Rail Travel: Tips on Cheap Tickets

incubus72

KeithP wrote: »

But you are not comparing like with like.

Someone turning up at New Street tomorrow can buy an Anytime Single for £100.50 which will allow them the flexibility to travel of any one of seventeen services.

Someone who can plan ahead can buy an Advance Single from Birmingham NS to Kircaldy for travel on a particular train on 23 Jan for £30.00.

An even more 'staggering' difference than your example.

Different markets, different prices.

That is booking in advance Keith on exactly the same services,in effect you are paying £60 for the Edinburgh to Kirkcaldy leg when a single from Edinburgh to Kirkcaldy is £6.30.I cannot see how the rail company can justify such an excessive difference.

Bogof_Babe

John89001 wrote: »

Your rights are set out in the relevant train company's Passenger's Charter. Taking Arriva Trains Wales as an example,

provide as much information as possible on the train
pass messages on to people who may be meeting you or be worried about you
get you to the destination on your ticket
get you to your bus destination where your journey includes train/bus through ticketing
arrange alternative transport in certain circumstances
arrange overnight accommodation or transport home in certain circumstances
get you back to an appropriate station if your journey is not possible
issue complimentary non-alcoholic drinks, where refreshment facilities are provided and subject to stocks being available, if your journey is delayed by more than one hour.

Thanks John, I should have searched that out for myself I know . I have bolded the one that I think answers my question. As it happened I did complete my journey last Friday, but it was a close call thanks to a cancelled Merseyrail train followed by a late running next one!

I wonder about the following potential scenario too, which might occur next Monday when I am due to travel north again, if this weather persists:-

If my Arriva train from Hereford is running as scheduled, but I find out before departure that the Merseyrail service I need to get in order to complete my journey is cancelled, I wonder whether there is any flexibility on Arriva's part to let me travel the next day, or whenever the full journey can be completed. This would be a through ticket again, not split ones.

Don't worry about rooting around for the answer - if worst happens I will ask at the station before embarking on the trip.

iMelancholic

KeithP wrote: »

What prices have you found? What is 'really expensive' to one person may not be so to someone else.

There are £16.00 Advance Singles from Bimingham NS to Stansted available on three direct trains that day. Info from East Coast Trains.

National express coaches from Birmingham to Stansted can be as cheap as £12.

Sorry, should have said. I found £51.40 for an off-peak return, but £16.00 a single isn't too bad. Thanks for finding the link

Luisa1981

This has probably been mentioned before but just in case...

I am a PA, I book LOTS of travel and have found that it's cheaper to book online directly via the train operator as they don't add on silly 'hidden' charges like credit card fees, booking fees, postal charges etc, which can add up to about £5 to your total! Nasty.

Just a quick MS Tip

miller

Luisa1981 wrote: »

This has probably been mentioned before but just in case...

Yes (a lot), but its still worth saying again - because if I had a quid for everytime I heard the word tr**nline on here, well...

Luisa1981 wrote: »

it's cheaper to book online directly via the train operator

OoOGazOoO

Hi, cheapest i have found for -

Grantham to Redcar Central, that via the trainline.com - £40 return.

Does anyone know where i could get a cheaper one please, doesnt matter if it is rail or bus.

Thanks.

Livingthedream

OoOGazOoO wrote: »

Hi, cheapest i have found for -

Grantham to Redcar Central, that via the trainline.com - £40 return.

Does anyone know where i could get a cheaper one please, doesnt matter if it is rail or bus.

Thanks.

Read the post above yours, the trainline.con charge you booking,card and postage fees so save money by buying from a Train company direct any will do.

KeithP

OoOGazOoO wrote: »

Hi, cheapest i have found for -

Grantham to Redcar Central, that via the trainline.com - £40 return.

Does anyone know where i could get a cheaper one please, doesnt matter if it is rail or bus.

Thanks.

£18.70 return is possible using Advance Singles... depending on dates and times.

Info from East Coast Trains website... and that £18.70 fare must be booked there.

bottomburp

Hello there,

(I hope i have the correct thread)
I was looking to take my wife and son (<4) to York for the day.
This would be on a Saturday in January or February.
I thought i would give the train a chance and avoid using the car.
I have tried various routes Wigan to Manchester to York / Wigan to Preston to York but the cost of tickets for two adults is more than double the cost of the journey by car.
I was condsidering driving to a railway station closer to see if this would lessen the price. Does anyone have any split ticketing tricks or a way to reduce the cost.
The cheapest ticket i can find works out to be £29.50 per person.
Many thanks

Livingthedream

bottomburp wrote: »

Hello there,

(I hope i have the correct thread)
I was looking to take my wife and son (<4) to York for the day.
This would be on a Saturday in January or February.
I thought i would give the train a chance and avoid using the car.
I have tried various routes Wigan to Manchester to York / Wigan to Preston to York but the cost of tickets for two adults is more than double the cost of the journey by car.
I was condsidering driving to a railway station closer to see if this would lessen the price. Does anyone have any split ticketing tricks or a way to reduce the cost.
The cheapest ticket i can find works out to be £29.50 per person.
Many thanks

You could try this, from East coast website and per person
Wigan Wallgate to Manchester Pic Off Peak day Return £3.30
Manchester Pic to York Advance single £6.50

York to Manchester Pic Advance single $6.50
Manchester Pic to Wigan Wallgate Off Peak day Return £0 (return part of ticket)
Total Return Per Person £16.30

there's plenty of Advance singles starting from £6.50 on most saturdays thru Feb but give yourself plenty of time to catch your connection at Manchester on the way to York (30 mins)