Rail Travel: Tips on Cheap Tickets

dzug1

wrenssplein wrote: »

Hi

Im looking for a train ticket from Durham to Ashford Middlesex for 1 adult and 1 child on the 4th Dec. Ive found a price of £126.75 which leaves Durham at 7.42 and arrives at Ashford at 12.03 and then departs at 16.11 arriving back in Durham at 20.36.

Ive been reading about split ticketing but dont really understand it all as I rarely use the train. Can anyone help me find a cheaper price please.
Many thanks

Try a Family and Friends railcard. Costs £26 but will save more than that on this journey alone.

I doubt if you will save by split ticketing - I've checked one split (Peterborough) and it's more expensive. You could try other stations (maybe York)l

Livingthedream

clemof1 wrote: »

Travelling on the 16th Jan
NTA (Newton Abbot) to HWV (Heathrow T5)

I have been watching day by day as the 12 week booking window gets closer at the price of buying it "12 weeks in advance" or just buying it the day before i travel.

Remember the 12 week rule is more or a guideline, just had a look on National rail booking horizons and First Great Western, who release the Cheap Advance tickets for your journey have only released them up to the 30th Dec.

Also when they do release the Advance tickets, in the online search box try 'avoid London' to force you to go via reading it can work out cheap and give more train options.

wealdroam

clemof1 wrote: »

Travelling on the 16th Jan
NTA (Newton Abbot) to HWV (Heathrow T5)

I have been watching day by day as the 12 week booking window gets closer at the price of buying it "12 weeks in advance" or just buying it the day before i travel.

i can see no logic in the way it is priced?
Looking 12 weeks in advance if i split the journey it works out more expensive,
and at no point (checking every sunday in 12 weeks , i does not drop to a bargain price)

NTA - BRI (newton abbot to bristol temp meads) £10.50
BRI - PAD (bristol to paddington) £28.00
PAD - HWV (paddington to T5) £18.00 (or £16.50 on heathrow express)

Using Great West Railways and South West Trains
its £57.50 direct
£56.50 spliting
£55.00 with mixed opperators
i can see an extra saving of £1.50 if i book "heathrow express" rather than just PAD (paddington) to HWV (heathrow T5)

if i was travelling tomorrow i can go for £54 on the cheapest available or £57.50 on the standard!

I thought there was an incentive from the train companys and government to get people to use the railways , not just high and higer prices available?
at these prices as X2 are travelling it would be cheaper to get a friend to drop us off in his car..

any thoughts ? sorry if information overload!

clemo

Firstly, your "if i was travelling tomorrow" can be £50.20. That's an Off Peak Single from Newton Abbot to Heathrow changing at Reading and Hayes & Harlington.

As has been said above, cheaper tickets are not yet available for your date, so using Sunday 12 Dec to see what might become available...

Off Peak Single Newton Abbot to Exeter St Davids is £4.40.

Advance Single Exeter St Davids to Reading can be as low as £10 depending on time of travel.

Railair coach Reading to Heathrow = £14.00.

So could be as cheap as £28.40.

Keep looking.

Remember, fares usually go up in early January and if we are to believe recent news reports, may be significant increase.

clemof1

the national rail enquiries is deffinatly where it is at.
trawling through every sunday till i leave (gives 14th nov & 5th dec) @£37.50 taking me all the way to T5 heathrow. so if i project that 4 wks and 4 days ahead so hould give me the best time to book.

i am not sure ( having looked on transport for london) if Heathrow Express is included in the railcard zone 6 off peak , as it is sunday i am travelling , so get of a paddington and get the tube ? (is T5 HEATHROW Underground?)

OR should i go to reading as suggested as it seems a more straightforward route ( i will be travelling with baggage and suitcases)

once again many thanks to the above for your quick replies.

(off to look at reading)

clemo

dzug1

clemof1 wrote: »

the national rail enquiries is deffinatly where it is at.
trawling through every sunday till i leave (gives 14th nov & 5th dec) @£37.50 taking me all the way to T5 heathrow. so if i project that 4 wks and 4 days ahead so hould give me the best time to book.


i am not sure ( having looked on transport for london) if Heathrow Express is included in the railcard zone 6 off peak , as it is sunday i am travelling , so get of a paddington and get the tube ? (is T5 HEATHROW Underground?)

OR should i go to reading as suggested as it seems a more straightforward route ( i will be travelling with baggage and suitcases)

once again many thanks to the above for your quick replies.

(off to look at reading)

clemo

Heathrow Express is not normally included in a London railcard. Very occasionally if the Piccadilly Line is closed for engineeriing works it is, but it's very rare for sufficient of it to be closed to make them do that.

The underground serves all terminals

You are trying to micromanage the time to book - release dates are just that not accurate. They can be weeks late - especially at weekends. You are more likely to panic and buy a full fare ticket (at the price you would pay on the day) than miss out altogether.

wrenssplein

dzug1 wrote: »

Try a Family and Friends railcard. Costs £26 but will save more than that on this journey alone.

I doubt if you will save by split ticketing - I've checked one split (Peterborough) and it's more expensive. You could try other stations (maybe York)l

Thanks so much. Ive just checked and if I buy a family and friends railcard for £26 then the journey costs £71.85

pingu

Hi
this is for next week
i can go anytime monday25th night tuesday26th morning and coming back wednesday27th lunchday
need to spend as much time i can between tuesday and wednesday there
cheapest i can get is £104

can anyone get it cheaper Please
i have family and friends card but im traveling alone
i have not travelled by train for years and im strugling Please help

many thanks

SPUDDY

pingu wrote: »

Hi
this is for next week
i can go anytime monday25th night tuesday26th morning and coming back wednesday27th lunchday
need to spend as much time i can between tuesday and wednesday there
cheapest i can get is £104

can anyone get it cheaper Please
i have family and friends card but im traveling alone
i have not travelled by train for years and im strugling Please help

many thanks

£68.65 with your railcard , thats if you Lancaster route , If you go York its £79.00

wealdroam

pingu wrote: »

Hi
this is for next week
i can go anytime monday25th night tuesday26th morning and coming back wednesday27th lunchday
need to spend as much time i can between tuesday and wednesday there
cheapest i can get is £104

can anyone get it cheaper Please
i have family and friends card but im traveling alone
i have not travelled by train for years and im strugling Please help

many thanks

SPUDDY wrote: »

£68.65 with your railcard , thats if you Lancaster route , If you go York its £79.00

But you can't use a Family and Friends Railcard without a child, can you?

Their website says...

As long as you have at least one child travelling with you, you'll qualify for Family & Friends Railcard discounts.

SPUDDY

Sorry thats true i mis read thought it was YP railcard.

Are you aged 16-25 if so you can purchase a Young Persons Railcard or if you are 26 and over and in full time study.

Hope this helps.