for a cheapie for my usual Southport-Hereford journey for the weekend of 12/13 Dec, checking National Express every day. Noticed today that they are now taking bookings up to 20th Dec, and still no Advances for that previous weekend, just flat rate £42 tickets.

So I just checked the Arriva site on the offchance, and got a choice of a couple of £11 ones for Sat 12th. Not sure if NatExp are just very behind with loading the Advance tickets, or if they aren't offering any for that weekend. Or maybe Arriva forgot to let NatExp know!

Anyway I'm sorted now (no booking fees through Arriva so just the £11 same as NatExp bookings).

Moral of the story - if you can't find what you want, try the train operator's own site.

[emmaljonesbz]

Can anyone who has done the Chester to Glasgow trip give me any advice as to wheres best to split my ticket? I'm not travelling until feb 18th 2010, returning feb 20th, so know there will probably be cheaper tickets available 12 weeks in advance. Just incase I miss out on these, is it best to split my tickets at warrington bank quay or crewe where I have to change trains, or another station(s) on route?

[Livingthedream]

Can anyone who has done the Chester to Glasgow trip give me any advice as to wheres best to split my ticket? I'm not travelling until feb 18th 2010, returning feb 20th, so know there will probably be cheaper tickets available 12 weeks in advance. Just incase I miss out on these, is it best to split my tickets at warrington bank quay or crewe where I have to change trains, or another station(s) on route?

Yes, warrington bank quay or crewe can be used for splits ticketing, also a good split for Chester to Glasgow is Manchester Pic, can take a bit longer but Transpennie have some good advance deals on trains direct from Manchester to Glasgow that don't sell out as quick as the Virgin west coast advance tickets

[discodancing]

Received this email from ScotRail yesterday; apologies if it has already been posted.

Shop at Sainsbury's stores in Scotland between 30th September and 20th October and you'll be able to travel anywhere in Scotland for only £15 return. To get your Scotland by Rail voucher, just spend as little or as much as you like in any Scottish Sainsbury's store. One child can go FREE.
Great news. This special offer also means one child can hop onboard for nothing. All you have to do is ask for a ticket that includes a free child place.
So what are you waiting for? Just visit Sainsbury's between 30th September and 20th October to pick up your £15 voucher.

[dzug1]

I've been waiting for a cheapie for my usual Southport-Hereford journey for the weekend of 12/13 Dec, checking National Express every day. Noticed today that they are now taking bookings up to 20th Dec, and still no Advances for that previous weekend, just flat rate £42 tickets.

So I just checked the Arriva site on the offchance, and got a choice of a couple of £11 ones for Sat 12th. Not sure if NatExp are just very behind with loading the Advance tickets, or if they aren't offering any for that weekend. Or maybe Arriva forgot to let NatExp know!

Anyway I'm sorted now (no booking fees through Arriva so just the £11 same as NatExp bookings).

Moral of the story - if you can't find what you want, try the train operator's own site.


National Express book from the same pool of tickets as Arriva - it sounds as though you stumbled across Arriva just as they were being loaded.

You'll find that full fare tickets go on sale (probably without reservations being available) 12 weeks ahead and that the cheap ones (and reserved full fare) follow at a variable time later.

But good advice anyway - there can always be glitches in the system

[Bogof_Babe]

Does anyone know all the details of the Arriva Over 55's go anywhere return for £15 deal? I've read the info page but am not clear on a couple of things...

I'm assuming you don't have to make the return trip on the same day, given they use a hotel advert as one of the suggestions, but would like to be certain.

Also do you get a seat reservation?

Finally can you go and buy the tickets in advance (I know they are not available online, but I mean at the station office), or are they only available on the day of travel?

Thanks to anyone who knows. Seems like a great deal - £15 return plus an extra £1 for Merseyrail, to get me all the way from Hereford to Southport and back. Almost too good to be true!

[KeithP]

Does anyone know all the details of the Arriva Over 55's go anywhere return for £15 deal? I've read the info page but am not clear on a couple of things...

I'm assuming you don't have to make the return trip on the same day, given they use a hotel advert as one of the suggestions, but would like to be certain.

Also do you get a seat reservation?

Finally can you go and buy the tickets in advance (I know they are not available online, but I mean at the station office), or are they only available on the day of travel?

Thanks to anyone who knows. Seems like a great deal - £15 return plus an extra £1 for Merseyrail, to get me all the way from Hereford to Southport and back. Almost too good to be true!
The answers to all of your questions can be found here (http://www.arrivatrainswales.co.uk/club55_tc.aspx).

It doesn't appear to explicitly state that you can buy tickets in advance, but it does imply this by stating...
Date of outward travel may be changed providing this is done before the date of outward travel.
p.s. don't forget to take your id, confirming you're over 55, with you when you travel.

[Kiev Kid]

Hi Everybody,

Well I'm new to this, so bear with me! I've been trying to buy a 1st class ticket for the duration of 1 week which will allow my step father to travel the length and breadth of the UK (so if his wanderlust takes him from Lancaster to Birmingham to Aberdeen to London - for example) without any form of mileage limitation. However my attempts at visiting my local railway station were met with complete indifference - they couldn't even be arsed to suggest who I might speak to.

I suppose my question is twofold, firstly does this 'First Class Roaming' ticket for a week still exist (a friend is convinced that her parents bought one a couple of years ago)?

Secondly, if this ticket does exist how do I go about obtaining one?

Any advice will be greatly appreciated.

Cheers

Brian

[Livingthedream]

Hi Everybody,

Well I'm new to this, so bear with me! I've been trying to buy a 1st class ticket for the duration of 1 week which will allow my step father to travel the length and breadth of the UK (so if his wanderlust takes him from Lancaster to Birmingham to Aberdeen to London - for example) without any form of mileage limitation. However my attempts at visiting my local railway station were met with complete indifference - they couldn't even be arsed to suggest who I might speak to.

I suppose my question is twofold, firstly does this 'First Class Roaming' ticket for a week still exist (a friend is convinced that her parents bought one a couple of years ago)?

Secondly, if this ticket does exist how do I go about obtaining one?

Any advice will be greatly appreciated.

Cheers

Brian

What you need is an 'All Line Rover 7 day' which cost £630 1st class, you can get one from any manned Railway station.

A link to its details is here (http://www.nationalrail.co.uk/times_fares/promotions/pr20780b0a0400020167ed620a7e504e/details.html)

If your step father is eligible for a Senior's Railcard then the price drops to £429 for a £26 one off payment for the railcard

[shopndrop]

I checked online last night for ticket prices from Liverpool Lime Street to Birmingham International for 3 adults and it came up as £12 each. Needed to speak to my friends this morning to check timings were OK and have just gone to book and now the cheapest I can find is £39 each. We are travelling on 25 November and need to arrive about 10am.

Has anyone any suggestions how we can do it any cheaper please?

[Bogof_Babe]

I checked online last night for ticket prices from Liverpool Lime Street to Birmingham International for 3 adults and it came up as £12 each. Needed to speak to my friends this morning to check timings were OK and have just gone to book and now the cheapest I can find is £39 each. We are travelling on 25 November and need to arrive about 10am.

Has anyone any suggestions how we can do it any cheaper please?

Just checked on Qjump having found nothing on National Express, and picked up this message...

Unfortunately we are currently unable to check the availability of Advance fares due to a problem accessing the national reservations system. You can continue to purchase any of the fares below or try your search again. If the problem persists you may wish to try again later..

Might explain the problem. I'd keep trying!

