Rail Travel: Tips on Cheap Tickets

dzug1

Gurj73 wrote: »

Travelling from Snow Hill or Moor Street is actually easier for me as I will be coming via Rowley Regis which feeds into those stations rather than Brum NS.

It's worth checking whether Rowley Regis to London tickets are available. A quick check shows it's hit and miss whether they are any cheaper than separate fares but they can be - especially when there's a through train to Marylebone.

Gurj73

Ideally I dont want to go to Marylebone, as my end destination is the Oval Cricket ground so going via Euston makes the tube journey far easier and faster to get to that part of London.

KittyKate

Hi is anyone better than me at this sort of thing able to help me shave a little off a train price if possible?

My & hubby (and our daughter who will be 5 months) are travelling from Manchester Picadilly to Edinburgh central (there are 2 listed on Trainline but I don't know the difference?) on the 29th Aug, travelling around 10am, travelling back on 31st Aug after 12.00. We need a direct train but not too bothered where it's via.

Cheapest I can find is £74, is there any way I can bring this down? Thanks!

dzug1

KittyKate wrote: »

Hi is anyone better than me at this sort of thing able to help me shave a little off a train price if possible?

My & hubby (and our daughter who will be 5 months) are travelling from Manchester Picadilly to Edinburgh central (there are 2 listed on Trainline but I don't know the difference?) on the 29th Aug, travelling around 10am, travelling back on 31st Aug after 12.00. We need a direct train but not too bothered where it's via.

Cheapest I can find is £74, is there any way I can bring this down? Thanks!

That's actually a very good fare - getting it cheaper will be a struggle particularly if you don't want to change trains

Save the Trainline's fees by not booking with them. Instead use a train company website - transpennine express run the route and the only direct trains

Edinburgh Waverley is the main station - Haymarket an alternative. Which is best depends on where you are staying.

KittyKate

Thanks! I'll do that - much appreciated!

wealdroam

KittyKate wrote: »

Hi is anyone better than me at this sort of thing able to help me shave a little off a train price if possible?

My & hubby (and our daughter who will be 5 months) are travelling from Manchester Picadilly to Edinburgh central (there are 2 listed on Trainline but I don't know the difference?) on the 29th Aug, travelling around 10am, travelling back on 31st Aug after 12.00. We need a direct train but not too bothered where it's via.

Cheapest I can find is £74, is there any way I can bring this down? Thanks!

You could perhaps consider buying a Family and Friends Railcard.
Depends on if you are planning any more rail trips as a family.
It does mean paying for your daughter, but the total return fare for all three of you on the same trains drops from £74 to £55.80.

With a F&F Railcard costing £28 (there are often deals around), you only need two of those trips to have made a saving of around £8.00.

lisae03

Hello,

I would really appreciate some guidance in getting the cheapest train tickets travelling from Coventry to Penzance (2 Adults + 2 Children (5 and 10 )with Family Rail card) on Thursday 15th returning on Monday 19th. I've heard that cheap tickets are released 12 weeks before and although its still a few days to early for my dates I've been checking the latest releases and its still £79 for just one way. I would really like to be able to get us all down there and back for £120 (plus £25 for family railcard). We're going to a family wedding and if I can't get the travel costs down we won't be able to go.

I have a couple of questions .....

Are cheaper tickets released daily or is there a pattern?

If they have released tickets for my outward journey and not the return part do I buy singles or risk it and wait till the whole journey is avaliable?

I want to get organised so we have the best chance of securing cheaper tickets.


Thanks for Reading :-)

geordieracer

15th and 19th of when?

Without looking you may find it becoming cheaper if you go via London and split there as i know EMT give a discount for the leg to London if you buy from them and FGW should do the same if you book through them for Penzance.

wealdroam

lisae03 wrote: »

Hello,

I would really appreciate some guidance in getting the cheapest train tickets travelling from Coventry to Penzance (2 Adults + 2 Children (5 and 10 )with Family Rail card) on Thursday 15th returning on Monday 19th. I've heard that cheap tickets are released 12 weeks before and although its still a few days to early for my dates I've been checking the latest releases and its still £79 for just one way. I would really like to be able to get us all down there and back for £120 (plus £25 for family railcard). We're going to a family wedding and if I can't get the travel costs down we won't be able to go.

I have a couple of questions .....

Are cheaper tickets released daily or is there a pattern?

If they have released tickets for my outward journey and not the return part do I buy singles or risk it and wait till the whole journey is avaliable?

I want to get organised so we have the best chance of securing cheaper tickets.


Thanks for Reading :-)

As mentioned, you could consider travelling via London... and using Megatrain between Waterloo and Exeter.
Very cheap tickets, if the times suit you.

lisae03

I thought I was being so carefull by entering all the details and then I forget the month! Its September. What does EMT and and FGW stand for? I would definately concider traveling via London if it was a half decent saving. We once travelled over night and it took 12 hours cos the tickets were half the price!

Would an example of what your saying be say Coventry to London Euston, then the tube to waterloo then mega train to Exeter?