Rail Travel: Tips on Cheap Tickets

Bella_b

Hi everyone,

I've been reading about the split fare saving trick and thought i'd give it a go myself as I need to go to Manchester next week. I travel quite a lot on trains as my boyfriend lives up north and never realised this trick so thanks guys!

I have a Young Person's railcard and it cuts 1/3 of fares which is good but I usually end up having to pay the Saver Return fare because I don't book early enough (I don't often know the dates I need to go until about a week before.)

Anyway, next Tuesday 27th feb I'm meeting up with my boyfriend and we are going to see The Feeling together, our favourite band! (I managed to get tickets on Ebay quite cheaply!) I've done a little research for the train trip and have found out I could save £2.40 on the saver return YP price.

Young Person's Saver Return Oxford to Manchester Piccadilly £38.75

YP Saver Return Oxford to Birmingham New Street £17.15 +
YP Birmingham New Street to Manchester Piccadilly £19.20 = Total £36.35

I've also tried singles for each part but it works out more expensive.

I have a few questions that I would like to ask all you fellow MSEs!

1) If i'm using split tickets even though the train i'm on is direct to my destination, do I have to get off and change trains?

2) Is there a limit to how many tickets you can have split between places?

3) Are YP travelcards ok to use with split tickets?

4) Is Birmingham New Street a good place to split the journey from Oxford?
(I just thought it was about half way). Would Oxford - Lemington Spa be better? Please tell me if you think it would be better to split it at another point along the journey.

Finally, I'm wondering whether all in all you guys can find me a ticket for cheaper than the split ticket price I've found of £36.35!

I'm quite flexible on times.. but can't travel before 9am (railcard restrictions) and would like to have arrived in Manchester by at least 5pm (if not before) as concert is at 7pm, and have to meet up beforehand etc.
By the way, I'm returning the next day, Wednesday 28th Feb but have to be back by 6pm.

If you could have a think about this, I would really appreciate it!

Many thanks,
Bella :dance:

darbsterj

Hi
I am a lurker on this site and don't post very often but need to buy a train ticket from Leeds to London on the morning of the 10th March returning the following day mid morning and the cheapest I seem to be able to find it is £70 per person (2 adults travelling). Can anyone help me improve on this? Not wise to the tricks of the trade yet!
Thanks
Louise

Anon

darbsterj wrote:

Hi
I am a lurker on this site and don't post very often but need to buy a train ticket from Leeds to London on the morning of the 10th March returning the following day mid morning and the cheapest I seem to be able to find it is £70 per person (2 adults travelling). Can anyone help me improve on this? Not wise to the tricks of the trade yet!
Thanks
Louise

Look at your options by going from Leeds to Peterborough, Peterborough to Kings Cross. Singles are generally cheaper for each leg (but on www.gner.co.uk you can search for Return and then switch the option to singles as this saves time - plus if you book through them, you get an additional 10% saving on some fares and also don't get charged for booking). A quick search of these options brings the fare down to less than £50 (need to be careful to check times unless you are happy to change trains).

Anon

guycross

Hiya, I am writing from Chile!!

I return home to the wonderful UK in May, and thought I could save myself pounds by booking some travel now!

I am travelling from Colwyn Bay - Leuchars (Scotland) and I am not sure how to split my journey.

Could you advise me.

Thanks


guy

evesham1988la

guycross wrote:

Hiya, I am writing from Chile!!

I return home to the wonderful UK in May, and thought I could save myself pounds by booking some travel now!

I am travelling from Colwyn Bay - Leuchars (Scotland) and I am not sure how to split my journey.

Could you advise me.

Thanks


guy

If you're travelling on a weekday, you can go between Manchester to Edinburgh for £1 - when booking in advance through https://www.megatrain.com

You can buy a return between Colwyn Bay & Manchester for £22.60
and between Edinburgh and Leuchars for £11.40 return through https://www.firstgroup.com/scotrail/

jenny_f

I'm looking for a mate

Wanting the cheapest route from York to Stansted/Bishops Stortford going on either the 2nd or 3rd March and returning 10/11/12 March (ideally 11th).

On the Friday earliest travel time is 17:30

Do have a YP railcard.

Cheers in advance guys

fairymarie

hi got to go blackburn to euston or kings cross 9th march arrive by midday and return after 7pm same day. can anyone get it cheaper than £95 for 1 adult & 1 child? thanx

trubster

fairymarie wrote:

hi got to go blackburn to euston or kings cross 9th march arrive by midday and return after 7pm same day. can anyone get it cheaper than £95 for 1 adult & 1 child? thanx

Have you got a Family Railcard? £20 for 12 months and 1/3 off most train fare's

loucroft

Hi - please help

I wondered if anyone could guide me, don't usually use trains.

We're booking to go from Kings Cross to Edinburgh Waverley - 10.45 depart from KC (21/04) and 12pm depart from Edb (23/04).

My mates have booked this for £25 booking two singles, I'm being quoted by gner £38 per single ticket.

I've gone to national rail, they quoted me £24.50 per single, making it just under £50 but then say which vendor I want to pay through. When I select gner it just sends me right back to the gner site where the prices are still really high.

I don't want to pay nearly fifty quid more than my mates paid, it's meant to be a cheap weekend! Does anyone have any ideas to get this price down - can't find promo codes etc anywhere and we want to be on the same train.

HELP!! please!

Cheers
Lc

pompeyrich

Select First Scot Rail as the vendor, you will not pay any charges with them and the tickets will be the same.