Rail Travel: Tips on Cheap Tickets

Carrera74

We want to leave Preston any time after 9am but need to be at Wembley Arena for 5pm at the latest. And want to be back home in Preston no later than 7pm ideally but flexible on return journey.

The_Crunchy_Nutter

Carrera74 wrote: »

We want to leave Preston any time after 9am but need to be at Wembley Arena for 5pm at the latest. And want to be back home in Preston no later than 7pm ideally but flexible on return journey.

Thanks for the additional info, Carrera74

Off Peak Return Preston-Crewe £22.20 each
Although this is an off peak ticket, it is actually valid on any service departing Preston after 04:15 :eek: - so will suit your journey.

Cheapest connection from Crewe-Euston is with London Midland, which takes longer but is less than half the price of Virgin.
No £8 cheapest tickets round these times, but Super Off Peak return is £22.50, available on trains arriving into Euston after 13:00 M-F, and on any service (for your return) at weekends.

My suggested journey:

OUTBOUND
09:17 Preston-Crewe 09:58 (Return ticket £22.20)
10:33 Crewe-Watford Junction 13:31 or Euston 13:49 (Super Off Peak return £22.50)
Trains run every 20 minutes from Watford or Euston to Wembley Central, cost is £5 single, or cheaper if you have an Oyster card. You can change at Watford Junction or Euston for the London Overground service - cost is the same whichever you choose.

RETURN
14:46 Euston/15:01 Watford-Crewe 17:38
18:09 Crewe-Preston 18:51

Total cost therefore:
PRE-CRE - £22.20
CRE-EUS - £22.50
EUS-WMB - £10 (2x £5 singles) - same price from Watford Jn.
£54.70 each - or less if you have Oyster cards (they cost £3 deposit from LU ticket offices - may be able to purchase on arrival at Euston or Watford, but not sure how much PAYG fares would be.)

Hope this makes sense,
Crunchy

KatiePrecilla

Please help....my partner and I are off to Manchester next weekend, and would like to take the train, however it seems to be very expensive!

Ideally, we would like to leave at about 11am on 11th Feb from Southampton Airport or Eastleigh to Manchester Picidilly, returning on 13th Feb anytime from midday.

So far I have only found tickets at approx £100!!! Dont want to go through London either!! God, I am fussy! LOL

Thanks in advance!

wealdroam

KatiePrecilla wrote: »

Please help....my partner and I are off to Manchester next weekend, and would like to take the train, however it seems to be very expensive!

Ideally, we would like to leave at about 11am on 11th Feb from Southampton Airport or Eastleigh to Manchester Picidilly, returning on 13th Feb anytime from midday.

So far I have only found tickets at approx £100!!! Dont want to go through London either!! God, I am fussy! LOL

Thanks in advance!

You asked this question yesterday...
http://forums.moneysavingexpert.com/showpost.php?p=40853828&postcount=194

and got answers.

Those answers were through London though.

If you must avoid London...
An Off Peak Return is £91.90 each... on a direct train avoiding London (more expensive from Eastleigh).

Carrera74

The_Crunchy_Nutter wrote: »

Thanks for the additional info, Carrera74

Off Peak Return Preston-Crewe £22.20 each
Although this is an off peak ticket, it is actually valid on any service departing Preston after 04:15 :eek: - so will suit your journey.

Cheapest connection from Crewe-Euston is with London Midland, which takes longer but is less than half the price of Virgin.
No £8 cheapest tickets round these times, but Super Off Peak return is £22.50, available on trains arriving into Euston after 13:00 M-F, and on any service (for your return) at weekends.

My suggested journey:

OUTBOUND
09:17 Preston-Crewe 09:58 (Return ticket £22.20)
10:33 Crewe-Watford Junction 13:31 or Euston 13:49 (Super Off Peak return £22.50)
Trains run every 20 minutes from Watford or Euston to Wembley Central, cost is £5 single, or cheaper if you have an Oyster card. You can change at Watford Junction or Euston for the London Overground service - cost is the same whichever you choose.

RETURN
14:46 Euston/15:01 Watford-Crewe 17:38
18:09 Crewe-Preston 18:51

Total cost therefore:
PRE-CRE - £22.20
CRE-EUS - £22.50
EUS-WMB - £10 (2x £5 singles) - same price from Watford Jn.
£54.70 each - or less if you have Oyster cards (they cost £3 deposit from LU ticket offices - may be able to purchase on arrival at Euston or Watford, but not sure how much PAYG fares would be.)

Hope this makes sense,
Crunchy

Thank you very much!! Much appreciated

The_Crunchy_Nutter

Not a problem, Carrera. I forgot to mention that you can buy both of those tickets of the day of travel - no need to book in advance.
Crunchy

supermum4

Hi i'm travelling from kings cross to durham on the 30th april 4 adults and 2 children with a family railcard and the best price i can get is £78.40 can anyone get this cheaper please? we need to leave kings cross after 3pm and would ideally like no changes.
thanks in advance guys

dzug1

supermum4 wrote: »

Hi i'm travelling from kings cross to durham on the 30th april 4 adults and 2 children with a family railcard and the best price i can get is £78.40 can anyone get this cheaper please? we need to leave kings cross after 3pm and would ideally like no changes.
thanks in advance guys

Not sure where you found that price - neither of the two websites I've looked at will sell me tickets that far ahead though they are supposedly available

But if it's real then grab it fast before it goes - it's dirt cheap.

supermum4

dzug1 wrote: »

Not sure where you found that price - neither of the two websites I've looked at will sell me tickets that far ahead though they are supposedly available

But if it's real then grab it fast before it goes - it's dirt cheap.

do you think so i paid £57 from durham to kings cross going down friday 22nd april for 5 adults and 2 children. so i thought this was expensive for 1 adult less comming back but maybe it's because we are comming back on a saturday:(. by the way it's with eastcoast trains. still think i may hold off a day or two to see if anything else comes up cheaper;). although knowing my luck the price will double:eek:.
thanks for the reply anyway:beer:

supermum4

if anyone know of a split ticket thats cheaper it would be greatly appreciated?
cheers