Rail Travel: Tips on Cheap Tickets

Steve_xx

Shelldean wrote: »

Cheapest found so far for two tickets.
leaving 18 May, Euston 13.33 £59
Leaving 21 May, Blackpool 13.20 £41

doesn't seem to help by breaking the journey either

or if you can be up early:

04.32 am from East Croydon on 18th - £33
17.20 pm from Blackpool on 21st - £21.50
=£54.50

these trains are to and from East Croydon, so no additional fares for the Croydon to London leg.

There is a train from Blackpool to East Croydon at 19.20 hours and the fare is £16.50. That would reduce the total cost down to £49.50 each.

Shelldean

Steve_xx wrote: »

or if you can be up early:

04.32 am from East Croydon on 18th - £33
17.20 pm from Blackpool on 21st - £21.50
=£54.50

these trains are to and from East Crodon, so no additional fares for the Crodon to London leg.

There is a train from Blackpool to East Croydon at 19.20 hours and the fare is £16.50. That would reduce the total cost down to £49.50 each.

Thanks Steve, can't see them being up that early, however will show them those options.

miller

Aegean wrote: »

I recently had to get a new bank account (on the advice of my very helpful Payplan advisor), unfortunately because of my poor credit rating I couldn't get a card that I can use for online payments and so can't buy tickets online anymore.

Might be worth checking out this MSE guide on prepaid cards:
http://www.moneysavingexpert.com/cards/prepaid-cards#online
Also:
http://www.moneysupermarket.com/prepaidcards/

Beware the application/usage fees though. I had a quick look through the moneysupermarket list and it might be possible to avoid those. Look out for promotional sign up links which might waive the initial fee.

Shelldean

ok is this the best deal??
2 adults no railcard, Euston - Blackpool Nrth May18 return 21 May

Fri 18th
Euston - Stoke on Trent £16
11.46 14.13
SOT - Manchester Pic £10
14.20 14.59
Manc Pic - Blackpool Nth £15
15.46 17.07

total £41

Mon 21st

Blackpool N - Manc Pic £6
12.44 13.56
Manc Pic - SOT £4
14.15 14.48
SOT - Euston £8
14.54 1749

Total £39

so for both of them return £80 or £40 each

Am I working this out correctly?
can this journey be done? am bit concerned about only allowing 7 mins to change at SOT on outward part. Tho the train arrives adn departs on the same platform. Just worried that if first train is late they'll miss their connection.
The return change at Stoke isn't actually a change, it's the same train just split the tickets.

dzug1

The minimum connection time at Stoke is 5 minutes so they should be allowed to used the next train if they miss it.

The return trip IS a change at Stoke BTW. The 1415 from Manchester goes to London yes - but you change into a slower train in Stoke for that fare

A better idea for the return journey is the 1320 frrom Blackpool which is £20.50 for a through ticket to Euston with one change at Preston and a MUCH faster journey. Well worth the extra.

You may well think the same on the outward jouney as well. Sitting in a London Mildland stopping train for 3 hours between London and Stoke when you can be in Blackpool in the same time is no fun. Slightly more expensive outward - £29.50, so £50 total

Or get the bus - can be done for £30 - if every last pound counts

Shelldean

dzug1 wrote: »

The minimum connection time at Stoke is 5 minutes so they should be allowed to used the next train if they miss it.

The return trip IS a change at Stoke BTW. The 1415 from Manchester goes to London yes - but you change into a slower train in Stoke for that fare

A better idea for the return journey is the 1320 frrom Blackpool which is £20.50 for a through ticket to Euston with one change at Preston and a MUCH faster journey. Well worth the extra.

You may well think the same on the outward jouney as well. Sitting in a London Mildland stopping train for 3 hours between London and Stoke when you can be in Blackpool in the same time is no fun. Slightly more expensive outward - £29.50, so £50 total

Or get the bus - can be done for £30 - if every last pound counts

Are you postive about the return journey change at Stoke? could've sworn it was the same train?? But i was going squiffy eyed looking last night so good chance i read it wrong.

I have already told the girls about the quicker train straight thru for £50 return (which is what I would take) However both are students so as you said every £ counts.

The girls are aware the coach is cheaper, but national express coach have rubbish timings, and they'd rather pay a few £ more and go by train than sit on the coach for so long or arrive so late on the friday.

Think they maybe considering going by mega bus to Manchester then train??? but again I may well be wrong, with so many times, prices etc going round in my head LOL


Edited to ask...... you say if they miss their connection at Stoke on the outward part, they'd be allowed on a later train. I thought as their tickets were seperate that they'd have to travel on certain trains??

Shelldean

Sorry to have doubted you .... you was right about the changes at Stoke on the return journey

Also dont know why i thought the coach journey was silly timings either????

dzug1

Shelldean wrote: »

Edited to ask...... you say if they miss their connection at Stoke on the outward part, they'd be allowed on a later train. I thought as their tickets were seperate that they'd have to travel on certain trains??

It's correct that they must travel on the booked trains - but if they miss a legal connection between booked trains they can travel on a later train even if it's separate tickets. The rule that allows split ticketing has recently been clarified to allow this.

Having said that, it's possible that not all rail staff are aware of the clarification - and there is the added complication of a second connection in Manchester. If they are inexperienced travellers I'd hesitate to recommend it

Shelldean

dzug1 wrote: »

It's correct that they must travel on the booked trains - but if they miss a legal connection between booked trains they can travel on a later train even if it's separate tickets. The rule that allows split ticketing has recently been clarified to allow this.

Having said that, it's possible that not all rail staff are aware of the clarification - and there is the added complication of a second connection in Manchester. If they are inexperienced travellers I'd hesitate to recommend it

Thanks dzug1.
They're not totally inexperianced but also not experianced. And being youngesters, not sure they'll be confident enough to disagree with ticket inspector if questioned.... where as i would!!!
Will have to sit down with them and see what we can come up with.
Like I said they want cheapest but would rather avoid the coach due to the length of the journey.

brownbabygirl

I cant believe train prices.

I intend to travel from Newcastle to London on 18 April. Need to be in London by 0830, return anytime after 1730. prices coming at £200 now. Can someone please help me if possible locate it any cheaper. I dont know how to do this split tickets trick. thanks!