Rail Travel: Tips on Cheap Tickets

dzug1

Danny983 wrote: »

I have a new job and will be commuting to work on the train to Manchester from Sandbach or Crewe.
I've looked on the national rail site and a season ticket seems the cheapest way to go but is there nowhere you can buy them online?

Does anyone else have any other tips at getting cheaper tickets for Mon-Fri?

First Great Western sell them online - doesn't need to be for their trains

wayne77

Any tips for cheap train fares between Gatwick and central London.

TIA.

adamtrainman

Crosscountry website also do on-line season tickets.

The cheapest i can find is just the normal walk-up fare of £11 each way per person

AirlieBird

And Southern also sell season tickets online.

dzug1

wayne77 wrote: »

Any tips for cheap train fares between Gatwick and central London.

TIA.

Travel off peak and book in advance specifying London Victoria - £5 each way is possible

Avoid the Gatwick Express anyway

wayne77

Booked with Southern for £15.50 return. £4.50 out and £11 back.

lalu_2

I dont know if this has been mentioned before but just in case, Im a frequent train traveller and am always on a look out for a bargain.(which I usually do get) Both national rail and trainline are crap and never give proper fares. I realise it takes longer to do research but it is usually worth it in the end. I made a mistake of using CROSS COUNTRY TRAINS via National Rail. After booking I realised I had made a time mistake,got in touch with CS and got the routine answer. Anyways I decided to check out my regular train operater National Express and got the the same ticket for I/2 price. I searched national rail and trainline twice to get the same deal but didnt show up.My advice definitely check train operators websites in conjunction with National Rail(just to see which operators are on the route)Forget trainline its a waste of time.btw dont you think 10£ is steep for admin charges.

Bogof_Babe

The booking fee for Trainline is £1 (well for ordinary mainland routes anyway) to the best of my knowledge and experience.

I always try National Express first, as they don't charge a booking fee, but if there are no £11 ones available I go to Arriva or Qjump. I can sometimes get an £11 one where Nat Express had presumably sold out, although there is also the £1 charge added then, made up of 50p ticket collection fee and 50p debit card payment. Better than the next price up, which is usually £19.50, anyway.

I'm finding August tickets are going much faster than others I have booked this year, probably obvious why, so do check daily on Nat Express as they don't release the cheapies straight away even though the "now booking up to..." date is when you want to travel.

blackbear_2

Looking to get a train from Grimsby to Inverness on the 10th June. Cheapest I can find is £53.50 single
Is there anything I could use to get this cheaper?

Bogof_Babe

blackbear wrote: »

Looking to get a train from Grimsby to Inverness on the 10th June. Cheapest I can find is £53.50 single
Is there anything I could use to get this cheaper?

There's a £47.60 if you can depart at 6.26 a.m.

Got any railcards?