My train journey has gone up by almost 50% !?

fightbacknow_2

I regularly do a return trip from Macclesfield to Taunton, I would buy it in advance and get a return for at the most £35, and I have even managed to get single tickets for this 4 hour journey for £11! I have had a look on the trainline for March and I am being quoted for £63 MINIMUM for the ticket...This doesn't sound much for a return 4 hour journey but why has it increased so much? This is the cheapest advance ticket they have to offer and even breaking down the journey isn't getting any cheaper, does anyone do a similar route (manchester picadilly towards plymouth) on this train and have you found any cheaper tickets? I am worried as it's my only way of visiting home since I haven't been driving very long.

jamespir

cause the train company directors are greedy !!!!!!!s and dont think the million pound payouts they all got for christmass when some of us were being made redundant wasnt enough

Badger_Lady

By the way that's an increase of more than 50% - from £35 to £63 is an increase of 66%

fightbacknow_2

Oh dear, I think I meant more than 50%! :-) I have been breaking the journey down (adding three train changes and got it down to wooow £57!) Why am I so out of luck?

dzug1

Because you are trying to book advance tickets before they have been released. Just be patient.

How does the trainline describe the £63 fare?? It's not one I can find.

fightbacknow_2

It's not even availiable anymore (It was earlier) The price has now gone up, I was looking for the 4th March returning on the 6th, the lowest single ticket (advanced) is 31.50 making 63.00 for return. I am even looking for tickets to london and changing there...which I never have to do!! I don't understand why they haven't been released, I am looking for any wednesday to friday throughout february and march and I can't find a date with cheaper tickets than the advanced £31.50

dzug1

Odd - the £31.50 wasn't there when I looked half an hour ago. It is now.

Pass in that case.

greyhoundcrazy

I am finding that the fares change by the minute. I have been trying to book a return to London Euston for days now. The fare has gone up from £11.50 to £49. Then it changes to £50 summat and then to summat else... getting on my nerves.

dzug1

Cross Country appear to be offering only the most expensive band advance tickets at the moment (I've had a look at some other routes as well).

Whether they will reduce them if they don't sell well I've no idea - it's the opposite of the usual model but they could be trying it out - or maybe they are just putting fares up whilst still being able to claim that lots and lots of advance fares are available

ukgolfer92

There have been rumours that Crosscountry trains, which operate on your route in question, have reduced the number of advance tickets on their trains which are now mostly 4 carriage trains. When these limited advance tickets are relased, they obviously sell very quickly. The trick if travelling at short notice is to split tickets for your journey, e.g. at Cheltenham Spa.

fightbacknow_2

The tickets have now gone up to £74 per way...I am completely shocked by how much this journey has gone up, I don't know what I can do to get home!