Cheap train pain!

phil7445

It is such a pain trying to find a cheap train fare! I want to travel from London to Glasgow and back in November. I have managed to find a single going up for £14 which is really exciting!! But coming home on a Sunday is £101. The return is £102.

I have tried seeing if I can split the journey using places I can think of but I am not an expert and cannot work out the website recommended to find out the route stops. Glasgow to Manchester is £11.50 but then getting to London is expensive again.

Can anyone help? Any better ideas? Otherwise it is Easyjet. Now do I go up by train and back by plane for £25.99 or do the plane both ways for £25.99 each way! Dilema time!! After all getting to the airport early to check in isn't much shorter than getting the train.

robt_2

Well to start with there probably won't be any trains for a section of the journey at the times your looking at on the Sunday, hence reservations not available, hence no cheap advance tickets available.

McKneff

can you not come back a day later, stay in Glasgow on Sunday night.
The Eurohostel has rooms as little as £19 and is very near the train station.
My daughter did this a few weeks ago.

lufcgirl

I'd suggest trying to travel back on the Monday afternoon/evening as prices are extortionate at a weeked. There never seems to be any discounts available. I found a 45 minute flight to my destination for £20 cheaper than a 6 hour each way rail journey! It's usually better to fly too, quicker less hassle.

A_Phoenix_of_Tangerine

It's true that flying may sometimes be cheaper monetarily, but when it's a journey within the UK that can just as well be taken via trains and other public transport then it probably makes more sense to use these other land-based methods when considering an environmentally conscious and respectful standpoint.

Staying the extra night, if you can spare that extra amount of time, could definitely be a worthwhile compromise, plus there are some tools and tips on this site for securing some pretty amazing deals on topnotch hotels, if you don't mind not knowing the exact location before you bid; could be quite exciting! (type 'cheap hotels' or 'priceline' into the search bar)

Good luck and have fun, whatever you decide!

phil7445

Thanks people. Personally I think by the time you get to the airport early to check in then connecting transport, you might as well catch a train. I think I will get Easyjet home. I am staying in the Etap on Friday night and Saturday night and if I stay another night, then I might as well spend money on the plane home.

alanrowell

Have you considered the FirstScotRail Caledonian Sleeper - their bargain berths are extremely cheap

phil7445

alanrowell wrote: »

Have you considered the FirstScotRail Caledonian Sleeper - their bargain berths are extremely cheap

Yes and thanks for the tip. They are £39 going out and not available Sunday night going home. So I might as well get the £14 single going up.

I have now decided to do this.... http://forums.moneysavingexpert.com/showthread.html?t=1051427 get £25 off the Euro Hostel paying £4, on Sunday night and get an £18.50 single back on Monday. Just need to check I can get the day off work on Tuesday. They better be still that cheap then! LOL!

TimothyEBaldwin

phil7445 wrote: »

It is such a pain trying to find a cheap train fare! I want to travel from London to Glasgow and back in November. I have managed to find a single going up for £14 which is really exciting!! But coming home on a Sunday is £101. The return is £102.

Virgin Trains' website will sell a single for £51 for any Virgin Train (for London to Glasgow) on any specified day if purchased with a single in the other direction.

phil7445

TimothyEBaldwin wrote: »

Virgin Trains' website will sell a single for £51 for any Virgin Train (for London to Glasgow) on any specified day if purchased with a single in the other direction.

Oh. I didn't know that. Well £51 is still quite a lot. I have decided now to come home Monday and it is £18.50. :-)

yorkie2

robt wrote: »

Well to start with there probably won't be any trains for a section of the journey at the times your looking at on the Sunday, hence reservations not available, hence no cheap advance tickets available.

Nope.

It's far more likely that the tickets have not been released yet.

phil7445 - What is the date? And is there a preferred time of travel?

Sun 2 Nov - You can use XC to Carlisle, then Carlisle to King's Cross
Sun 9 Nov - Normal NXEC Sunday timetable.
Sun 23 Nov - Slight alterations on NXEC
Sun 30 Nov - Slight alterations on NXEC

Tickets not yet released - use this form to request details of availability http://www.nationalexpresseastcoast.com/Travel-Information/Advanced-Ticket-Alert/

It is adviseable to avoid Virgin West Coast at weekends currently due to extensive engineering work.