[jamesbrownontheroad]

This just in: big savings on advance fares to be made on all National Express East Coast (NXEC) routes between now and mid-December. That's most long distance services from London King's Cross up the east coast mainline to Peterborough, Grantham, Doncaster, Leeds, Hull, Newcastle, Edinburgh, Glasgow, Aberdeen, Inverness and stations in between. 20% OFF ADVANCE (SINGLE) FARES AND 10% OFF RAILCARD PURCHASES... FOLLOW THE LINK AND BUY BEFORE THE END OF THE WEEK. 20% DISCOUNT CAN BE COMBINED WITH YOUR RAILCARD DISCOUNT.
:beer:

Book online at http://www.nationalexpresseastcoast.com/Miscellaneous-Pages/Reader-Offer-Pages/20-off/ and see blurb below for T&Cs...

PLUS: unlike Qjump, thetrainline.com, RailEasy etc, the National Express East Coast website makes no additional charge for debit card / credit card transactions, ticket delivery by post or ticket collection from the station. I have no idea why anyone since uses thetrainline.com when NXEC and other operators sell the same tickets at the same prices without these extra charges!

It only takes a small effort to save big, but time’s short – so to get 20% off our lowest Advance fares, book your tickets online from 28 September until midnight on 2 October.

One big thing to remember

To enjoy 20% off your tickets you’ll need to travel on our East Coast route between 5 October and 20 December.

Even bigger savings with your Railcard

If you have any of these Railcards you could be in for an even more enormous saving. You can combine the 20% off with your usual Railcard discount!

* Senior Railcard
* Family & Friends Railcard
* 16–25 Railcard

Book now before it’s too late

Enjoy 10% off Railcards

One for families, one for the over 60s and one for 16–25 year olds – buy the Railcard of your choice before 26 October and you'll save 10%.

When can I book?

Bookings are open from 28 September 2009 and will close at midnight on 2 October 2009.

When can I travel?

• Between 5 October and 20 December 2009 inclusive.
• Limited availability between 23 October to 1 November 2009 inclusive.

Please note that engineering work taking place on weekends during this promotion may affect your journey times. View more information about disruption as a result of engineering work.

How do I book?

• All bookings using this offer must be made online using the booking links on this page. Discount includes our 10% online discount.
• All major credit, debit and charge cards are accepted as payment.
• If you require space for a wheelchair or have access requirements, please call our dedicated Assisted Travel Team on 08457 225 225 before you book.
• If you are booking with a Railcard you can combine the 20% off with your usual Railcard discount.

How do I know I have booked correctly?

After completing your booking you will receive a booking confirmation number on the final screen during the booking process – please make a note of this. Following this, we send you an email confirmation. If you do not receive either confirmation, your booking has not been completed. Please try again and ensure you follow each step of the booking process as detailed on screen. If you have any questions relating to the booking process, please call 08457 225 111.

Terms and Conditions

Discount includes our 10% online discount and applies to our lowest Advance fares only, subject to availability (with limited availability between 23 October to 1 November inclusive). Offer is exclusive to bookings at nationalexpresseastcoast.com for travel on National Express East Coast trains only. Bookings must be made by 2 October 2009 inclusive. Advance ticket Terms and Conditions also apply.

[kerry88]

Hi, could anyone help me....wanting to go from Glasgow central to Liverpool on the 28th of Dec back on the 30th, there are 3 of us, cheapest i can get for the 3 of us at the moment is £190.80. Is there anyway of bringing this price down?

[KeithP]

Hi, could anyone help me....wanting to go from Glasgow central to Liverpool on the 28th of Dec back on the 30th, there are 3 of us, cheapest i can get for the 3 of us at the moment is £190.80. Is there anyway of bringing this price down?
Kerry, welcome to the forums.

You are a little early for those dates.

See the National Rail Enquiries website (http://www.nationalrail.co.uk/times_fares/booking_horizons.html) for booking horizons.

[jamesbrownontheroad]

Hi, could anyone help me....wanting to go from Glasgow central to Liverpool on the 28th of Dec back on the 30th, there are 3 of us, cheapest i can get for the 3 of us at the moment is £190.80. Is there anyway of bringing this price down?

The cheapest 'Advance' fares for this route are not yet on sale, so you may be able to nab some cheaper tickets in a few weeks time. The cheapest Advance fare for that route would be with Virgin Trains, with one way Advance fares from £9.50. However that is a difficult time of year to predict - there could be engineering works disrupting travel and potentially fewer Advance fares than normal due to the holiday season. Virgin are (in my experience) slightly slower at loading their Advance fares into the systems. However, you can check with operators have loaded their Advance fares into the system and up to what dates at http://www.nationalrail.co.uk/times_fares/booking_horizons.html Advance fares open roughly 12 weeks in advance and normally (but not always) get updated on a Friday.

[kerry88]

Kerry, welcome to the forums.

You are a little early for those dates.

See the National Rail Website for booking horizons.





The cheapest 'Advance' fares for this route are not yet on sale, so you may be able to nab some cheaper tickets in a few weeks time. The cheapest Advance fare for that route would be with Virgin Trains, with one way Advance fares from £9.50. However that is a difficult time of year to predict - there could be engineering works disrupting travel and potentially fewer Advance fares than normal due to the holiday season. Virgin are (in my experience) slightly slower at loading their Advance fares into the systems. However, you can check with operators have loaded their Advance fares into the system and up to what dates at
Advance fares open roughly 12 weeks in advance and normally (but not always) get updated on a Friday.



Thanks, I will look again in the next couple of weeks.

[northernstar5]

Does anyone know the details of the £5 return ticket between Scarborough and Hull? I've tried the Northern Rail web page - but can't find it. i know it exists but not the conditions or how long it's available for.

[KeithP]

Does anyone know the details of the £5 return ticket between Scarborough and Hull? I've tried the Northern Rail web page - but can't find it. i know it exists but not the conditions or how long it's available for.
Did you perhaps mean the Yorkshire Coast Day Ranger (http://www.northernrail.org/offers/dayrangers/Yorkshire+Coast+Day+Ranger)?

Only thing is its £15.00, so maybe not what you are looking for.

Edited to add...
But an Off Peak Day Return is only £14.10.
And an AnyTime Day Return is only £14.70.

[northernstar5]

Did you perhaps mean the Yorkshire Coast Day Ranger (http://www.northernrail.org/offers/dayrangers/Yorkshire+Coast+Day+Ranger)?

Only thing is its £15.00, so maybe not what you are looking for.

Edited to add...
But an Off Peak Day Return is only £14.10.
And an AnyTime Day Return is only £14.70.

I've tracked it down now - got an email reply from Northern Rail(see below) No sign of it on their web site though. Strange!

"Senior Offer
£5.00 flat fare day return
Available as follows;
* To anyone 55 years old or over (proof of age required, either a passport, birth
certificate, senior railcard or concessionary bus pass).
* Mondays to Fridays only - outward any train timed to depart from 0930, return
any time the same day, but not valid to return from Manchester
Stations(Piccadilly, Oxford Road, Victoria or Deansgate) and MetroCentre or
Newcastle between 1601 - 1759 inclusive.
* Valid between any two stations on routes stated.
* Not available weekends.
* No railcard discounts permitted.
* Offer runs from Monday 28 September"

[John89001]

No sign of it on their web site though.At last! Info on Northern's Over 55 Offer has now appeared on their web site at http://www.northernrail.org/offers/Over+55s+flat+fare+offer

It is a £5 day return on any of 3 routes:
Carlisle - Newcastle
Hull - Scarborough
Manchester - Southport.
Available until 13 November.

John

[geordieracer]

At last! Info on Northern's Over 55 Offer has now appeared on their web site at http://www.northernrail.org/offers/Over+55s+flat+fare+offer

It is a £5 day return on any of 3 routes:
Carlisle - Newcastle
Hull - Scarborough
Manchester - Southport.
Available until 13 November.

John


thats excellent value!!

[Bogof_Babe]

Question for Keith or Dzug, or anyone else who knows...

