Rail Travel: Tips on Cheap Tickets

Livingthedream

BBB wrote: »

looking for a cheap return for next week from Leicester to London, leaving friday afternoon and back on Sunday. Cheers

Hi BBB, what have you found so far and do/are you entitled to any railcards ie; 16-25 railcard?

I've just had a quick look and can do the journey with advance singles for £40**, but better value would be the Super Off Peak Return for £47.80 as it gives you more train time options.

** Price only available from East Midland Website

Edit: you can get a bit of a saving on the Super Off peak fare £3ish by splitting at Bedford

stefano

Last month I travelled to London from Hastings, and the ticket prices online quoted £18.60. When I got to the station I was quoted £26, and when queried, they said the web prices are wrong. I have, however, bought tickets online for this month's trip, and I paid £18.60. Tickets were bought a week in advance and sent by first class post, which worked. I heard some people can take advantage of these online prices at very short notice, and my receipt mentioned that I can buy tickets online up to 2 hours prior to my journey and collect from the self service machine. Is that service reliable?

dzug1

stefano wrote: »

Last month I travelled to London from Hastings, and the ticket prices online quoted £18.60. When I got to the station I was quoted £26, and when queried, they said the web prices are wrong. I have, however, bought tickets online for this month's trip, and I paid £18.60. Tickets were bought a week in advance and sent by first class post, which worked. I heard some people can take advantage of these online prices at very short notice, and my receipt mentioned that I can buy tickets online up to 2 hours prior to my journey and collect from the self service machine. Is that service reliable?

The £18.60 and £26 fares have differing validities - the £18.60 is only valid via Battle and the £26 via any (non HS) route. There are probably differences in valid train times as well - the £18.60 being more restrictive. It's not a question of on-line/station prices - they are the same. If you had asked for a superoffpeak return via Battle then the station should have sold it to you at that price. Maybe they thought you wanted to travel on the next train, not the next Battle train.

Sorry - can't answer on how reliable ticket machine pickup is.

You can make this journey for £14 return (Southern services via Lewes, walkon fare) or even £10 (Southern daysave - must be bought a week ahead online)

SA3

Hi, this is my first post on this forum.

I have currently started work in Worcester, so I am looking for a train ticket from Lye (West Midlands) [LYE] or Stourbridge Junction [SBJ] to Worcester Forgate Street [WOF].

I am looking to travel every weekend, Saturday and Sunday, and would like a return ticket.

Currently, the ticket comes to £5.90 return, but I can not buy a weekly or monthly ticket due to the fact that I will only be travelling 2 days a week.

I currently have a Student nNetwork Zone 1-5 but that doesnt cover this journey. I am also eligible for a 16-25 rail card, but as my work contract is only for 11 weeks, and to my calculations it will take me 13 weeks to recover the cost of a 16-25 card (£26), so that isn't a viable short term option.

Does any one know of any type of ticket I could buy? or a 16-25 rail card discount code? or know of an add-on to my existing nNetwork ticket? Or have any other suggestions on how I could decrease the cost of my journey?

All replies hugely appreciated

Thanks.

wealdroam

SA3 wrote: »

Hi, this is my first post on this forum.

I have currently started work in Worcester, so I am looking for a train ticket from Lye (West Midlands) [LYE] or Stourbridge Junction [SBJ] to Worcester Forgate Street [WOF].

I am looking to travel every weekend, Saturday and Sunday, and would like a return ticket.

Currently, the ticket comes to £5.90 return, but I can not buy a weekly or monthly ticket due to the fact that I will only be travelling 2 days a week.

I currently have a Student nNetwork Zone 1-5 but that doesnt cover this journey. I am also eligible for a 16-25 rail card, but as my work contract is only for 11 weeks, and to my calculations it will take me 13 weeks to recover the cost of a 16-25 card (£26), so that isn't a viable short term option.

Does any one know of any type of ticket I could buy? or a 16-25 rail card discount code? or know of an add-on to my existing nNetwork ticket? Or have any other suggestions on how I could decrease the cost of my journey?

All replies hugely appreciated

Thanks.

Are you making two return trips every week?

If so, a full price 16-25 railcard will pay for itself in six and a half weeks.
Saving £2.00 every return trip.

Get 10% off that railcard here.

SA3

wealdroam wrote: »

Are you making two return trips every week?

If so, a full price 16-25 railcard will pay for itself in six and a half weeks.
Saving £2.00 every return trip.

Yes, you are correct. I had calculated £2.00 per week whereas it is actually £2.00 per trip, so £4.00 per week.

that does make getting the 16-25 card worthwhile.

Does anybody know any discount codes for the card? I saw some 50% off ones, but I think they have expired now.

thanks

dizzydizzydaydream

TRAIN DEAL!
Arriva Trains Wales has a brilliant deal for over 55s until Dec 11, offering travel between any two stops on its network for £15!!! I have been looking for tickets from Llanelli, South Wales to Manchester return for my Dad and the cheapest I could find before finding this was around £45, and that was usually at awkward times. Booking on the day is usually £70 minimum.

All you need is proof you're over 55. And if you have a railcard you get an extra £2 off! You don't even have to book in advance!

I don't think I can post links yet, so just google arriva trains 'club 55' or go straight to the website.

Hope it helps someone.

wealdroam

SA3 wrote: »

Does anybody know any discount codes for the card?

Probably not as much of a discount as you were hoping for, but did you see the link in my last post?

Here it is again...

Get 10% off that railcard here.

DenilsonUK

Re. the Virgin trains promotion in the Telegraph.

Basically I'm wanting to take advantage of this promotion to go to the Leyton Orient Vs. Carlisle United game on the Saturday 4th December. Ideally I'd be travelling from PENRITH to EUSTON on the 10:03 and returning on the 18:30. The promo is valid on the 10:03 so that's that covered but on the return leg the promo is only valid on the 17:30 and that's just too early considering the game won't finish 'til 17:00ish.

You reckon I'd be able to purchase one of the cheap tickets on the 17:30 but hop on the 18:30 instead? I barely use trains (it costs a bloody arm and a leg to travel anywhere from Carlisle) so I'm not upto scratch with all the ins and outs...

dzug1

DenilsonUK wrote: »

Re. the Virgin trains promotion in the Telegraph.

Basically I'm wanting to take advantage of this promotion to go to the Leyton Orient Vs. Carlisle United game on the Saturday 4th December. Ideally I'd be travelling from PENRITH to EUSTON on the 10:03 and returning on the 18:30. The promo is valid on the 10:03 so that's that covered but on the return leg the promo is only valid on the 17:30 and that's just too early considering the game won't finish 'til 17:00ish.

You reckon I'd be able to purchase one of the cheap tickets on the 17:30 but hop on the 18:30 instead? I barely use trains (it costs a bloody arm and a leg to travel anywhere from Carlisle) so I'm not upto scratch with all the ins and outs...

No you won't be OK - you'll have to buy a full price single ticket.

Only possible exception is if the 1730 doesn't run for any reason.


Don't know how cheap the promo is but if it's cheap enough it might be worth buying it for the outward journey and getting an advance single for the return. Otherwise an off peak return?