Rail Travel: Tips on Cheap Tickets

dzug1

Steve_xx wrote: »

That's interesting. How does one persuade the site to show these £9.50 Virgin tickets?

You don't - they are Virgin only discounts

miller

RSH do offer a price promise, but it does look quite onerous:
http://www.redspottedhanky.com/terms-and-conditions/price-promise/

(and cannot be used when using eVouchers anyway which was the original intention, also any refund is in loyalty points which would defeat the point!)

Steve_xx

miller wrote: »

RSH do offer a price promise, but it does look quite onerous:
http://www.redspottedhanky.com/terms-and-conditions/price-promise/

(and cannot be used when using eVouchers anyway which was the original intention, also any refund is in loyalty points which would defeat the point!)

Thanks for the information. Yes these points are a bit of a problem. I have several accumulated with different train companies, mainly due to refunds being given for delayed trains. When you're trying to plan a journey for two it's a bit of a nightmare to have to log on to each of the companies for each leg of the journey.

miller

I didn't know RSH did it that way. Although it could be more convenient than having paper Rail Travel Vouchers which most TOCs would issue in those circumstances I suppose.

I do quite like RSH though, I've done their Fantasy GP/Tennis/Football promotions in the past, plus their clubcard voucher x2 double up has saved me a fair bit.

Plus you can go through Topcashback for 1.51% at the moment, so with the loyalty points that's effectively 2.51% plus add a cashback credit card on top and it's all good!

You mention planning a journey for 2, apologies if you already know about it, but if you do it regularly there is the recently launched 2 together railcard:
http://www.twotogether-railcard.co.uk/

Steve_xx

miller wrote: »

I didn't know RSH did it that way. Although it could be more convenient than having paper Rail Travel Vouchers which most TOCs would issue in those circumstances I suppose.

I do quite like RSH though, I've done their Fantasy GP/Tennis/Football promotions in the past, plus their clubcard voucher x2 double up has saved me a fair bit.

Plus you can go through Topcashback for 1.51% at the moment, so with the loyalty points that's effectively 2.51% plus add a cashback credit card on top and it's all good!

You mention planning a journey for 2, apologies if you already know about it, but if you do it regularly there is the recently launched 2 together railcard:
http://www.twotogether-railcard.co.uk/

Yes thanks for that. I knew about the new Railcard, but probably wouldn't use it enough to warrant it.

To rewind. The RSH points are usually freebies gotten from somewhere or other. They're not refunds.

The refunds are from TOC's and usually, as you say come in the form of vouchers which is a real pain because I want to book online. So I generally email the TOC and they agree to take them back and reissue them in the form of evouchers. At least then I don't have to traipse to a station to book, but of course I do have to use that specific TOC website in order to redeem the tickets.

miller

The paper vouchers can be used to top up Oyster PAYG as well (but only useful in and around London of course).

johnieutah

Can anyone answer this.

I want to travel from Leominster to Manchester Airport in about a month. Unbelievably the tickets for the train are actually cheaper from Hereford (one stop further away Leominster). Sure it is just a couple of quid, but still I can't beleive the train is actually cheaper for more travel, for the exact same train.

Can I buy tickets from Hereford but get on at Leominster? Or is there some sort of backward rule that says this is not allowed?

Cheers in advance.

miller

You must travel between the stations specified on an advance ticket with no break of journey except to change trains.

...and it is enforced:
http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-1315587/Professor-slapped-155-railway-fine-getting-OFF-train-stop-early.html

dzug1

Well from where I'm looking (random date) tickets from Hereford are more expensive


What I suspect has happened is that the cheaper tickets from Leominster on the train you want have sold out but that tickets from Hereford have been slower to sell


You cannot get on at Leominster with an 'advance' ticket from Hereford - if it were an 'anytime' one you could. If you were to try it on at Leominster you might get away with it - but far more likely be charged the full anytime fare

yorkie2

Although all tickets allow a "break of journey" unless specifically stated in the T&Cs, Advance tickets are advertised with a prohibition on "break of journey", and starting or finishing "short" is considered to be a "break of journey".

If a passenger is considered to be making an unauthorised "break of journey" they can be charged the difference between the fare paid and the appropriate fare that would have entitled the passenger to break their journey.

An exception to this is where the fare paid is no different to the fare that would have been paid for the journey made, in which case ATOC guidance is to allow passengers to travel without additional charge.

In practice, most people get away with it, and some people are charged a new full fare ticket, which is wrong and can be contested. However, I can't recommend anyone does this.