Rail Travel: Tips on Cheap Tickets

wealdroam

pompeyrich wrote: »

Posted this in the cheap fares discussion but hoping for more advice here.

Cosham or Portsmouth to Hartlepool, return, 10th Dec back next day. YP railcard. Best found £87.05, valid on any off peak train, £76.30 splitting at London then using GC trains for the long bit.

Can knock a £ or 2 off using advanced singles but prefer a bit of flexibility as not 100% sure of times. Any help gratefully received, cheers, Rich

Can save a couple of pounds by using a Southern Trains Only Off Peak Return from Portsmouth to Victoria instead of SWT.
Takes longer of course.

I know you said you didn't want them, but save even more by using Advance Singles on that route... from £4.45 each way, Portsmouth to Victoria. Could bring Portsmouth to Hartlepool return down to £62.35 + London crossings.
Does your £76.30 include cross London travel?

pompeyrich

wealdroam wrote: »

Can save a couple of pounds by using a Southern Trains Only Off Peak Return from Portsmouth to Victoria instead of SWT.
Takes longer of course.

I know you said you didn't want them, but save even more by using Advance Singles on that route... from £4.45 each way, Portsmouth to Victoria. Could bring Portsmouth to Hartlepool return down to £62.35 + London crossings.
Does your £76.30 include cross London travel?

Thanks Wealdroam, did find a return from Portsmouth to Kings Cross for £22.85 but doesn't seem to be valid now, super off peak, thought it would at weekends so new price is £26.40 to KX then £53.45 KX-Hartlepool, Grand Central only or £79.85.

John89001

girleight@ wrote: »

To go between York and Wakefield there is no such thing as a period return, only a day return.

I don't think I agree. My copy of the current National Fares Manual NFM 10 CD has two sets of York - Wakefield fares.

It's true that the cheaper "route Leeds" fares only have day returns. But the more expensive "route Any Permitted" fares, which are also valid via Doncaster, have a £22.50 Off-Peak Return (Outward by any train except Mon-Fri 01:15-04:00, return by any train) and a £21.50 Super Off-Peak Return (Outward and return by any train except Mon-Fri before 09:30).

dzug1

pompeyrich wrote: »

Thanks Wealdroam, did find a return from Portsmouth to Kings Cross for £22.85 but doesn't seem to be valid now, super off peak, thought it would at weekends so new price is £26.40 to KX then £53.45 KX-Hartlepool, Grand Central only or £79.85.

The £22.85 is a DAY return

Pandilex

How are you people finding about cheaper fares?

I am hoping to travel from Bristol to Hemel and back a few times, cheapest is about 12 quid one way, but only during certain awkward times. I'd love to know if alternative tickets exist.

Jeff_Bridges_hair

Pandilex wrote: »

How are you people finding about cheaper fares?

I am hoping to travel from Bristol to Hemel and back a few times, cheapest is about 12 quid one way, but only during certain awkward times. I'd love to know if alternative tickets exist.

There are no 'alternative tickets'.

The best way is to always book as far in advance as you can - normally but not always the cheapest get released around the 12 week in advance mark and this is your best option. but again these get snapped up quickly so you have to be on your toes to grab them.

jkdd77

Pandilex wrote: »

How are you people finding about cheaper fares?

I am hoping to travel from Bristol to Hemel and back a few times, cheapest is about 12 quid one way, but only during certain awkward times. I'd love to know if alternative tickets exist.

You could try the coach from Bristol to London, or the slow SWT services via Salisbury. Either way, singles start from £1 (+ 50p booking fee) on megabus.com, and you would also need to buy connecting tickets from London to Hemel Hempstead (c. £12 for an off peak day return).

wealdroam

Pandilex wrote: »

How are you people finding about cheaper fares?

I am hoping to travel from Bristol to Hemel and back a few times, cheapest is about 12 quid one way, but only during certain awkward times. I'd love to know if alternative tickets exist.

£12 each way sounds pretty good to me.

Especially when you consider that an Off Peak Return is £70.00.

£12 e.w. is the cheapest you will find without splitting.

Eligible for any railcard?

Katykat

I'm getting really frustrated trying to book warrington bank quay to london eus with virgin trains. I want early sat morning out 25/2 and mid day ish rtn on 26/2. The web site is quoting £12 out and £37 back for 1 person, but when I try to book 8 tickets, it wants £200 for the out journey. By my reckoning, the out journey should be £96. Also, if I try to book through Virgin direct, it wont let me choose my own times and the only cjoice coming back is an " upgrade". Trainline lets me choose times, but still wants £ 200 for outward journey. Would it be any better going to book at the station?

yorkie2

Katykat wrote: »

I'm getting really frustrated trying to book warrington bank quay to london eus with virgin trains. I want early sat morning out 25/2 and mid day ish rtn on 26/2. The web site is quoting £12 out and £37 back for 1 person, but when I try to book 8 tickets, it wants £200 for the out journey. By my reckoning, the out journey should be £96.

Your estimate of £96 relies on the assumption that there are 8 Advance tickets available at this price. Given that Advance tickets are quota controlled, and this fare is very low, that seems rather unlikely. The system is incapable of mixing different quotas, so will offer all 8 tickets at a higher price.

For example say there are 2 x £12 tickets available, 5 x £15 tickets and 20 x £20 tickets, it will offer you 8 of the £20 tickets (ie, so they are all the same), but if you book them individually, you can get 2 x £12 tickets, 5 x £15 tickets and 1 x £20 tickets. There is no way to know how many of each quota are available (the station may be able to tell you), so it's a case of trial and error (or add them one at a time into your basket, and then complete the transaction when you have 8 tickets in your basket)