On Countdown last week Martin was guesting, and did a quick briefing re. saving money on rail travel. One thing he said (or implied) was that it is even worth phoning the ticket provider (I assume train operator not railway station) on your way to the station, to get a cheaper ticket.

From comments on here I understood you had to book at least 24 hours in advance to benefit from any discounted fares. Does anyone know what Martin meant?

[jamesbrownontheroad]

Question for Keith or Dzug, or anyone else who knows...

On Countdown last week Martin was guesting, and did a quick briefing re. saving money on rail travel. One thing he said (or implied) was that it is even worth phoning the ticket provider (I assume train operator not railway station) on your way to the station, to get a cheaper ticket.

From comments on here I understood you had to book at least 24 hours in advance to benefit from any discounted fares. Does anyone know what Martin meant?

'Advance' fares (like Off-Peak or Anytime) are available right up until the day of travel. Although they almost always sell out, it is always worth checking to see if any are left on the day of travel. A station ticket agent may not be inclined to tell you if any are, so calling or checking online is a last way of double checking.

Similarly, when 'Advance' tickets start to sell out on more popular intercity trains, it is often worth checking first class as well as standard class. Many people will search for the cheapest available standard class 'Advance' fare only. As the progressively more expensive quota-controlled fares sell out, you might find that there are cheaper 'Advance' fares left in first class than in standard!

[dzug1]

Question for Keith or Dzug, or anyone else who knows...

On Countdown last week Martin was guesting, and did a quick briefing re. saving money on rail travel. One thing he said (or implied) was that it is even worth phoning the ticket provider (I assume train operator not railway station) on your way to the station, to get a cheaper ticket.

From comments on here I understood you had to book at least 24 hours in advance to benefit from any discounted fares. Does anyone know what Martin meant?


I don't know what he meant and don't believe it's true - at least I can't think of any instances where it applies. But ICABW.

Advance tickets officially cut off at 1800 the day before travel though I have seen unconfirmed reports that it's sometimes possible to book a little later. Often they are sold out well before then of course - but not always.

With all due respect - Martin is a journalist, and a very good one. But that does mean stories and facts get simplified, dumbed down, etc, to reach the 50% of the population that is (by definition) thicker than average.

[KeithP]

Advance tickets officially cut off at 1800 the day before travel...
This was always my understanding, I've just looked at the National Rail Enquiries website (http://www.nationalrail.co.uk/times_fares/advance_conditions.html) and now cannot find the 18:00 cutoff mentioned.

The only thing I found was...
Availability (of Advance Tickets)
Tickets must be purchased in advance of travel, subject to availability. Book as far in advance as possible to get the cheapest fares.

[AirlieBird]

Advance tickets officially cut off at 1800 the day before travelNo, they don't. Advance tickets are available to the end of the day. For example, now (at 1934) you can still purchase Advance tickets for travel tomorrow. Advance tickets are not available on the day of travel.

[Bogof_Babe]

I've just had a shock. I often buy an off peak day return Southport to Formby for £3.20. We're considering moving to a different area of Southport, which means that to get to Formby I would have to take a train into Southport first, and then my usual one from there to Formby. Checked the "extra" cost of this whole return journey - £3.15, i.e. 5p cheaper than travelling several miles shorter. The additional bit is on Northern Rail, which logically "costs" me minus 5p.

Come on Mersey Rail, stop ripping me off.

[KeithP]

I've just had a shock. I often buy an off peak day return Southport to Formby for £3.20. We're considering moving to a different area of Southport, which means that to get to Formby I would have to take a train into Southport first, and then my usual one from there to Formby. Checked the "extra" cost of this whole return journey - £3.15, i.e. 5p cheaper than travelling several miles shorter. The additional bit is on Northern Rail, which logically "costs" me minus 5p.

Come on Mersey Rail, stop ripping me off.
Maybe you should start buying an Off Peak Day Return from Meols Cop to Formby.
From the National Rail Enquiries website (http://www.nationalrail.co.uk/times_fares/offpeak_conditions.html), it seems that a break of journey is probably allowed...
You may start, break and resume, or end your journey at any intermediate station along the route of travel on Off-Peak tickets unless the ticket restriction for the journey you are making does not allow it....so just get on / leave the train at Southport.

[Bogof_Babe]

That's the logical thing to do Keith, but there is no facility for collecting pre-booked tickets at Southport station :rolleyes:, so I'd have to do it all from home (Hereford) before going up. Not to bore you with too much unnecessary info, but I go to Formby to visit my mum, and don't always know more than a day or two beforehand when it is convenient. I only live in Southport a couple of weeks a month.

I know there is no rhyme nor reason to a lot of rail travel charges, but this takes the biscuit. I'm not really bothered about the 5p, just niggled that it makes no sense. Also niggled that Mersey Rail don't facilitate collection of Advance tickets too.

[KeithP]

That's the logical thing to do Keith, but there is no facility for collecting pre-booked tickets at Southport station :rolleyes:, so I'd have to do it all from home (Hereford) before going up. Not to bore you with too much unnecessary info, but I go to Formby to visit my mum, and don't always know more than a day or two beforehand when it is convenient. I only live in Southport a couple of weeks a month.

I know there is no rhyme nor reason to a lot of rail travel charges, but this takes the biscuit. I'm not really bothered about the 5p, just niggled that it makes no sense. Also niggled that Mersey Rail don't facilitate collection of Advance tickets too.
I know we're only talking about 5p here, but there is a ticket office at Southport Station.
Just ask the person at Southport for an Off Peak Day Return from Meols Cop to Formby, and board your train to Formby.

If you dare... :D

[adamtrainman]

Well all you say is you'll be going back to Meols Cop later on, just tell a little white lie

[Bogof_Babe]

Thanks for all the suggestions to enable me to save 5p per journey. I'd actually prefer a lower Southport to Formby return fare, which is presumably economic for Mersey Rail as they must reimburse Northern Rail for that part of the journey, so must be making a killing on the rest.

I might email the boss of Mersey Rail - he put a contact address in the local Metro paper. Worried that this might backfire though and they'd increase the Meol's Cop fare instead :(.

[manutd68*99*08]

Hi

Does anyone know cheap rail travel form Manchester to London euston,

I want to go on the 4th November early on then return at tea time. One adult and one child.
I have been looking but ive had no luck at all. cheapest so far £100+ and the times have been no good.

Any help i would really appreciate

thanks

[Bogof_Babe]

What time do you need to get to Euston by? Try splitting the journey at Crewe, as there are some very cheap fares on both halves of the trip, but it does depend on when you have to be there.

[amanda.steadman]

Hi, you should check out megatrain / megabus website they do bus and train journeys from 1quid.

I recently booked 2 singles on the train from Birmingham to London for 1quid each. And the return journey for 5quid each too. Bargain!!!
:beer:

[KeithP]

Hi

Does anyone know cheap rail travel form Manchester to London euston,

I want to go on the 4th November early on then return at tea time. One adult and one child.
I have been looking but ive had no luck at all. cheapest so far £100+ and the times have been no good.

Any help i would really appreciate

thanks
Can be done for under £50.
But reluctant to dig further without risking "times being no good".

:beer:

[manutd68*99*08]

Thanks for all your help, sorry i wasnt very clear about the times.

We want to get to Euston by 11.30-12.00

then depart from euston anything after 18.00.

thanks again everyone :j

[KeithP]

Thanks for all your help, sorry i wasnt very clear about the times.

We want to get to Euston by 11.30-12.00

then depart from euston anything after 18.00.

thanks again everyone :j
A number of choices...

Dep Manc. Picc. 08:20, arr St.Pancras 11:34. Advance Single = £34.50.
Dep St.Pancras 19:55, arr Manc. Picc. 00:02. Advance Single = £34.50.
Both via change at Sheffield.

