Rail Travel: Tips on Cheap Tickets

wolves10

wealdroam wrote: »

I used London Midland's website, but all the train operators will offer the same tickets.

Note that some third party vendors, e.g. thetrainline and raileasy, charge booking fees and/or creditcard fees and/or posting fees and/or collect at station fees, etc, etc.

was the price earlier using a railcard?

wealdroam

wolves10 wrote: »

was the price earlier using a railcard?

No.

Your questions led me to believe that you hadn't got one.

Knock a third off with a railcard.

Don't hang around though, those prices won't last for ever.

Poland

Does anyone know whether when using a Super Off Peak Day Travelcard can you use Arriva Trains Wales trains when changing at Crewe when going back to Chester? Also if a train is not available to reserve on the return journey from London is it still ok to get on?

geordieracer

Poland wrote: »

Does anyone know whether when using a Super Off Peak Day Travelcard can you use Arriva Trains Wales trains when changing at Crewe when going back to Chester? Also if a train is not available to reserve on the return journey from London is it still ok to get on?

What is your exact journey please. And what does your ticket say. Im thinking your going from London to Chester yes? If so then a change at Crewe for the next available train is valid - whoever provides that service UNLESS your ticket says Virgin trains only. in which case you wont have to change as they go direct.

tinyyorkshiregirl

Hello

I'm new here and wondering if you can help.

We are a family of 3 (2 adults, 1 child aged 7), and will be spending a week in London in August.

We want to travel by train on Mon 22nd Aug to Kings Cross, returning to Scarborough on Fri 26th.

We're flexible on times, but ideally would like to arrive in London early afternoon.

We have a family and friends railcard, and the prices we have so far are:

£148.50 as a return from S'boro to London, or
£162.45 when asked for S'boro to york and York to london

This info is from East Coast website yesterday.
Do you think this is a good price, or is there other sites that would be cheaper?

Any help/advice/guidance would be appreciated.

Many thanks
Tiny x x

Poland

geordieracer wrote: »

What is your exact journey please. And what does your ticket say. Im thinking your going from London to Chester yes? If so then a change at Crewe for the next available train is valid - whoever provides that service UNLESS your ticket says Virgin trains only. in which case you wont have to change as they go direct.

Not got the ticket yet but have had it before and it doesnt mention Virgin on it. Was getting the 20.11 back from London but it doesnt come up as reservable.

Livingthedream

tinyyorkshiregirl wrote: »

Hello

I'm new here and wondering if you can help.

We are a family of 3 (2 adults, 1 child aged 7), and will be spending a week in London in August.

We want to travel by train on Mon 22nd Aug to Kings Cross, returning to Scarborough on Fri 26th.

We're flexible on times, but ideally would like to arrive in London early afternoon.

We have a family and friends railcard, and the prices we have so far are:

£148.50 as a return from S'boro to London, or
£162.45 when asked for S'boro to york and York to london

This info is from East Coast website yesterday.
Do you think this is a good price, or is there other sites that would be cheaper?

Any help/advice/guidance would be appreciated.

Many thanks
Tiny x x

Even thou on the homepage of the East Coast website says they have release their cheap advance singles for those dates they lie, they haven't, the prices quote are walk on fares available at that price now and on the day of travel.

If you try Mon 15th Aug out and Fri 19th Aug Rtn then there's advance singles available from £16.85 One way, but have anti social timings, better timings are available from £42.35 one way.

My advice keep checking the East Coast Website as they will release the advance singles for your dates soon, normally Friday Mornings, so defiantly check tomorrow late afternoon.

tinyyorkshiregirl

Livingthedream - many thanks for the advice, will try tomorrow..

bb21

geordieracer wrote: »

What is your exact journey please. And what does your ticket say. Im thinking your going from London to Chester yes? If so then a change at Crewe for the next available train is valid - whoever provides that service UNLESS your ticket says Virgin trains only. in which case you wont have to change as they go direct.

I think you're right. If I interpreted the OP correctly, he has a Super Off-Peak Travelcard. They can't be inboundary so I think he has the following:

Chester - London Zones 1-6
Route AP Rugby
Super Off-Peak Day Travelcard (Saturday Day Travelcard)
£34.60

The 'Route' field does not mention Virgin Trains only, however the restriction text (VY) says:

RETURN TRAVEL:

Available for date shown.
Available by Virgin train
shown.
WDT SUPER OFF-PEAK DAY
TRAVELCARD

Ticket: SUPER OFF-PEAK DAY TRAVELCARD
Code - WDT
Class - STANDARD
Single/Return - RETURN
Outward Validity:
Day - DATE ON TICKET
Time - TRAIN ON TICKET
Return Validity:
Day - DATE ON TICKET
Time - ANY VIRGIN TRAIN
Break of Journey:
Out/Rtn - NO
Pre-Booking Req: 1800 Day Before
Reservations Compulsory: YES - Outwards Only
Discounts:
Child - NO
Railcard - NO
Group - NO
Refunds: See below

So it is a Virgin Trains-only product and travel on Arriva Trains Wales is not permitted. I'm not sure how enforceable this is as it is not printed on the ticket however I would strongly recommend that the OP avoid using ATW services.

To the OP: Please let us know if this is not the ticket you hold, as the conditions could be different.

geordieracer

Poland wrote: »

Not got the ticket yet but have had it before and it doesnt mention Virgin on it. Was getting the 20.11 back from London but it doesnt come up as reservable.

This is why we need as much info - what day are you travelling on as i cant see a 2011 through the week but there is one on saturday which you can only go via Crewe so your ticket will be valid to change and get the ATW onwards.