Rail Travel: Tips on Cheap Tickets

dzug1

TCG wrote: »

I am going to Cornwall for a long weekend in October. I do not want to drive and having heard about cheap train journeys and splitting tickets etc I just tried it on thetrainline.com yet the cheapest is £71 return and singles works out the same??? I am booking way in advance so am surprised at the cost. Or is that reasonable?!

I'm not contemplating flying instead :rolleyes: probably works out the same only much quicker!

You are trying to book TOO early - only full fare tickets will be available until the cheap tickets are released. 12 weeks is the earliest, but usually later.

And do yourself a favour - don't use the trainline. Use a train company and avoid booking and CC fees.

gner_ex

moonrakerz wrote: »

Apologies if this has been posted before, have done a quick search and couldn't find anything.

If you are going to (through) London on SWT have a look at this page:-
http://www.southwesttrains.co.uk/SWTrains/Ticketsandprices/Ticket+types/AdvancedFares.htm?Letter=0#navigation

There are fares on here that do not appear on the National Rail site.

Incorrect. What you probably mean is that they don't appear unless you choose the correct parameters (i.e. "cheapest" rather than "fastest" and perhaps adding "via Salisbury" etc).

TCG - what is your ultimate destination in Cornwall, and where are you heading from? London (if so what is your local station, and do you have a season ticket/travelcard)?

For flexible tickets, it is a quirk of the British Rail fares system that a "saver single" fare would be say £71, and a "saver return" fare £72. For a journey that may be 300 miles, I personally wouldn't (and don't) begrudge paying £72 at all.

moonrakerz

gner_ex wrote: »

Incorrect. What you probably mean is that they don't appear unless you choose the correct parameters (i.e. "cheapest" rather than "fastest" and perhaps adding "via Salisbury" etc).

Sorry but you are incorrect ! I meant what I said. These fares do not appear on National Rail and they are only available from SWT.

All the SWT services (I would use) are routed direct via Salisbury as this is their route. The Nat Rail & FGW sites can route you via Salisbury, Westbury or even Bath, with up to 3 changes !

If you had bothered to look at the link I posted you would see that this is a SWT offer only and is not available from all their stations. I can get a first class ret to W'loo for £21.10 - which is a bargain in any one's language.
The same journey, on the same (SWT) trains, on the same dates, is priced at £33.30 on the Nat Rail site ! and that is using "cheapest route" parameter. I suppose I could get it from Trainline and pay even more if I wanted to.
(Railcard prices quoted)

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byrnie125

Hi I am new to the forum. I would be grateful if anyone has any information in relation to discounted rail tickets for 2, from Stoke-on-Trent to Huddersfield for this comimg Saturdy(26th July).

mahoney9

For those of you aren't aware, rail operator Cross Country is currently running its SUMMER SEAT SALE on their website www.crosscountrytrains.co.uk/sale Via this link you can get large discounts on advanced purchased rail tickets and even get an extra 10% off by using the promotional code GIVEAWAY.

I've recently booked a Birmingham to Manchester return journey for only £14.40 which is approx 40% off normal price.

www.crosscountrytrains.co.uk/sale :j

jamesnardels

There is flip side to cheap tickets: time spent scouring the web for the best deal. Get tips and advice for finding cheap flights, booking cheap tickets and traveling on low-cost or no frills airlines.LIMOHIRE

gner_ex

byrnie125 wrote: »

Hi I am new to the forum. I would be grateful if anyone has any information in relation to discounted rail tickets for 2, from Stoke-on-Trent to Huddersfield for this comimg Saturdy(26th July).

Day return or period return?

Look up Huddersfield to Stoke on Trent, and compare with Huddersfield to Manchester and Stoke on Trent to Manchester. Also look at Huddersfield to Stockport, and Stockport to Stoke.

FeeDon

Look on Southern trains website - great internet offer. You can book a 'daysave' ticket which acts as a kind of day travelcard, but for the whole of the southern train area, which includes Portsmouth, Southampton, Gatwick, Bognor, Littlehampton. Costs £20 for 4 travellers (children over 5 and\or adults), has a time restriction, after 10.00am during the week, must be booked 7 days in advance and only on-line. You'll need to register, but its a fantastic bargain for the holidays - you could just ride the trains and take in the sights! Have added the links below........hope they work?!

http://www.southernrailway.com/buytickets/daysave
http://www.southernrailway.com/network

rinso

any ideas on cheap fares from Wakefield to Edinburgh?? goin 8th or 9th August, comin back on 11th... cheapest ive seen so far is £75...