Dep Manc. Picc. 07:55, arr Crewe 08:27. Anytime Day Return = £18.15.
Dep Crewe 08:49, arr Euston 11:49. Advance Single = £16.50.
Dep Euston 21:07, arr Crewe 22:46. Advance Single = £16.50.
Dep Crewe 23:05, arr Manc. Picc. 23:48. Anytime Day Return already bought.
Total = £51.15 for the two of you.

Maybe out via Sheffield and back via Crewe... you decide. But if you do go one way via Crewe, obviously you will only need a single from ManP to Crewe or v. v.

Those are totals for the two of you.

[Bogof_Babe]

I've been working on it too Keith :) (need the practice lol).

Is this another possibility...

Dep Manchester Piccadilly 09.15, arrive Milton Keynes Central 10.46 (Advance Single) £33
Dep Milton Keynes Central 11.09, arrive London Euston 11.49 £21 (Off Peak Day Return)

Depart London Euston 21.24, arrive Milton Keynes Central 22.21 (other half of return ticket)
Depart Milton Keynes Central 22.39, arrive Manchester Piccadilly 01.13 £13.50 (Advance Single)

Total for 1 adult + 1 child £67.50. Pity about the middle of the night return, but all the earlier ones were considerably dearer. There is one @ £14.25 departs Milton Keynes Central 21.38, arrives Manchester Piccadilly 23.48 which is a bit more civilized, but you change at Crewe on that one, with a 19 minute wait. The later one goes straight through.

I think you'd better go with the experts though, I'm usually the one asking the questions not trying to answer them!

[x__Indigo_x]

can anyone help?

i need to get from Flint (north wales!) to Cardiff central on new years eve and return on 2nd Jan 2010

ihave a 16-25 railcard.

cheapest i have been quoted is £40.

do you think advance single rates will be released ( after all it is NYE- maybe they know people wanna travel to citys?) or shall i just book it.

i have herd of split tickets but i dunno how this would work... or where i would stop.

Any help is MUCH appreciated :)thank u

[KeithP]

can anyone help?

i need to get from Flint (north wales!) to Cardiff central on new years eve and return on 2nd Jan 2010

ihave a 16-25 railcard.

cheapest i have been quoted is £40.

do you think advance single rates will be released ( after all it is NYE- maybe they know people wanna travel to citys?) or shall i just book it.

i have herd of split tickets but i dunno how this would work... or where i would stop.

Any help is MUCH appreciated :)thank u
Cheaper tickets haven't been released yet.
See the National Rail Enquiries website (http://www.nationalrail.co.uk/times_fares/booking_horizons.html) for when they are released.

An Off Peak Return with Railcard is £37.95 which can be bought on the day, so don't panic into buying it.

Maybe you are right. Maybe there won't be any for those dates.

But taking 10 - 12 Dec as an example, Advance Singles are available at £8.60 out and £11.90 back.

So keep your fingers crossed and keep checking.

[Bogof_Babe]

Keith help quick! (I see your green light is on so I know you're there!).

I've just bought a ticket for Sat 17th Oct Hereford to Southport on the Arriva 55+ deal, so Arriva £15 + Merseyrail £1. The only route this works with is via Chester/Liverpool Moorfields.

Just checked for service disruptions and it says there are bus replacements between Gobowen and Chester on that day! However there is no mention of this on the Journey Planner, although I note the 10.28 only stops at Ludlow, Shrewsbury and Crewe, but it must still use the Gobowen to Chester line mustn't it?

Need to know whether it is bus replacement or not, as it's for my OH and I'm meeting him at Moorfields so our timings will be out if it is.

Very grateful if you could clarify for me please.


EDIT: Panic over - I rang them. Apparently it's only certain services that are affected. Phew!

[x__Indigo_x]

Cheaper tickets haven't been released yet.
See the National Rail Enquiries website (http://www.nationalrail.co.uk/times_fares/booking_horizons.html) for when they are released.

An Off Peak Return with Railcard is £37.95 which can be bought on the day, so don't panic into buying it.

Maybe you are right. Maybe there won't be any for those dates.

But taking 10 - 12 Dec as an example, Advance Singles are available at £8.60 out and £11.90 back.

So keep your fingers crossed and keep checking.
thank you keith :)

[dzug1]

Keith help quick! (I see your green light is on so I know you're there!).

I've just bought a ticket for Sat 17th Oct Hereford to Southport on the Arriva 55+ deal, so Arriva £15 + Merseyrail £1. The only route this works with is via Chester/Liverpool Moorfields.

Just checked for service disruptions and it says there are bus replacements between Gobowen and Chester on that day! However there is no mention of this on the Journey Planner, although I note the 10.28 only stops at Ludlow, Shrewsbury and Crewe, but it must still use the Gobowen to Chester line mustn't it?

Need to know whether it is bus replacement or not, as it's for my OH and I'm meeting him at Moorfields so our timings will be out if it is.

Very grateful if you could clarify for me please.

If it runs via Crewe it will not go via Gobowen - the two routes are Shrewsbury - Crewe - Chester or Shrewsbury - Gobowen - Chester

So yes there are bus replacements between Gobowen and Chester - which would add half an hour or so to the journey time - but your train runs the alternative route which makes a few minutes at most difference.

[Bogof_Babe]

Aww thanks Dzug, didn't realise you were online too. I've actually edited my OP to say I rang them (was panicing!) and they confirm what you've said, it's only certain services affected so we'll be okay.

May I just say how reassuring it is to have you guys (I'm assuming you are guys) on hand to sort out all our travel worries. Your advice is invaluable and it is much appreciated.

[KeithP]

i have herd of split tickets but i dunno how this would work... or where i would stop.
This video of Martin Lewis (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9ZflsWy_62Y) will help on that point, I'm sure.

[manutd68*99*08]

Thanks for your help. which website do you get them fares??

thanks again

[KeithP]

Thanks for your help. which website do you get them fares??

thanks again
Details from NXEC website (http://www.nationalexpress.com/trainslanding.aspx).

[kyo4o3d]

Last weekend I went to Liverpool leaving Euston on Friday am and returned Sunday pm for the grand sum of £23 including the booking fee. Whilst the journey to Liverpool was direct I was forced to take the option on the return journey of traveling via Manchester, which took an hour longer, but this was because Virgin were not running any direct services that day.

I booked the seats and tickets through Trainline.com in August. i know we can't always plan that far in advance but if you can there are benefits to reap.

Now the Caution: with these tickets you have to book the seats on a particular train. The tickets are not valid on any other train. Try to use them on a different train and the ticket collector can charge you the full fare. On my Sunday train a couple were charged a whopping £42 excess each for the difference between what they had paid and the single fare.

If its your fault that you miss the booked train then this charge is inevitable. If ,however, this was because a connecting train was late and you can get the tickets endorsed by that train operator, then according to the ticket collector on my train this will not lead to a surcharge.

I had to run like hell to catch the train from Manchester as the service from Liverpool was 6 minutes late and the departure of the London train was a mere 4 minutes away !

[KeithP]

I booked the seats and tickets through Trainline.com in August.
Greater savings can be made by NOT using the Trainline.

Generally speaking, all the train operating companies sell the same tickets but without the charges that the trainline, and RailEasy, impose.

[jamesbrownontheroad]

National Express East Coast (NXEC) has re-launched its zones offer: valid for all services operated by NXEC up the east coast mainine, between London King's Cross and Peterborough, Grantham, Doncaster, York, Newcastle, Edinburgh, Glasgow, Aberdeen, Inverness and intermediate stations.

You must book through this page: http://www.nationalexpresseastcoast.com/zones

Book one-way tickets by 19 October for travel between 2 November and 17 December.

