Rail Travel: Tips on Cheap Tickets

KeithP

Bogof_Babe wrote: »

On another matter...


I've been waiting for Advance Singles to appear for Friday 10th September, but as at tonight East Coast are only listing full walk-on fares.

Fair enough, except that in this section: http://www.nationalrail.co.uk/times_fares/booking_horizons.html
it says that Arriva Trains Wales are currently selling Advance tickets for weekdays up to 17th September and Saturdays up to 11th Sept.

I have looked on the Arriva site too and they don't have any Advance fares showing for those dates.

I'd think that even if they were all sold out the price box on East Coast would still be there for the cheaper fares, but with no trains showing against them. At the moment it doesn't look like any have been offered at all.

Could one of our forum experts please advise what is going on? TIA.

Is this for your regular route, BB?
I.e. Hereford to Southport?

East Coast Trains are showing Advance Singles for the through journey on 10/11 Sept.
Only one outward... overnight though.
several for return... from £12.50

What are your travel dates?

Bogof_Babe

Oops sorry I forgot to say .

It's the Southport to Hereford run that I'm after, preferably Friday 10th Sept. I usually get the 16.22 from Chester as I go that way so I can see my mum en route, and this time fits in well with various aspects. The "leave Southport" time for this one is 14.13 but I go earlier because of my stop-off. (Unrestricted travel times on the Merseyrail leg so can go any time so long as it's off-peak).

Never had a problem before, there's usually availability on most Chester to Cardiff trains @ £12. Don't know what's going on but I hope they haven't re-jigged it all.

Edit: Just reread your post Keith and noted you say there are several return fares (presume you mean Southport to Hereford) @ £12.50. That's a 50p increase, and also I wonder why I can't find them. Better have another look.

Bogof_Babe

Nope, just tried again but putting in Hereford to Southport on 10th Sept just to see if I can see the same as you are seeing. Only full fares showing, even though I ticked "any permitted route".

That's weird if you're seeing something I can't find. Think I'll sleep on it and try again tomorrow. Thanks for your help Keith.

KeithP

Bogof_Babe wrote: »

...noted you say there are several return fares (presume you mean Southport to Hereford) @ £12.50. That's a 50p increase, and also I wonder why I can't find them. Better have another look.

No, I cannot find any in that direction on 10th.
I was talking about 11th, where there are a few, three, at £12.50.

Bogof_Babe

Yes, it's all very strange. However even though the right hand of the main page says "up to 10th Sept" I experimented by putting in 11th (I am fairly flexible with my travel arrangements) and found a £15 Advance via Liverpool South Parkway and Crewe, which I've booked. I prefer that route actually (can still call on mum) but as it's £3 dearer than via Chester I generally don't use it.

They do seem to be cutting back don't they? It can't be reaction to the budget so soon, can it?

Thanks again for your help. I'll be back soon with something else I expect!

Edit: I didn't try 11th before because East Coast didn't say they were issuing tickets beyond 10th, not because I didn't believe you!

anyfreebies

epm-84 wrote: »

I've just found this site which gives advice on how to get the cheapest tickets and gives some examples of where you can save money by splitting tickets and the like, it's not a very big site but what is there seems good and a few things I don't think Martin Lewis has picked up on:
http://www.besttrainfares.info/

I looked at this site a few days ago and found it very useful. I emailed the site owner asking if there could be more examples of splitting tickets added to the site and he's replied saying more will be added in due course as long as people continue to use the site, so it looks well worth bookmarking if you use the train in my opinion.

_gl

Does anyone know why Megatrains is listing far fewer timeslots lately? I haven't looked at them since earlier this year, but now the important weekday 11:28 Nottingham->London timeslot seems to be gone from all the available dates (as well as a whole bunch of others). Without it I can't make my connecting trains as they all start too early.

Are all these slots permanently gone or is it just during the summer? (I emailed them but they take forever to reply).

dzug1

_gl wrote: »

Does anyone know why Megatrains is listing far fewer timeslots lately? I haven't looked at them since earlier this year, but now the important weekday 11:28 Nottingham->London timeslot seems to be gone from all the available dates (as well as a whole bunch of others). Without it I can't make my connecting trains as they all start too early.

Are all these slots permanently gone or is it just during the summer? (I emailed them but they take forever to reply).

It's still there in the timetable - maybe it just sells out quick.

Looking at East Midlands trains, that train is often available for £9, possibly less than megatrain would have charged

_gl

dzug1 wrote: »

It's still there in the timetable - maybe it just sells out quick.

I don't think so, every date I've checked (and I checked around 20 throughout the available dates, including the most recently released) only shows exactly the same two slots, whereas there used to be several more (including the 11:28). Does anyone know for sure?

I guess the only way to tell is to get up early.

dzug1

_gl wrote: »

I don't think so, every date I've checked (and I checked around 20 throughout the available dates, including the most recently released) only shows exactly the same two slots, whereas there used to be several more (including the 11:28). Does anyone know for sure?

I guess the only way to tell is to get up early.

If you look at the timetable (as opposed to trying to book) it's still listed

So it may be they are listing it (but not making seats available) or they may sell out very quickly. Pass as to which.