Rail Travel: Tips on Cheap Tickets

dzug1

charleypink wrote: »

hi everyone,
i live in ramsgate kent and am planning to take the family on holiday next easter to looe in cornwall.
i remember someone telling me to book the train tickets in advance over the phone, but i can't for the life of me remember who i need to phone.
i would really appreciate it if someone could point me in the right direction!
i have a family rail card, and being a nursing student i really need to get the cost down to as low as possible.
any help would be wonderful.
kind regards, charley:p

I'd book on this site: http://www.firstgreatwestern.co.uk/

But you are at least 6 months too early to book - the cheaper fares are released a maximum of 12 weeks prior to travel and often a lot less than that

charleypink

thank you dzug1,
i'll hold my horses for a while and try after christmas, (bit excited to actually be going away).
kind regards, charley

dzug1

EagerLearner wrote: »

Hi dzug and thanks for your answer - it showed on the menu that I could buy a single ticket to London including all zones travelcard, but I guess I am trying to book it too close to the 9th August.

As that wasn't possible, I booked the single for £5.13 all including fees. I just wanted to get a ticket up to London (single) with a travel card for the day... I couldn't see any option to get the travel card on it's own either so gave up.

I think £5.13 is pretty good all in, then I just need to get the travel card on the day at the station I guess (just would have preferred it to all turn up in one envelope).

I then annoyingly had to book my Sunday leg travel down separately, as the site doesn't allow you to but 2 tickets at once, only one at a time it seems (no shopping basket). So Sunday was £5.13 as well inc booking fee - peeved as I could have booked both legs for £5.13 + £3... still cheap rail travel though :T

You can get these tickets on the National Express East Coast website without paying a fee - though they only show up (for me) by clicking through from National Rail enquiries, not on a direct query.

The Southern website shows them as station purchase only - may be easier?

Luke90_2

Hello.

I'm looking to travel from Birmingham to Liverpool on August 10th, a return ticket. What would be the cheapest way to go about this?

Thanks.

Titch89

Luke - it might be cheaper to buy two singles?

Luke90_2

Titch89 wrote: »

Luke - it might be cheaper to buy two singles?

Thanks.

What are the best websites to go on? Virgin Trains?

Titch89

I usually buy my tickets off Virgin.

dzug1

Luke90 wrote: »

Thanks.

What are the best websites to go on? Virgin Trains?

They are as good as any - but all charge the same price and have the same tickets. Avoid the trainline and raileasy as they charge fees.

Sometimes there is a discount for booking on the web site of the company that operates the trains - in this case it's mainly London Midland and I don't think they do.

David_Perks

Luke90 wrote: »

Hello.

I'm looking to travel from Birmingham to Liverpool on August 10th, a return ticket. What would be the cheapest way to go about this?

Thanks.

Once again, here's a few fares for you to consider ....

Birmingham - Liverpool Saver Return £28.90 Valid on all trains seeing it's a Sunday

Cheap singles .... There is singles available for £9 on the 0903 and 1103 from Birmingham, with other departures being £12 each

From Liverpool, the only departures that have cheap singles left are the 2015 at £11, and the 2057 and 2147 at £9. Beware though, as the 2147 is a bus from Crewe to Birmingham.

If you want any of these tickets, it's best to buy now.

theome2001

Depart at 9.30 , return about 6pm .Can anyone point me to the cheapest ticket/s.many thnaks for any replies