Having divided the country into four zones for our fares offer, we’ve decided to keep it that way. Our great value fares for travelling in zones went down so well, that we’re running them again.


Book by 19 October and you can buy a Zone Fare for Standard Class travel on selected routes from just £6. Travel can be anytime between 2 November and 17 December 2009. The price of your ticket will depend on how many zones you cross…


Travel within one zone – tickets from £6*
Travel across two zones – tickets from £9*
Travel across three zones – tickets from £12*
Travel across four zones – tickets from £15*


To see where you can go and what your ticket will cost, look at the zones marked out on the map (http://www.nationalexpresseastcoast.com/Documents/PDFs/August%20SS%20-%20in%20the%20zone/20305_NX_August_in%20the%20Zone%20map%20final.pdf) . Then download your voucher (http://www.nationalexpresseastcoast.com/Documents/PDFs/August%20SS%20-%20in%20the%20zone/20305_NX_voucher.pdf) before you book online.

[mollygrub]

I am hoping someone can assist me please... I am trying to look at tickets from Wellington, Shropshire to Bristol Templemeads on a Friday in December leaving after 6ish and returning the next day (Saturday) after approx 9pm. This is for 2 return tickets for adults and we dont have any rail cards or anything. We can do any Friday in November or the 4 or 11 December.... I am really struggling and have tried all sorts of options but tied myself up in knots now! Can anyone please point me in the right direction please as I really dont want to drive down as I usually do.... Thanks in advance!

[KeithP]

I am hoping someone can assist me please... I am trying to look at tickets from Wellington, Shropshire to Bristol Templemeads on a Friday in December leaving after 6ish and returning the next day (Saturday) after approx 9pm. This is for 2 return tickets for adults and we dont have any rail cards or anything. We can do any Friday in November or the 4 or 11 December.... I am really struggling and have tried all sorts of options but tied myself up in knots now! Can anyone please point me in the right direction please as I really dont want to drive down as I usually do.... Thanks in advance!
Just looked at 20/21 Nov and 27/28 Nov and there are plenty of £13 each way Advance Singles at the times you want. This compares favourably with the walk-up Off Peak Return fare of £45.80.
I would avoid 20/21 Nov though because there is a bus between Gloucester and Birmingham on the Sat.

Details from the NXEC website (http://www.nationalexpress.com/trainslanding.aspx).

[silvercar]

Trying to get a single ticket from London Euston to Manchester Picadilly on monday 19th Oct. I know I've left it late. Ideally I want to leave London about 5-6pm.

The wierd thing is that I tried a few sites and when I absentmindedly looked for a return, it suggested two singles, but the price for the outward part of the single was less than the cheapest single price I could find available when I just looked for a single. So I went back and tried to get the single without the return and the cheap fare had gone.

Could it be that the system lets me have half a cheaper return fare for the outward single if I am matching it with a very cheap advance single for the return journey?

Of course I can't now remember how I did it and can't recreate it.:(

PS All with a 16-25 railcard.

[KeithP]

Trying to get a single ticket from London Euston to Manchester Picadilly on monday 19th Oct. I know I've left it late. Ideally I want to leave London about 5-6pm.

The wierd thing is that I tried a few sites and when I absentmindedly looked for a return, it suggested two singles, but the price for the outward part of the single was less than the cheapest single price I could find available when I just looked for a single. So I went back and tried to get the single without the return and the cheap fare had gone.

Could it be that the system lets me have half a cheaper return fare for the outward single if I am matching it with a very cheap advance single for the return journey?

Of course I can't now remember how I did it and can't recreate it.:(

PS All with a 16-25 railcard.
Many trains on that evening with Advance Singles at good prices...
Dep Euston 18:35, Advance Single = £18.50.
Dep Euston 19:15, Advance Single = £14.50.
Dep Euston 19:30, Advance Single = £15.50.
Dep Euston 19:55, Advance Single = £14.50.

All these fare are with railcard.

Go to Virgin's website (http://www.farefinder.virgintrains.co.uk/) for these prices.

[silvercar]

Many trains on that evening with Advance Singles at good prices...
Dep Euston 18:35, Advance Single = £18.50.
Dep Euston 19:15, Advance Single = £14.50.
Dep Euston 19:30, Advance Single = £15.50.
Dep Euston 19:55, Advance Single = £14.50.

All these fare are with railcard.

Go to Virgin's website (http://www.farefinder.virgintrains.co.uk/) for these prices.

Thanks for that.

Odd that if I go to the main virgin site and look for tickets, a return ticket gives me a cheaper outward journey than the single. Whereas your link (ie best fare finder - virgin trains) gives me the higher outwards matched with a cheaper return part.

[KeithP]

Thanks for that.

Odd that if I go to the main virgin site and look for tickets, a return ticket gives me a cheaper outward journey than the single. Whereas your link (ie best fare finder - virgin trains) gives me the higher outwards matched with a cheaper return part.
Glad you like it. :D

Outward? Return? You're confusing me.
Which direction is 'out'?
You only asked for a single price. :confused:

"a return ticket gives me a cheaper outward journey than the single"
What does this mean?
Are you saying that it would be cheaper to buy a Return ticket for a one-way trip than to buy a Single?

[silvercar]

Glad you like it. :D

Outward? Return? You're confusing me.
Which direction is 'out'?
You only asked for a single price. :confused:

"a return ticket gives me a cheaper outward journey than the single"
What does this mean?
Are you saying that it would be cheaper to buy a Return ticket for a one-way trip than to buy a Single?

Not exactly. I'm saying that when I look for London to Manchester return, buying as two singles rather than a return, it gives me a cheaper price for the London to Manchester part of the journey than if I look for London to Manchester single. Which is odd because it is pricing the return as two singles, so I would expect the London to Manchester part of the return to show up exactly the same options as London to Manchester single.

Of course, it then won't let me "proceed to buy" the single part of the journey because I've requested a return, so it wants me to choose my return part - which does make the total of two singles more than the price of the single I want to buy.

[daleuk]

Ok.. From Preston, I need to go to Peterborough, friday evening 23/10. Then Monday morning 26/10 to arrive in Milton Keynes before 11am. Then depart Milton Keynes for Preston after about 2pm.

Now the Off-Peak Return, goes from Preston to both Peterborough and Milton Keynes. It says that this ticket allows a Break of Journey... What does this mean?

Can I buy one ticket for say Preston to Milton Keynes and stop at Peterborough along the way and then continue my journey to Milton Keynes monday? Returnign to Preston Monday afternoon. or do I have to buy 2 tickets?

Please Help!

[geordieracer]

Ok.. From Preston, I need to go to Peterborough, friday evening 23/10. Then Monday morning 26/10 to arrive in Milton Keynes before 11am. Then depart Milton Keynes for Preston after about 2pm.

Now the Off-Peak Return, goes from Preston to both Peterborough and Milton Keynes. It says that this ticket allows a Break of Journey... What does this mean?

Can I buy one ticket for say Preston to Milton Keynes and stop at Peterborough along the way and then continue my journey to Milton Keynes monday? Returnign to Preston Monday afternoon. or do I have to buy 2 tickets?

Please Help!

doesnt Milton Keynes come before the train gets to Peterborough? If so then you have to buy a ticket to Peterborough and then break your jouney at Milton Keynes.

a break of journey is just stopping off somewhere then carrying on to your destination but if the train does not stop at milton keynes first then you cant even go to Peterborough as its further than your destination on the ticket

[KeithP]

Ok.. From Preston, I need to go to Peterborough, friday evening 23/10. Then Monday morning 26/10 to arrive in Milton Keynes before 11am. Then depart Milton Keynes for Preston after about 2pm.

