Rail Travel: Tips on Cheap Tickets

clemof1

thanks for your advise really really usefull ,
when you say advance options @£21 which website were you looking at ( sorry for being an idiot)
and also moonrakers ( thank you too) said toc , what is a toc?

also in you opinion folks should i leave it till 12 weeks and buy 2 single tickets or wait wait a bit longer for the return ticket option .

once again thank you both for your thoughts , am off to do a bit more resurch ,
bye for now.
clemo

wealdroam

clemof1 wrote: »

...what is a toc?

TOC = Train Operating Company.
e.g. East Coast Trains

Thetrainline and Raileasy charge fees which can be avoided.

clemof1 wrote: »

...also in you opinion folks should i leave it till 12 weeks and buy 2 single tickets or wait wait a bit longer for the return ticket option .

You cannot buy a return ticket valid for more than one month.
You are therefore forced to buy single tickets for each leg.

Livingthedream

clemof1 wrote: »

thanks for your advise really really usefull ,
when you say advance options @£21 which website were you looking at

LOL, as wealdroam posted (he's knows its my preference TOC website) East Coast Website but keep an eye on FirstGreatWestern Website as they release the cheap advance tickets and sometimes have a special offer on?

But for East Coast website, its 'more options' and 'avoid London' to find the £21 fare.

Wellery82

I am travelling from London to Birmingham on Monday December 13th, after 4pm, and cannot seem to find cheap tickets at all. It is now just under 12 weeks until the date of travel but there seem to be no cheap tickets on sale. I was wondering if anyone knows if it is worth still waiting on some, or if I should bite the bullet and buy now?

The best I can find at the moment are a single to Coventry at 17.13, and then a single to Brum from there.

Any tips appreciated as I don’t really want to be spending extra cash if I can afford it. My ticket down was £3.30 with railcard!

hopefulfooluk

Jimavfc82 wrote: »

I am travelling from London to Birmingham on Monday December 13th, after 4pm, and cannot seem to find cheap tickets at all. It is now just under 12 weeks until the date of travel but there seem to be no cheap tickets on sale. I was wondering if anyone knows if it is worth still waiting on some, or if I should bite the bullet and buy now?

The best I can find at the moment are a single to Coventry at 17.13, and then a single to Brum from there.

Any tips appreciated as I don’t really want to be spending extra cash if I can afford it. My ticket down was £3.30 with railcard!

Wait! The cheap tickets will be out soon (they're up to 11th at the moment I think).

wealdroam

Jimavfc82 wrote: »

I am travelling from London to Birmingham on Monday December 13th, after 4pm, and cannot seem to find cheap tickets at all. It is now just under 12 weeks until the date of travel but there seem to be no cheap tickets on sale. I was wondering if anyone knows if it is worth still waiting on some, or if I should bite the bullet and buy now?

The best I can find at the moment are a single to Coventry at 17.13, and then a single to Brum from there.

Any tips appreciated as I don’t really want to be spending extra cash if I can afford it. My ticket down was £3.30 with railcard!

As hopefulfooluk says... wait!

If you look at the monday before, 6 Dec, you will see that those £3.30 tickets are there.

Keep checking every day now.

Wellery82

Thanks both, that is really helpful, i'll hold on and keep checking

Narla

Any advice please....

I'm taking my DD to visit Exeter University on Monday 25th October leaving from Preston. I took her to Surrey last week and it cost me £154! because I booked it so late! I thought I'd drive to Exeter to save on the cost of rail travel of approx £140 because I can't afford it, but the day before will be hosting my DS's 21st party at home so would really much prefer to travel by train the morning after.

I have bought DD a student railcard now in the hope it will save me some cash. If anyone can suggest a way to split the travel or where to get a good deal I would really appreciate some advice.

thanks Narla x

Livingthedream

Narla wrote: »

Any advice please....

I'm taking my DD to visit Exeter University on Monday 25th October leaving from Preston. I took her to Surrey last week and it cost me £154! because I booked it so late! I thought I'd drive to Exeter to save on the cost of rail travel of approx £140 because I can't afford it, but the day before will be hosting my DS's 21st party at home so would really much prefer to travel by train the morning after.

I have bought DD a student railcard now in the hope it will save me some cash. If anyone can suggest a way to split the travel or where to get a good deal I would really appreciate some advice.

thanks Narla x

You could try Megabus and travel by coach, splitting at Birmingham, you may have to travel overnight to get to Exeter in the morning but it will save loads, should be able to do it for under £50

miller

Narla wrote: »

I'm taking my DD to visit Exeter University on Monday 25th October leaving from Preston.

Bristol Temple Meads looks to be a good splitting point. Prices quoted with YP discount.

Preston->Bristol TM = £47.65
Bristol TM->Exeter = £14.80
Total = £62.45
£11 saved

I've only quoted for your DD here. Have you considered sending her on her own? It could be a useful experience, especially as she may have to do the journey solo in the future.

Edit: Undiscounted split fare is £96.40 if that helps :-)