Rail Travel: Tips on Cheap Tickets

miller

Starlightlady wrote: »

Can anyone tell me if there's a cheaper way of doing this journey from any Falkirk station to Manchester Airport on December 10th for 2 adults.

http://www.nationalrail.co.uk/times_fares/booking_horizons.html

I'd check again this Sunday.

(If you wind it back to the 3rd December say, Standard can be had for £16 each, 1st class for £38 each).

You don't mention coming back from the airport, they will allow for flight delays of up to 3 hours in certain circumstances (last bit of small print on this page http://www.tpexpress.co.uk/campaigns/manchester-airport/)

clarebear

Hi
I'm desperately trying to get my head round the ticket splitting! My 2 daughters (11 and 10) and I are planning to travel from Paddock Wood to Liverpool on 21 Dec (only need singles) and it's coming out at £168. Any ideas as to where to break the ticket or find it cheaper!

Also, am I going to be affected by Virgin losing the rail franchise?


Many thanks

wealdroam

clarebear wrote: »

Hi
I'm desperately trying to get my head round the ticket splitting! My 2 daughters (11 and 10) and I are planning to travel from Paddock Wood to Liverpool on 21 Dec (only need singles) and it's coming out at £168. Any ideas as to where to break the ticket or find it cheaper!

Also, am I going to be affected by Virgin losing the rail franchise?


Many thanks

My first thought is that you too early for the cheaper Advance Singles.
For example on Friday 16 Nov typically Advance Singles cost £80 for the three of you.
It can be done at £42 on one train that day.

My second thought is that 21 December is the last Friday before Christmas. It will be busy and it is possible that whoever is running the train service then may decide that there is no need to offer Advance Singles on that day.

If you don't mind a longer journey, consider travelling by London Midland Trains from Euston to Liverpool.
You cannot travel in the peaks, and it takes nearly three and a half hours, but a Super Off Peak Single only costs £55.80 for all three of you.
Couple that with an Off Peak Single from Paddock Wood to euston at £38.00, and the total fare could be £93.80.

Now, if you were to buy a Family and Friends Railcard, that total drops to £48.75.
OK, you have to buy the railcard, at £28.00, so total expenditure could be only £76.75.
Don't forget the railcard lasts for a year so useful for further trips.

And just to add: it doesn't matter whether Virgin are still running their trains or not.

miller

Starlightlady wrote: »

Can anyone tell me if there's a cheaper way of doing this journey from any Falkirk station to Manchester Airport on December 10th for 2 adults.

miller wrote: »

I'd check again this Sunday.

I notice they are not coming through yet. This could be due to First TranspennineExpress advance fares not being available affecting overall availability - so probably will become live this Sunday (30th Sep).

Virgin and Scotrail have released their advance fares so if you have no luck then splitting at Preston, Lancaster or Carlisle (as appropriate for the connection to the airport) will be successful.

clarebear

Brilliant thanks Wealdroam - may well wait a week or so in case there are any advanced tickets. Will definitely look at the other route too :-)

wealdroam

clarebear wrote: »

Brilliant thanks Wealdroam - may well wait a week or so in case there are any advanced tickets. Will definitely look at the other route too :-)

Those 'London Midland only' tickets will be available right up to departure, so it is ok to wait.

Also, don't forget the railcard.
You will make a saving with it whichever way you go.
You can buy a F&F railcard with tesco clubcard points for £14.
Or maybe use code web20 to get 20% discount here.
Or if web20 doesn't work, use code Family10 for a 10% discount.

Starlightlady

miller wrote: »

I notice they are not coming through yet. This could be due to First TranspennineExpress advance fares not being available affecting overall availability - so probably will become live this Sunday (30th Sep).

Virgin and Scotrail have released their advance fares so if you have no luck then splitting at Preston, Lancaster or Carlisle (as appropriate for the connection to the airport) will be successful.

Thanks for that...I'll check on Sunday.

Starlightlady

Thanks miller for your help....I'm glad I never booked last week,just managed to book with Eastcoast,firstclass from Falkirk to Manchester for £34.:xmassmile

miller

Starlightlady wrote: »

Thanks miller for your help....I'm glad I never booked last week,just managed to book with Eastcoast,firstclass from Falkirk to Manchester for £34.:xmassmile

According to the National Rail page (which was only updated yesterday) they were not available yesterday, so they must have been loaded in today.

Good job you were on the ball and first in the queue! :beer:

barbie_babe

Hi
Does anyone know if the rates on trainline and virgin website are the reduced advance tickets for over the christmas period. I want to travel on 21st coming back 27th from cornwall to london. At the moment its going to cost 154 single for me and boyfriend and daughter with rail card. every other month we do it for 25 single.