Now the Off-Peak Return, goes from Preston to both Peterborough and Milton Keynes. It says that this ticket allows a Break of Journey... What does this mean?

Can I buy one ticket for say Preston to Milton Keynes and stop at Peterborough along the way and then continue my journey to Milton Keynes monday? Returnign to Preston Monday afternoon. or do I have to buy 2 tickets?

Please Help!
You cannot buy a ticket from Preston to Milton Keynes via Peterborough.
Nor can you buy a ticket from Preston to Peterborough via Milton Keynes.

One way to do this trip is by buying three singles...
Preston to Peterborough
Peterborough to Milton Keynes
Milton Keynes to Preston

Now the Off-Peak Return, goes from Preston to both Peterborough and Milton Keynes.
An Off Peak Return can be had from Preston to Peterborough, and an Off Peak Return can be had from Preston to Milton Keynes.
But there is not one ticket that combines both destinations.

[KeithP]

Ok.. From Preston, I need to go to Peterborough, friday evening 23/10. Then Monday morning 26/10 to arrive in Milton Keynes before 11am. Then depart Milton Keynes for Preston after about 2pm.

Now the Off-Peak Return, goes from Preston to both Peterborough and Milton Keynes. It says that this ticket allows a Break of Journey... What does this mean?

Can I buy one ticket for say Preston to Milton Keynes and stop at Peterborough along the way and then continue my journey to Milton Keynes monday? Returnign to Preston Monday afternoon. or do I have to buy 2 tickets?

Please Help!
Or...
Train to Peterborough on Fri evening.
Stagecoach bus X4 from Peterborough to MK Mon morning.
Train from MK to Preston Mon afternoon/evening.

23 Oct
Dep Preston16:54, arr Peterborough 20:37. Advance Single = £26.25*.
26Oct
Bus dep Peterborough 07:05, arr Milton Keynes 10:30.
Dep MK14:40, arr Preston 16:51. Advance Single = £37.00.

I cannot find the X4 bus fares, but here is the timetable (http://www.stagecoachbus.com/timetables/KTX4Aug2009cropped.pdf).

*Buy this train ticket from the NXEC website (http://www.nationalexpress.com/trainslanding.aspx) for this fare.

[stuhp]

I'm trying to get a cheap one-way train fare from London to Edinburgh on 22nd November, leaving after 1pm. Cheapest I've noted so far is on National Express East Coast site for £85.40 (2 tickets).
Any help would be greatly appreciated.

[KeithP]

I'm trying to get a cheap one-way train fare from London to Edinburgh on 22nd November, leaving after 1pm. Cheapest I've noted so far is on National Express East Coast site for £85.40 (2 tickets).
Any help would be greatly appreciated.
Dep Euston 09:45, arr Edinburgh 16:22. Advance Single = £34.90 each.
Therefore total (2 tickets) = £69.80.

You can find this fare on the Virgin site (https://www.buytickets.virgintrains.co.uk/JourneyRequest.aspx),
or on the NXEC website (http://www.nationalexpress.com/trainslanding.aspx) by choosing "show slower routes" and ticking "Virgin trains only".

Edited to add...
Ooops... just noticed you want to leave after 13:00. Sorry cannot help.

[pb1982]

Hi,

I'm looking for rail tickets for 3 adults from newcastle (or chester-le-street, preferably) to any manchester stations, leaving on 13th Nov (arriving midday onwards), returning on 15th Nov (leaving after midday). The cheapest I can find are £52 pp for an off-peak return. Has anyone got any advice on getting these cheaper?

Thanks

[KeithP]

Hi,

I'm looking for rail tickets for 3 adults from newcastle (or chester-le-street, preferably) to any manchester stations, leaving on 13th Nov (arriving midday onwards), returning on 15th Nov (leaving after midday). The cheapest I can find are £52 pp for an off-peak return. Has anyone got any advice on getting these cheaper?

Thanks
I don't think that price can be beaten.
Unless you use a railcard.
Sorry.

[old system]

Hi,

I'm looking for rail tickets for 3 adults from newcastle (or chester-le-street, preferably) to any manchester stations, leaving on 13th Nov (arriving midday onwards), returning on 15th Nov (leaving after midday). The cheapest I can find are £52 pp for an off-peak return. Has anyone got any advice on getting these cheaper?

Thanks

If you can get to sunderland, you can buy a GC only sun-york open return £16, and a york-manc open return for £22.80. £38.80 total.

Chester le street-sunderland about £7 return, or newcastle-sunderland £3 return. Be a long journey unless you get dropped off though.

[manutd68*99*08]

Hi

I know i have already asked but im after your help again,

I want to travel from stockport to london euston on either

4th november or the 6th november.

I want to leave before 08.30

and return after 16.00 but no later than 21.00.

If for 1 adult and 1 child.

Keith was great and gave me advice but return was to late for a little one.

Any advice would be great thanks :@)

[KeithP]

Hi

I know i have already asked but im after your help again,

I want to travel from stockport to london euston on either

4th november or the 6th november.

I want to leave before 08.30

and return after 16.00 but no later than 21.00.

If for 1 adult and 1 child.

Keith was great and gave me advice but return was to late for a little one.

Any advice would be great thanks :@)
Oh dear. You have lost nine days... cheap fares are steadily rising.

An Anytime return from Stockport to Stafford costs £26.40 (total for both of you)

An Off Peak Day Return via London Midland Trains only from Stafford to Euston costs £36.00 (total for both of you). The first London Midland Train at that price leaves Stafford at 08:21, arrives Euston at 10:49.

For your timings, the last London Midland Train you can catch from Euston leaves at 15:54, arr Stafford 19:09.

Dep Stafford 19:29, arr Stockport 20:27. Using your Anytime Return.

Details from NXEC website (http://www.nationalexpress.com/trainslanding.aspx).

Please have a look at that website and have a play with times.

This info good for either day.

Total = £62.40.
These tickets can be bought on the day of travel if you like.

[bestpud]

I would like to go to Edinburgh on Sunday 13th December and return on the Tuesday or Wednesday - two adults and one child.

The prices are looking huge - over £100 per adult!

Can anyone see a way of doing it cheaper please?

I don't want to take the car but it's looking as though I may have to!

Tia :)

[Livingthedream]

I would like to go to Edinburgh on Sunday 13th December and return on the Tuesday or Wednesday - two adults and one child.

The prices are looking huge - over £100 per adult!

Can anyone see a way of doing it cheaper please?

I don't want to take the car but it's looking as though I may have to!

Tia :)

Try spliting at Birmingham New St and get yourself a Family and Friends Railcard which is on a discounted price at the moment Here (http://www.familyandfriends-railcard.co.uk/halfterm) £19.50

Hereford to Birmingham NS 13/12 13:28 Off peak Return £23.90
Birmingham NS to Edinburgh Wav 13/12 16:03 Advance single £23.45

Edinburgh Wav to Birmingham NS 15/12 12.03 Advance single £23.45
Birmingham NS to Hereford 15/12 17:19 Using Return Part of Off Peak return £0

Total: £70.80 + £19.50 Family and Friends Railcard = £90.30 for 2 adults and 1 child return

There are other times available just give yourself plenty of time to make your connection at Birmingham NS 30-45mins

And remember to buy your tickets from a train company like Virgin Trains (https://www.buytickets.virgintrains.co.uk/JourneyRequest.aspx) as they don't charge booking fees

[krishna]

I've seen this on the First Capital Connect website, but can't see how to get the tickets. I doesn't see to work if you try to book online and the customer services were unable to help. Anyone have any ideas?
Kids up to £2

Children (5 - 15 years old inclusive) travelling with an adult off peak can travel for up to £2 each return. Up to 4 children per adult can travel for up to £2. This offer is valid across the whole First Capital Connect network. Within the London Fares Zone accompanied children can travel for £1, single or return.

