Best online train-ticket retailer

chuckie851

I use the Cheapest Fare Finder on the National rail website to find the cheapest available fare, then buy my tickets from Virgin to collect my tickets from the machine at the station.

I've had some problems with the Virgin website lately, where it was impossible to complete my booking and I had to do it over the phone. The problem is to do with Firefox and cookies, but they didn't respond to my emails. I still collected my tickets OK, but they don't allow you to choose your seat that way.

Their website wasn't showing the cheapest fares for a journey on 3 July this morning. I did manage to book over the phone, but only when I insisted there were cheaper fares available.

Can anyone suggest a better way to buy train tickets online without paying a booking fee? I tried First Great Western, but their phone service is even worse than Virgin.

westv

I always use the National Express East Coast website for all my tickets.

rich_shot2003

I always use First Great Western even if i do live in the north lol

Ive never had any Problems useing there website or getting my tickets in the post the day after ive booked them.

Livingthedream

NXEC if travelling on their advance tickets to get 10% discount or
Virgin Trains as I like their search engine.

Dislike Trainline and Raileasy cos of the extra fees they charge

Lemonade_Pockets

NXEC used them every week for over a year now and they've been 100%.

FGW i have used a few times to get the £5 off and its worked fine, but i don't like their search facility it takes ages to find the cheapest tickets. TBH when i have used them i've looked up the cheapest fare on NXEC then booked it on FGW to get the £5 off.

alanrowell

Generally you book tickets with the company that runs the train - as some, like NXEC, have special discounts that aren't available elsewhere.

The worst are raileasy & thetrainline as they charge you for booking & CC use

glider3560

I always use NXEC or Southern (same booking engine) as I find the websites very easy to use and to find cheaper trains.

The only time I've ventured elsewhere is for the £5 FGW discount and a Virgin discount they did a few years ago.

daveyjp

Chuckie had same problem last week. Cheapest single fare Leeds to Wolverhampton £18 or £44 first class.

Went to book via X country and it had gone up to £44 or £89! Which is the same as the first prices on national rail before hunting for cheaper fares. Ended up calling and the £18 price was eventually found, first class had sold out.

kingjack

chuckie851 wrote: »

I use the Cheapest Fare Finder on the National rail website to find the cheapest available fare, then buy my tickets from Virgin to collect my tickets from the machine at the station.

I've had some problems with the Virgin website lately, where it was impossible to complete my booking and I had to do it over the phone. The problem is to do with Firefox and cookies, but they didn't respond to my emails. I still collected my tickets OK, but they don't allow you to choose your seat that way.

Their website wasn't showing the cheapest fares for a journey on 3 July this morning. I did manage to book over the phone, but only when I insisted there were cheaper fares available.

Can anyone suggest a better way to buy train tickets online without paying a booking fee? I tried First Great Western, but their phone service is even worse than Virgin.

if this is of any help to anyone wishing to contact raileasy direct by phone their telephone number is 0208 9893437, after complaining several times to their customer services the finally gave me the direct number for their admin department