Rail Travel: Tips on Cheap Tickets

silvasava

This might be helpful to someone. Recently needed to travel from Havant to Waterloo & then on to the Barbican.
Lovely local station man told me to get a train that stops at Clapham Junction (cheaper than Waterloo) & then use my Zone 1/2 ticket to travel from there. We saved about £25.00.
I was thinking if anyone needs to get the underground in London then it may be good to check if it covers the tail end of your journey so you dont end up paying twice for the same bit

thelawnet

If you have a zone 1/2 season ticket, then the train doesn't need to stop at Waterloo, you can just buy Havant - Clapham Junction.

Of course you could just buy Havant - Redhill for half the price, as it's valid via (to) Clapham Junction and half the price

miller

thelawnet wrote: »

If you have a zone 1/2 season ticket, then the train doesn't need to stop at Waterloo, you can just buy Havant - Clapham Junction.

Of course you could just buy Havant - Redhill for half the price, as it's valid via (to) Clapham Junction and half the price

That little gem could have a number of other uses :beer:

silvasava

thelawnet wrote: »

If you have a zone 1/2 season ticket, then the train doesn't need to stop at Waterloo, you can just buy Havant - Clapham Junction.

Of course you could just buy Havant - Redhill for half the price, as it's valid via (to) Clapham Junction and half the price

That's what I did - the first ticket from Havant was valid to Clapham & the Zone ticket took me from Clapham to Waterloo on the same train which is where I needed to be. I dont think I explained very well!
Thanks for tip about Redhill though.

thelawnet

silvasava wrote: »

That's what I did - the first ticket from Havant was valid to Clapham & the Zone ticket took me from Clapham to Waterloo on the same train which is where I needed to be. I dont think I explained very well!

Right, but what I mean is that some trains from Waterloo to Havant are not scheduled to stop at Clapham Junction. If you have a zone 1/2 season ticket, you can catch these trains, even though the train doesn't stop there.

silvasava

You're right about the fast trains not stopping. I was told I needed a train that stopped at Clapham so that my journey would be covered by my tickets even if I didn't get off? I did catch the fast train home though

wealdroam

silvasava wrote: »

You're right about the fast trains not stopping. I was told I needed a train that stopped at Clapham so that my journey would be covered by my tickets even if I didn't get off? I did catch the fast train home though

The significant bit in Thelawnet's posts is Season Ticket.
If one ticket is a Season Ticket, the train does not have to stop at the changeover station.

miller

Agreed, the combination is valid as per condition 19(c) without stopping at the changeover station.

The clerk at Havant could have just sold a ticket to Boundary Zone 2 at the same price, to elimanate any confusion.

However, thelawnets suggestion of Havant->Redhill trumps it all anyway!

Anyone travelling between Havant and Guildford and beyond could do worse than to bear that ticket in mind (also less restrictive than Super Off-Peak offerings priced by SWT).

Dustykitten

Hi all I usually only use the trains into London on a day travelcard so need some help with longer journeys please. DS2 wants to visit lots of universities so I'm trying to decide on driving or train (which looks expensive).

All journeys to ideally start at Welwyn Garden City for 2 adults.

Thurs 20 June to Bath Spa
Friday 28 June to Guildford
Saturday 6 July to Canterbury
Saturday 7 September to Exceter
Saturday 14 September to Bristol

Any hints on any routes welcome, need to arrive 9:30ish, time home flexible

Railcards: we only have the free family and friends which does't work as DS3 will not be coming. Would buy a 16-25 railcard if it works out better.

thelawnet

Dustykitten wrote: »

Hi all I usually only use the trains into London on a day travelcard so need some help with longer journeys please. DS2 wants to visit lots of universities so I'm trying to decide on driving or train (which looks expensive).

All journeys to ideally start at Welwyn Garden City for 2 adults.

Thurs 20 June to Bath Spa
Friday 28 June to Guildford
Saturday 6 July to Canterbury
Saturday 7 September to Exceter
Saturday 14 September to Bristol

Any hints on any routes welcome, need to arrive 9:30ish, time home flexible

Railcards: we only have the free family and friends which does't work as DS3 will not be coming. Would buy a 16-25 railcard if it works out better.

You will definitely want a 16-25 railcard.

The routes are basically Welwyn - Kings X, across London then to your destination.

20th June: 06:40 from Welwyn, arr. Kings X 07:06, tube to Paddington, 08:00 from Paddington, arr. Bath Spa 09:29 £29.50

Return 20:43 £14.50

Total: £44 without/£29 with railcard = £73

Book now or regret it. (Advance fares, valid to/from Welwyn on any train, but you must take the booked train to/from Paddington)

To Guildford, Welwyn - Kings X, tube to Waterloo, then train to Guildford

Tickets:
Welwyn - Clapham Junction Anytime Day Return Route Any Permitted, £19.20 or £12.70 with railcard, any train to/from Welwyn
Then either London - Guildford Off Peak Day Return Route Clandon/Woking, catching the 09:00 from Waterloo arriving Guildford 09:33 £15.30 or £12 with railcard
OR
Clapham Junction - Guildford Off Peak Day Return £12.70 or £12 with railcard, catching the 09:15 from Waterloo, arriving Guildford 09:51
Total: £60.20 for two with one railcard on the 09:00, or £56.60 on the 09:15

You can buy at the station on the day or in advance (no saving)

To Canterbury,
Welwyn - Canterbury Off Peak Day Return Route Not Valid on High Speed 1, £25 without, £16.50 with railcard
Then London - Canterbury Return High Speed 1 Supplement Off Peak £5.20 with, £3.45 without

Total for two £50.15

You can buy at the station on the day or in advance (no saving)

Welwyn - Exeter

You will route Welwyn - Kings X, Paddington - Exeter
This is a little tricky, because Exeter is a long way. The first train on Saturdays is 07:36 from Paddington, arriving 09:51, so you can't arrive Exeter any earlier than that.

You will want to purchase advance fares, but they are not yet on sale - they go on sale ~12 weeks in advance (sometimes a little less). Should be around £50 for two

Welwyn - Bristol, again advance fares, book 12 weeks ahead. Should be a little under £50 for two