[dzug1]

I've seen this on the First Capital Connect website, but can't see how to get the tickets. I doesn't see to work if you try to book online and the customer services were unable to help. Anyone have any ideas?
Kids up to £2

Children (5 - 15 years old inclusive) travelling with an adult off peak can travel for up to £2 each return. Up to 4 children per adult can travel for up to £2. This offer is valid across the whole First Capital Connect network. Within the London Fares Zone accompanied children can travel for £1, single or return.

Buy them at the station? There's little point in buying walk on suburban tickets online with most rail companies - you don't save anything and you let yourself in for a cancellation fee if your plans change.

[weaselwithin]

Hey,

I'm looking for a cheap train ticket from Prestatyn to Glasgow on Nov 22nd. I'd really rather not have to use the rail replacement bus which seems common on this jounrey as it's a sunday. If you could help me get a cheaper ticket than the £38 one (with 16-25 railcard) though I'd really appreciate it!! Thanks!

[Livingthedream]

Hey,

I'm looking for a cheap train ticket from Prestatyn to Glasgow on Nov 22nd. I'd really rather not have to use the rail replacement bus which seems common on this jounrey as it's a sunday. If you could help me get a cheaper ticket than the £38 one (with 16-25 railcard) though I'd really appreciate it!! Thanks!

Prices taken from the NXEC (http://www.nationalexpresseastcoast.com/) website;

Prestatyn to Glasgow Central 22 Nov 17:49 £24.75 Advance Single (No Rail Replacement Bus) :D
or
Prestatyn to Glasgow Central 22 Nov 18:48 £22.75 Advance Single (Again No Rail Replacement Bus) :D to get this fare you need to, on the search engine click 'more options' and 'via crewe' 1 less change but gets into Glasgow at 23:35

[John89001]

I'm looking for a cheap train ticket from Prestatyn to Glasgow on Nov 22nd. I'd really rather not have to use the rail replacement bus which seems common on this jounrey as it's a sunday.You can check planned future engineering work here (http://www.nationalrail.co.uk/service_disruptions/).

On 22 November, the journey planners show that the 1356 from Prestatyn involves a bus from Chester to Warrington, but that there are train-only journeys available for £24.75 with a railcard at 1749, 1848 or 1948 from Prestatyn, arriving Glasgow 2207, 2308 or 0002.

For earlier journeys, it's cheaper to split tickets at Warrington. Prestatyn - Warrington is £9.30 single with a railcard and that Anytime ticket can be bought on the day of travel. Use that on the 1551 or 1649 from Prestatyn, together with a £20.15 Advance single Warrington - Glasgow, available on the 1716 or 1816, arriving Glasgow 2003 or 2108. Total £29.45.

There is a slower journey available by splitting at Manchester. Anytime single 1503 Prestatyn - Piccadilly 1651 £13.40. Change at Oxford Road if running late. Advance single 1716 Piccadilly - Glasgow 2045 £12.55 (or £18.50 First Class). Total £25.95

John

[kmmfc]

I would like to travel from Motherwell to London Kings Cross on Friday 4th December and return on Sunday 6th December. I'd like the departure times to be between 12 noon and 6pm. The cheapest I have found so far is via the NXEC website for £90.75. Can anyone offer any help on getting this cheaper or if there are any special offers on at the moment?

Thanks in advance

[jeppy]

Hi, we are looking to travel from Leeds to Edinburgh 4/12/09 - 6/12/09.

I need to travel after 10am on the Friday due to commitments. I am happy to split. Someone did suggest Glasgow, which is great, but it went through Lancashire, so the overall journey was 6 hours, which is a little too long.

I've tried Newcastle but getting a little confused now with all the attempts Ive made.

The sad thing is we had the perfect journey at £90, but hummed and arred, it had increased by £30 the following day.

We were intending on driving, but I really like the idea of travelling by train!!!

[jeppy]

Just spent my lunchtime checking times and I may have come up with something. Travelling Leeds to Newcastle - Edinburgh.

Thanks for all your help - see other threads!!!

[KeithP]

I would like to travel from Motherwell to London Kings Cross on Friday 4th December and return on Sunday 6th December. I'd like the departure times to be between 12 noon and 6pm. The cheapest I have found so far is via the NXEC website for £90.75. Can anyone offer any help on getting this cheaper or if there are any special offers on at the moment?

Thanks in advance
I think you have found the best train fares.

:beer:

[gebes]

I recently looked at travelling London on the 28th November , coming back on the 29th, to travel Edinburgh to London Direct and back direct was going to be a whopping £110.

I then keyed in for Edinburgh to Birmingham as a single and then Birmingham to London as a single, and

Edin-Birm was £15.50 and Birm to London was £7 , this was for the Saturday 28th November

Coming back from London to Edinburgh again via Birm I paid a total of £33 for Sunday 29th November.

By the time I'd booked a total of 12 train journeys the total price was £110 , which is what it would have cost to go direct edin-london.

Thetrainline.com told me I'd saved £236 by booking online compared to just turning up on the day for the train.

The only downside is due to how cheap the tickets were, It doesn't look like I'll get any cashback on quidco...

[dzug1]

You could have saved a bit more by NOT using thetrainline.com at all - any TOC site would have sold you the same tickets at the same price and charged no booking or card fees.

But an impressive saving nevertheless, at the cost of a longer journey.

[KeithP]

I would like to travel from Motherwell to London Kings Cross on Friday 4th December and return on Sunday 6th December. I'd like the departure times to be between 12 noon and 6pm. The cheapest I have found so far is via the NXEC website for £90.75. Can anyone offer any help on getting this cheaper or if there are any special offers on at the moment?

Thanks in advance
Building on the very good information in Gebes post, I would like to change my earlier response...

Try splitting at Edinburgh and Birmingham.

4 Dec
Dep Motherwell 12:16, arr Edinburgh 13:52. Anytime Single = £7.40.
Dep Edinburgh 14:08, arr Birmingham New St 19:08. Advance Single = £15.50.
Dep Birmingham NS 19:53, arr London Euston 22:20. Advance Single = £5.00.

6 Dec
Dep London Euston 13:58, arr Birmingham NS 15:25. Advance Single = £7.00.
Dep Birmingham NS 16:03, arr Edinburgh 21:11. Advance Single = £15.50.
Dep Edinburgh 21:12, arr Motherwell 21:53. Anytime Single = £1.30.

So entire return trip can be done for £51.70.
(knock a third off that fare if you have a railcard)

Note that on the return leg there is no need to get off the train at Edinburgh.
The same train continues to Motherwell (and Glasgow).

With Advance Singles you must travel on the booked train.
You might like to catch an earlier train from Motherwell to ensure your connection at Edinburgh.

All information from the NXEC website (http://www.nationalexpress.com/trainslanding.aspx).

[edmund_blackadder]

Hi,

I am going to be walking Hadrian's Wall for charity next year.

I am going to need to get to Newcastle from Kettering on 27/02/2010 (doesn't really matter what time).

I also need to get from Carlisle back to Kettering on 06/03/2010.

I have done a bit of research but I must confess I've only really used trainline.co.uk and nationalrail.co.uk so far and the prices seem very high! I am aware the most places don't have tickets available yet for these dates since it is so far in the future ... so my research has been based on dates that are currently available (if that makes sense?)

I was wondering if any of you split ticket guru's could advise a cheaper way of doing it?

I am happy to go via London (which is out of my way) if this would make things cheaper still? I'm also happy to use the bus for part of the journey if necessary.

Thanks

[dzug1]

Try the X4 bus to Peterborough and an NXEC advance single to Newcastle from there - they won't be on sale for another month at least.

