Rail Travel: Tips on Cheap Tickets

odds-n-sods

I jsut foun dit again: from post #50:
'Refunds
Many people aren't aware that if you don't use your ticket, (or if your ticket is not stamped by the conductor) you can get a refund on it. This can be useful if you buy a return ticket, but then somebody offers you a lift home. It is less cost-effective with saver tickets, since they refund you the difference between a single and a standard return (minus an admin fee).'

The highlighted bit is the fraudulent act.

Moon~Shadow

I'm looking to travel from Grantham to Elgin on 28 July & returning 29th - need to be up there by 18:00 and looks like only 1 train going and 1 departing.

I've looked at splitting the ticket at Edinburgh and getting a mega bus but it doesn't go that far.

I have a YPR but prices seem to be around £200 + for 2 Adults - no single fares either.

Any help to 'split' the tickets and get a cheaper fare much appreciated.

mcallister1

Hi- not sure if this is new news or not- First Great western have just sent me an email saying railcards can now save 34% on their firstminute advance fares as well as their normal ones.

dzug

Moon~Shadow wrote: »

I'm looking to travel from Grantham to Elgin on 28 July & returning 29th - need to be up there by 18:00 and looks like only 1 train going and 1 departing.

I've looked at splitting the ticket at Edinburgh and getting a mega bus but it doesn't go that far.

I have a YPR but prices seem to be around £200 + for 2 Adults - no single fares either.

Any help to 'split' the tickets and get a cheaper fare much appreciated.

There seems to be reasonable availability of advance purchase singles to/from Edinburgh - eg £13.50 for the outward journey. A saver on to Elgin looks the best bet.

wigan_rl_till_i_die

Hi there can anyone give me a website for cheap train tickets?

There are 15 of us after going to london euston (or near wembely stadium) from wigan or manchester on the 25th august

Thanks

pompeyrich

wigan_rl_till_i_die wrote: »

Hi there can anyone give me a website for cheap train tickets?

There are 15 of us after going to london euston (or near wembely stadium) from wigan or manchester on the 25th august

Thanks

£12:50 each way to/from Euston at the moment, National Rail site HERE no refunds if any Dragons spoil the day !!

wigan_rl_till_i_die

pompeyrich wrote: »

£12:50 each way to/from Euston at the moment, National Rail site HERE no refunds if any Dragons spoil the day !!

I dont think they will, thank you very much

karmapolice_2

I bought train tickets on thetrainline many many weeks ago for tomorrow going from Bristol Temple Meads to London Paddington (on the firstminutefare £10 single) on a service running at 10.04. But I checked the train times today and my train is now not listed anywhere! I'm really confused- I obviously don't want to get to the station tomorrow to find that my train doesn't exist!! Any ideas? Or am I worrying about nothing?

p1an0player

AP wrote: »

Details of all National Routeing Guide Easements can be found on:
http://www.atoc.org/rsp/_downloads/R.../easements.htm

Very interesting to learn about "easements". I have a couple of questions (I admit to not having read the whole thread):

1) Taking advantage of an easement could mean "travelling short", is this likely to cause problems if tickets are collected at the end of the journey either through turnstiles or by a person?

2) Splitting tickets: do ticket counter staff let you buy tickets from other stations, and do they not try to be awkward if they realise what you are doing? Any Conditions of Carriage to be quoted in case of argument?

AP

p1an0player wrote: »

Very interesting to learn about "easements". I have a couple of questions (I admit to not having read the whole thread):

1) Taking advantage of an easement could mean "travelling short", is this likely to cause problems if tickets are collected at the end of the journey either through turnstiles or by a person?

2) Splitting tickets: do ticket counter staff let you buy tickets from other stations, and do they not try to be awkward if they realise what you are doing? Any Conditions of Carriage to be quoted in case of argument?

Condition 16 of the National Rail Conditions of Carriage says:

"16. Starting, breaking or ending a journey at intermediate stations

You may start, or break and resume, a journey (in either direction in the case of a return ticket) at any intermediate station, as long as the ticket you hold is valid for the trains you want to use. You may also end your journey (in either direction in the case of a return ticket) before the destination shown on the ticket. However, these rights may not apply to some types of tickets for which a break of journey is prohibited, in which case the relevant Train Companies will make this clear in their notices and other publications."

Generally, you are not allowed to 'travel short' with the outward portion of a saver return or any advance purchase tickets. Other tickets with 'walk-up' fares e.g Standard Day Return/Cheap Day Returns are OK.

It is also your right to ask for any ticket/combination of tickets you want. The ticket staff are legally obliged to sell them to you even though they may not be valid from the station where you commence your journey. It would be your problem if you have to pay an excess fare on the train. They may try to be awkward (especially at Birmingham New Street station) but be persistent, make a fuss or ask to speak to the manager. Alternatively, buy your tickets through: https://www.virgintrainsfares.co.uk/Buy_Tickets/Login/login.asp?T2ID=6938_20053268026 or use the touch screen 'Fast-Ticket' machines when you can pick any destination you want.

You may be interested in the following article which gives a number of examples illustrating the general principles in buying tickets this way:

http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/magazine/6442947.stm