Rail Travel: Tips on Cheap Tickets

50Twuncle

Trying to find a cheap train ticket for Wednesday - Trainline does not deliver tickets to my local station - and charge £7.50 to deliver to my home
Why ?

Livingthedream

21Twinkle wrote: »

Trying to find a cheap train ticket for Wednesday - Trainline does not deliver tickets to my local station - and charge £7.50 to deliver to my home
Why ?

Don't use thetrainline.com, use a train operating companies website ie Dor/East Coast trains or Virgin trains as they don't charge you fees or standard post delivery.

Or just go to the railway station and get them to sell you the tickets

Trussmaster

Hi - please could someone help this first time "splitter"?!

I am looking to travel from Sunderland to Lancaster on 11th November 2009 setting off from 6am onwards (as early as poss) and return on the 16th November (to arrive back in Sunderland mid afternoon.

I have tried to work out a split at Leeds - but this would cost more than the quote of £42.50 for a normal return, so I looked at splitting at Carlisle and this cut the price down to £33.60. Is this the best price I can get?

I also have another question - If I decide to buy the tickets on the train how much more will the tickets cost and is there a website where I can check the 'walk on' prices?

any help would be greatly appreciated as I don't use trains all that often but always like to find new ways of being super shrewd with my wonga!!!

Thanks!

KeithP

Trussmaster wrote: »

Hi - please could someone help this first time "splitter"?!

I am looking to travel from Sunderland to Lancaster on 11th November 2009 setting off from 6am onwards (as early as poss) and return on the 16th November (to arrive back in Sunderland mid afternoon.

I have tried to work out a split at Leeds - but this would cost more than the quote of £42.50 for a normal return, so I looked at splitting at Carlisle and this cut the price down to £33.60. Is this the best price I can get?

I also have another question - If I decide to buy the tickets on the train how much more will the tickets cost and is there a website where I can check the 'walk on' prices?

any help would be greatly appreciated as I don't use trains all that often but always like to find new ways of being super shrewd with my wonga!!!

Thanks!

With such short notice I think you have found the cheapest fare.
Sunderland to Carlisle, Anytime Return (needed for early start) £17:60.
Carlisle to Lancaster, Off Peak Day Return £16.50.

All these (inc. the £42.50 Anytime Return Sunderland to Lancaster) are walk up fares that can be purchased just before travel.
I cannot advise to buy on the train because I simply don't know whether you will be hit with any form of penalty on those trains. The safest interpretation of the rules is 'get a ticket before travel'.

dzug1

21Twinkle wrote: »

Trying to find a cheap train ticket for Wednesday - Trainline does not deliver tickets to my local station - and charge £7.50 to deliver to my home
Why ?

They will use Special Delivery for something at such short notice which costs them a fiver a time - plus their normal fees.

Others will still charge for SD - but no extra fees.

If it's last minute like this then a visit to the station to buy them is best.

jthet

Hi

I booked some tickets on trainline today and followed a preferred partner link on the site to shoppersdiscountsandrewards.co.uk The deal was £15 off your next booking with a further £10 for the month. Standard cash back deal (allow 6 weeks and all that...). Anyone else know anything about it? Good deal or con? You sign up for £10 a month in return for discounts various and then claim the cashback by email.

Eitherway, when/if I get the cash I'll let you know as it takes a nice chunk off the price and more than offsets the booking fee etc.

jthet

KeithP

jthet wrote: »

Hi

I booked some tickets on trainline today and followed a preferred partner link on the site to shoppersdiscountsandrewards.co.uk The deal was £15 off your next booking with a further £10 for the month. Standard cash back deal (allow 6 weeks and all that...). Anyone else know anything about it? Good deal or con? You sign up for £10 a month in return for discounts various and then claim the cashback by email.

Eitherway, when/if I get the cash I'll let you know as it takes a nice chunk off the price and more than offsets the booking fee etc.

jthet

So that's an investment of £120.00 per year to save an unspecified amount.
Obviously the saving will depend on how much you spend during that year, and if it works for you...

There is a lengthy thread discussing this company.

bigangus

Hello
I am looking for the best rail deal.Bradford to Cardiff on the 4th-6th December return

And Bradford to Glasgow the 18th-20th December return for 1 adult
Cheers Bigangus

John89001

bigangus wrote: »

I am looking for the best rail deal.Bradford to Cardiff on the 4th-6th December return

For these dates, there are few Advance fares available Bradford - Cardiff but quite a lot on the direct Manchester - Cardiff trains. I suggest booking Manchester - Cardiff via Shrewsbury Advance tickets (from £17 on the Friday and £11 on the Sunday) and buying separate Bradford - Manchester tickets on the days of travel.

This is not the fastest route, but appears to be the cheapest.

John

John89001

bigangus wrote: »

I am looking for the best rail deal ... Bradford to Glasgow the 18th-20th December return for 1 adult

Unusually, there is a reasonably priced Anytime Return ticket for this journey if you go via Appleby. At £45.60, it is much cheaper than the £76.60 Off-Peak Return, which is also valid via Preston or York.

At that time of year, it may be difficult to beat the £45.60 fare with Advance tickets.

John