Rail Travel: Tips on Cheap Tickets

KeithP

Sweetsoul, for a start look here.

sweetsoul

Thanks, will take a look and see what it comes up with .

dzug1

sweetsoul wrote: »

Hi

Taking ankle biters to see Santa in London this Sunday. Don't normally use the train so wondered if anyone could give me advice on the cheapest option for 2 adults and 2 children under 12. By the way one of adults has a student card, will this be useful?

Any advice would be appreciated as have not found the ticket office very helpful.

Thanks

Cheapest option is probably a one day off peak travelcard each. The children will be half price, but the student card counts for nothing.

It might be worth looking at a family and friends railcard (£24) but I doubt if it will pay for itself on just this one journey.

Also ask about Groupsave - that should be available on off-peak trains.

In general fares from commuterland (in which St Neots sits) do not have cheap advance fares so all the advice about booking early is irrelevant

Altarf

sweetsoul wrote: »

Taking ankle biters to see Santa in London this Sunday. Don't normally use the train so wondered if anyone could give me advice on the cheapest option for 2 adults and 2 children under 12. By the way one of adults has a student card, will this be useful?

Children under 5 travel free, those between 5 and 15 pay £2 each for a return ticket on First Capital Connect providing they are travelling with an adult (up to 4 children per adult). The standard off peak day return from St Neots to London is £18 or £24 with a travelcard. Which you will need obviously depends on how much travelling you are doing in London.

Children under 11 can travel free on the tube and buses when accompanied by an adult with a travelcard or PAYG Oyster.

northender

Hi. Going to London (if we can afford the train fares!) in Feb (14-16). Am horrified by the fares currently showing although I realise this is half term week. Are we too late for the cheap fares or have they not been released yet? Have provisionally booked accommodation but will hang fire until we know we can afford the train fares.

Any advice or tips very welcome!

dzug1

northender wrote: »

Hi. Going to London (if we can afford the train fares!) in Feb (14-16). Am horrified by the fares currently showing although I realise this is half term week. Are we too late for the cheap fares or have they not been released yet? Have provisionally booked accommodation but will hang fire until we know we can afford the train fares.

Any advice or tips very welcome!

Depends on the train company - most have released tickets but not all. Virgin and East Midlands are the main late ones. (or were a few days ago - my source hasn't been updated for a while)

northender

The operator we're dealing with is Virgin. Is there a chance their cheap tickets haven't been released yet? Will keep checking daily.

Gray-Fox

I got from London Euston to Liverpool Lime Street yesterday on a Super Off Peak Return Ticket for 14.50. It stipulates that you can only travel on London Midland only though...but on a journey that normally costs upwards of 41.30, it was an absolute bargain. Unless I'm booking WELL in advance, I'm always going into the station in future rather than booking online.

dzug1

northender wrote: »

The operator we're dealing with is Virgin. Is there a chance their cheap tickets haven't been released yet? Will keep checking daily.

They do appear to have been released - just checked and some are available

shadej

Can anyone help me find the cheapest way to get to Skegness tomorrow afternoon.
Coach with nx are full. Its for 1A 1C and we are returning on 30th Dec. Traveling from anywhere in london. Cheapest i found is with Trainline @£82 return. I don't even mind two singles or just a single there as i can get the nx coach back. No railcard but I have a nx coach card