Rail Travel: Tips on Cheap Tickets

Livingthedream

suenbern wrote: »

Hi, like everyone else I'm trying to get the cheapest tickets possible.

My journey is from Preston to London on 21 March returning the next day (weekend visit). The cheapeast I've seen so far are around £31 out & £35 return journey (i.e. 2 singles). Does anyone know if this is likely to get any cheaper so it's worth hanging on or should I just go ahead & book???

Thanks Sue

Try this, split tickets and change of train required;
Preston to Manchester Pic Off Peak Return £13.70
Manchester Pic to London Euston 21st 10:15 Advance Single £8

London Euston to Manchester Pic Advance Single 22nd 14:55 £8
Manchester Pic to Preston Off Peak Return £0

Total £29.70 Return

You can get cheaper Advance singles from Preston to Manchester but the off peak ticket give you more flexiblity and there are other £8 trains from Manchester/London to choose from. Make sure you give yourself plenty of time for connections at Manchester

Rumman

Hi,

I am going from doncaster to london on the 22nd jan, but all the morning tickets seem very expensive at 64 pounds for a single, i need to travel at 6am, i guess as it's peak hour, there isn't much scope of getting any cheap

Livingthedream

Rumman wrote: »

Hi,

I am going from doncaster to london on the 22nd jan, but all the morning tickets seem very expensive at 64 pounds for a single, i need to travel at 6am, i guess as it's peak hour, there isn't much scope of getting any cheap

Try this, takes you via Manchester/change train there, it will be longer time wise but it is cheaper;

Doncaster to Manchester Pic 22nd 05:40 Single £16.40
Manchester Pic to London Euston 22nd 07:35 Advance Single £28

Total £44.40

Hope it helps?
Advance tickets so get them early and you must travel on the booked train

pgt67

I have a meeting in London on Sat 28th March, would prefer to be there before 11am and return on same day. cheapest train fare i can find is around the £80 mark from Huddersfield.

Do I wait or take it??

dzug1

I'd wait. I don't believe that cheap tickets are out yet.

If the ticket you have found is described as 'off peak' or 'anytime' definitely wait. It will be the same price on the day so you will lose nothing by waiting even if you end up buying it (very unlikely)

suenbern

Hi Livingthedream - you're such an expert & thanks a lot re:

"Try this, split tickets and change of train required;
Preston to Manchester Pic Off Peak Return £13.70
Manchester Pic to London Euston 21st 10:15 Advance Single £8

London Euston to Manchester Pic Advance Single 22nd 14:55 £8
Manchester Pic to Preston Off Peak Return £0

Total £29.70 Return"

but...........I can't find this info anywhere on The Trainline or Virgin - where oh where did you track it down???????

Thanks Sue

Livingthedream

[quote=suenbern;but...........I_can't_find_this_info_anywhere on The Trainline or Virgin - where oh where did you track it down???????

Thanks Sue[/quote]

Those £8 quid Advance ticket don't last long, had a quick check on Virgin trains and theres some still available;
Manchester Pic to London Eus 10:35 £8 advance single
London Eus to Manchester Pic 18:55 £8 advance single

https://www.buytickets.virgintrains.co.uk/JourneyRequest.aspx

The Preston to Manchester ticketsare walk on fares and can be bought anytime

daisyboo

Anyone know how to get form Preston to Stowmarket (Suffolk) on sat 4th April without it costing £105 return!

KeithP

daisyboo wrote: »

Anyone know how to get form Preston to Stowmarket (Suffolk) on sat 4th April without it costing £105 return!

Well a walkup offpeak single is only £101.00.
You can get a return for £102.00.
Where did you get £105.00 from?
Try split ticketing or wait a bit until Advance tickets are available.

daisyboo

Thanks for the advice. How far in advanced do the advanced ticket prices come out?

£105 was from train line (it adds on for postage )

I will look at split ticketing but not sure how it works do you look for a major station on the way and book two separate journeys?

my mum also recommended raileasy but the only give you prices for the next 12 weeks.