Rail Travel: Tips on Cheap Tickets

Livingthedream

roomoon wrote: »

Hi
I am looking to book return train tickets from
Manchester Piccadilly to Portsmouth Southsea

The cheapest I have found so far is £94.
Is that a good deal.

Does anyone have any hints on where i can get cheaper tickets

Heard paying to different stations on the route an option
anyone know which ones to use?

Many thanks

Ian

Have a Look at Manchester Piccadilly to London Euston Advance singles on the Virgin Best Fare Finder from £12

Then Megabus (Do trains as well) from London Waterloo to Portsmouth from a £1 single

If you have a Oyster card this will be the cheapest way to use the underground to get from Euston to Waterloo, else cash singles £4.30

So it's possible to it for £34.60 Return, but with the Advance singles give yourself plenty of time to get across London.

dzug1

roomoon wrote: »

Hi
I am looking to book return train tickets from
Manchester Piccadilly to Portsmouth Southsea

The cheapest I have found so far is £94.
Is that a good deal.

Does anyone have any hints on where i can get cheaper tickets

Heard paying to different stations on the route an option
anyone know which ones to use?

Many thanks

Ian

The cheapest return fare is £97.80. Presumably you've found two singles totalling £94 - it's not a bad fare at busy times but you might do better by splitting the journey in London as livingthedream suggests or by looking for better advance singles by being flexible with your times

If you are travelling at a weekend megatrain doesn't run on Sundays

supermum4

looking to book with redspottedhanky does anyone know of any discount codes? cheers

dzug1

supermum4 wrote: »

looking to book with redspottedhanky does anyone know of any discount codes? cheers

You might get one for signing up - they did at one time

And (with a few days notice) you can use any Tesco cubcard vouchers you have

MrsWanda

Please can anyone help.On a whim my daughters want to go shopping in Manchester. I have got a fare using a friends and family card £126.50.Is there anyway of getting it cheaper? please x

2 Adults (1 child but only if its cheaper to take one ,lol)
we have a friends and family card we could use.
From Hitchin,Hertfordshire to Manchester (we r going to the trafford centre) ANYTIME FROM 7 AM RETURN 7 PM ISH.
Thank you .

dzug1

A date - or even day of the week - might help????

But in general flexibility about times could get you an advance fare at least a bit cheaper than that, though the further ahead the better

And fares via Peterborough can be cheaper than via London though a slower journey

MrsWanda

Sorry dzug1, i always miss a small detail out which messes the the whole post up,i do try. It is for tomorrow (5.5.12) as i say its on a whim. Thank you x

wealdroam

MrsWanda wrote: »

Please can anyone help.On a whim my daughters want to go shopping in Manchester. I have got a fare using a friends and family card £126.50.Is there anyway of getting it cheaper? please x

2 Adults (1 child but only if its cheaper to take one ,lol)
we have a friends and family card we could use.
From Hitchin,Hertfordshire to Manchester (we r going to the trafford centre) ANYTIME FROM 7 AM RETURN 7 PM ISH.
Thank you .

MrsWanda wrote: »

It is for tomorrow (5.5.12)

A Super Off Peak Return is £82.60 per adult.

Super Off Peak Returns for two adults with one child and a F&F railcard comes to £124.70... so around £40 less than two adults without a railcard.

By splitting at Peterborough and Leeds the return fare for two adults and one child with F&F railcard can be reduced to £103.15...
Hitchin to Peterborough Off Peak Day Returns = £18.80.
Peterborough to Leeds Off Peak Day Returns = £57.90.
Leeds to Manchester Piccadilly Off Peak Day Returns = £26.45.

Buy all those tickets at Hitchin before starting if you like... ticket office opens at 06:15.

familyman1_2

Hi All
I was hoping that someone might be able to help with travel between Plymouth and Birmingham New Street on June 6th to arrive before 5pm and return on 9th June to Plymouth any time after 11am. The cheapest I have found is £78. Many thanks for looking. The ticket is for 1 adult not eligible for any railcards.

wealdroam

familyman1 wrote: »

Hi All
I was hoping that someone might be able to help with travel between Plymouth and Birmingham New Street on June 6th to arrive before 5pm and return on 9th June to Plymouth any time after 11am. The cheapest I have found is £78. Many thanks for looking. The ticket is for 1 adult not eligible for any railcards.

By splitting at Newton Abbot and Cheltenham, it can be done for £64.00.

For the outward leg...
dep Plymouth 12:33, arr Newton Abbot 13:01. Advance Single = £3.50.
dep Newton Abbot 13:03, arr Cheltenham Spa 15:11. Advance Single = £17:00.
dep Cheltenham Spa 15:12, arr Birminghan NS 15:56. Advance Single = £8.00.
That is all on the same train. No need to change, though I suppose you might have to change seats.

For the return...
dep Birminghan NS 12:12, arr Cheltenham Spa 12:50. Advance Single = £10.50.
dep Cheltenham Spa 12:52, arr Newton Abbot 15:20. Advance Single = £21:50.
dep Newton Abbot 16:07, arr Plymouth 16:48. Advance Single = £3.50.
You do have to change at Newton Abbot on the return leg.