Rail Travel: Tips on Cheap Tickets

miller

Bogof_Babe wrote: »

The other day I used the East Coast site to book three Advance singles each way for my usual route (Hereford to Southport), for 20th Dec outward, returning on 23rd Dec. All fine except that it would not allocate me seat reservations. It just showed asterisks on that part of the booking form, with a message to the effect that "although seats were reserved for you we are unable to allocate numbered seat reservations".

I have also discovered this recently for the first time in South West Trains land. Its quite annoying, because if I'm heading North (via London) I like to catch an earlier train because it gives more leeway with the tube/Northbound connection, I can have a pint and not rush.

To stop this they issue a blank "reservation" with a train time.

Foggster

Bogof_Babe wrote: »

The other day I used the East Coast site to book three Advance singles each way for my usual route (Hereford to Southport), for 20th Dec outward, returning on 23rd Dec. All fine except that it would not allocate me seat reservations. It just showed asterisks on that part of the booking form, with a message to the effect that "although seats were reserved for you we are unable to allocate numbered seat reservations".

I don't see how they can say they have reserved seats then. Those dates are likely to be busy anyway, so I guess it's the luck of the draw.

I also tried again, without specifying any preferences, but it was still the same. I wonder if it's because I was booking for three people to travel, so as the seats are in twos (except for table ones) it might have confused the seat allocating software.

Not too worried about being challenged by ticket inspector, as I expect the machine will churn out seat res. tickets with asterisks on, like it does on the Liverpool South Parkway to Crewe leg of some of my journeys for some reason. Just a bit annoyed that we will maybe have to travel separately wherever we can find a seat, if we can find one at all on those dates!

I asked a similar question the other week and was told it was because GWR have not yet released their tickets and I see that one leg of your journey (from Newport) would mean travelling on GWR. They are only allowing reservations for tickets up to around 11th Dec.

I may be barking up the wrong tree!

I was surprised to hear Martin Lewis say on Daybreak that the rail companies have released tickets for Xmas and New Year when in fact this link

http://www.nationalrail.co.uk/times_fares/booking_horizons.html

.....would say different.

Confused of Wales!

NEH

Foggster wrote: »

I asked a similar question the other week and was told it was because GWR have not yet released their tickets and I see that one leg of your journey (from Newport) would mean travelling on GWR. They are only allowing reservations for tickets up to around 11th Dec.

I may be barking up the wrong tree!

I was surprised to hear Martin Lewis say on Daybreak that the rail companies have released tickets for Xmas and New Year when in fact this link

http://www.nationalrail.co.uk/times_fares/booking_horizons.html

.....would say different.

Confused of Wales!

I'm surprised that Martin Lewis said that too as East Coast is one of the only ones that have released their tickets. All other sites are 12 weeks in advance so are only just now covering Christmas...

spikejrt

Hello all.

Anyone have any ideas on a way to reduce a Bath Spa (or Bristol Temple Meads) to Manchester Picc return train ticket, to travel after 6pm Wed 13th Oct and return 10am Sat 16th Oct? Advance fares only saves a few quid at best, and attempts to go via/split Newport or Brum New Street comes to no avail.

Any help gratefully received as otherwise it's in the car for me!

Stu

wealdroam

spikejrt wrote: »

Hello all.

Anyone have any ideas on a way to reduce a Bath Spa (or Bristol Temple Meads) to Manchester Picc return train ticket, to travel after 6pm Wed 13th Oct and return 10am Sat 16th Oct? Advance fares only saves a few quid at best, and attempts to go via/split Newport or Brum New Street comes to no avail.

Any help gratefully received as otherwise it's in the car for me!

Stu

What prices have you found then?

spikejrt

Sorry, forgot to mention that.

Off peak return - £66.60 (via Newport or Birmingham New Street)
Singles - £57.50 (journey there gets in near on midnight)

Splitting at Birmingham New Street is £10 more so running out of options that I know off.

(Experimented splitting my singles at Cheltenham which I have got to £63 so not much help either)

wealdroam

spikejrt wrote: »

Sorry, forgot to mention that.

Off peak return - £66.60 (via Newport or Birmingham New Street)
Singles - £57.50 (journey there gets in near on midnight)

Splitting at Birmingham New Street is £10 more so running out of options that I know off.

(Experimented splitting my singles at Cheltenham which I have got to £63 so not much help either)

Can be done via Newport for £52.50.

Dep Bath 18:36, arr Newport 19:25. Advance Single = £8.50.
Dep Newport 20:31, arr Manc Picc 23:48. Advance Single = £12.00.

Dep Manc Picc 10:30, arr Newport 13:35. Advance Single = £26.00.
Dep Newport 14:44, arr Bath 15:35. Advance Single = £6.00.

If you can delay your return leg to 12:30, Manc to Newport can be £18.00. And after 15:30 that bit can be only £12.00.

Thus total could be only £35.50. (because the Newport to Bath bit drops to £3.00)

amcluesent

>East Coast is one of the only ones that have released their tickets<

Yep, I booked a 1st Advance for 27th Dec just today.

spikejrt

wealdroam wrote: »

Can be done via Newport for £52.50.

Thanks, I will see if I can fit this into my schedule.

salt_and_pepper

Hi i need to get from Newton Abbot to Paignton on Mon 25th Oct, returning on Fri 29th. 2 adults, 2 kid with family railcard. I have seen singles at £6.50 but i can't seem to get a return. I don't know whether to get these or just book on the day?