Coming back Virgin to Milton Keynes (you'll probably have to change) and the X4 bus again

[Rail Staff]

I think that Sheffield may be a good place to split the journey on that one, at the very least you could get an Off Peak Return between Sheffield and Kettering (valid for a month) and then purchase advance singles from Kettering to Newcastle and another one from carlisle to Kettering.

I'm not at work at the moment so I can't do a quick check for you but hopefully this will be a starting point for you. Advance tickets should become available 12 weeks ahead of travel.

[21Twinkle]

Trying to find a cheap train ticket for Wednesday - Trainline does not deliver tickets to my local station - and charge £7.50 to deliver to my home
Why ?

[Livingthedream]

Trying to find a cheap train ticket for Wednesday - Trainline does not deliver tickets to my local station - and charge £7.50 to deliver to my home
Why ?

Don't use thetrainline.com, use a train operating companies website ie Dor/East Coast trains (http://www.nationalexpresseastcoast.com/) or Virgin trains (https://www.buytickets.virgintrains.co.uk/JourneyRequest.aspx) as they don't charge you fees or standard post delivery.

Or just go to the railway station and get them to sell you the tickets

[Trussmaster]

Hi - please could someone help this first time "splitter"?!

I am looking to travel from Sunderland to Lancaster on 11th November 2009 setting off from 6am onwards (as early as poss) and return on the 16th November (to arrive back in Sunderland mid afternoon.

I have tried to work out a split at Leeds - but this would cost more than the quote of £42.50 for a normal return, so I looked at splitting at Carlisle and this cut the price down to £33.60. Is this the best price I can get?

I also have another question - If I decide to buy the tickets on the train how much more will the tickets cost and is there a website where I can check the 'walk on' prices?

any help would be greatly appreciated as I don't use trains all that often but always like to find new ways of being super shrewd with my wonga!!!

Thanks!

[KeithP]

Hi - please could someone help this first time "splitter"?!

I am looking to travel from Sunderland to Lancaster on 11th November 2009 setting off from 6am onwards (as early as poss) and return on the 16th November (to arrive back in Sunderland mid afternoon.

I have tried to work out a split at Leeds - but this would cost more than the quote of £42.50 for a normal return, so I looked at splitting at Carlisle and this cut the price down to £33.60. Is this the best price I can get?

I also have another question - If I decide to buy the tickets on the train how much more will the tickets cost and is there a website where I can check the 'walk on' prices?

any help would be greatly appreciated as I don't use trains all that often but always like to find new ways of being super shrewd with my wonga!!!

Thanks!
With such short notice I think you have found the cheapest fare.
Sunderland to Carlisle, Anytime Return (needed for early start) £17:60.
Carlisle to Lancaster, Off Peak Day Return £16.50.

All these (inc. the £42.50 Anytime Return Sunderland to Lancaster) are walk up fares that can be purchased just before travel.
I cannot advise to buy on the train because I simply don't know whether you will be hit with any form of penalty on those trains. The safest interpretation of the rules is 'get a ticket before travel'.

[dzug1]

Trying to find a cheap train ticket for Wednesday - Trainline does not deliver tickets to my local station - and charge £7.50 to deliver to my home
Why ?


They will use Special Delivery for something at such short notice which costs them a fiver a time - plus their normal fees.

Others will still charge for SD - but no extra fees.

If it's last minute like this then a visit to the station to buy them is best.

[jthet]

Hi

I booked some tickets on trainline today and followed a preferred partner link on the site to shoppersdiscountsandrewards.co.uk The deal was £15 off your next booking with a further £10 for the month. Standard cash back deal (allow 6 weeks and all that...). Anyone else know anything about it? Good deal or con? You sign up for £10 a month in return for discounts various and then claim the cashback by email.

Eitherway, when/if I get the cash I'll let you know as it takes a nice chunk off the price and more than offsets the booking fee etc.

jthet

[KeithP]

Hi

I booked some tickets on trainline today and followed a preferred partner link on the site to shoppersdiscountsandrewards.co.uk The deal was £15 off your next booking with a further £10 for the month. Standard cash back deal (allow 6 weeks and all that...). Anyone else know anything about it? Good deal or con? You sign up for £10 a month in return for discounts various and then claim the cashback by email.

Eitherway, when/if I get the cash I'll let you know as it takes a nice chunk off the price and more than offsets the booking fee etc.

jthet
So that's an investment of £120.00 per year to save an unspecified amount.
Obviously the saving will depend on how much you spend during that year, and if it works for you...

There is a lengthy thread (http://forums.moneysavingexpert.com/showthread.html?t=819869) discussing this company.

[bigangus]

Hello
I am looking for the best rail deal.Bradford to Cardiff on the 4th-6th December return

And Bradford to Glasgow the 18th-20th December return for 1 adult
Cheers Bigangus

[John89001]

I am looking for the best rail deal.Bradford to Cardiff on the 4th-6th December returnFor these dates, there are few Advance fares available Bradford - Cardiff but quite a lot on the direct Manchester - Cardiff trains. I suggest booking Manchester - Cardiff via Shrewsbury Advance tickets (from £17 on the Friday and £11 on the Sunday) and buying separate Bradford - Manchester tickets on the days of travel.

This is not the fastest route, but appears to be the cheapest.

John

[John89001]

I am looking for the best rail deal ... Bradford to Glasgow the 18th-20th December return for 1 adultUnusually, there is a reasonably priced Anytime Return ticket for this journey if you go via Appleby. At £45.60, it is much cheaper than the £76.60 Off-Peak Return, which is also valid via Preston or York.

At that time of year, it may be difficult to beat the £45.60 fare with Advance tickets.

John

[aleksander]

Just thought I'd post that the excellent National Express ticket booking facility appears to have stopped as it is the last day of National Express East Coast. Even the National Express East Anglia website is now redirecting to the c2c system, which still uses the annoying 'Trainline' based system. Not to fear though, as Southern, Southeastern and London Midland are still using the far superior system, so I expect I'll be booking train tickets will Southeastern (as IMO it has the nicest colours(!)) from now on.

[Livingthedream]

Just thought I'd post that the excellent National Express ticket booking facility appears to have stopped as it is the last day of National Express East Coast. Even the National Express East Anglia website is now redirecting to the c2c system, which still uses the annoying 'Trainline' based system. Not to fear though, as Southern, Southeastern and London Midland are still using the far superior system, so I expect I'll be booking train tickets will Southeastern (as IMO it has the nicest colours(!)) from now on.

Eh! No! just been on the NXEC (http://www.nationalexpresseastcoast.com/) and the NXEA (http://www.nationalexpresseastanglia.com/) website and both are working?

Also had no problem in doing train time/ticket search's and NXEC website let me log on to my account.

[jamesbrownontheroad]

Eh! No! just been on the NXEC (http://www.nationalexpresseastcoast.com/) and the NXEA (http://www.nationalexpresseastanglia.com/) website and both are working?

Also had no problem in doing train time/ticket search's and NXEC website let me log on to my account.

The NXEC website has indeed been passed over to the new government owned operator East Coast. You can continue to use their excellenet WebTIS booking engine, enjoy an additional 10% discount on Advance fares on the East Coast routes, and pay no ticket delivery, ticket collection, credit card or debit card fees.

You do have to tolerate a rather awful purple logo though :D

[Livingthedream]

The NXEC website has indeed been passed over to the new government owned operator East Coast. You can continue to use their excellenet WebTIS booking engine, enjoy an additional 10% discount on Advance fares on the East Coast routes, and pay no ticket delivery, ticket collection, credit card or debit card fees.

You do have to tolerate a rather awful purple logo though :D

And if you had an account with NXEC it will still work with Dor/East Coast. :j

[aleksander]

Sorry, I didn't realise that East Coast were using the exact same website as NXEC until it launched today, including the same ticketing system!