Rail Travel: Tips on Cheap Tickets

pompeyrich

cd02 wrote: »

sorry for double post.. i've found the prizes.. thanks a dozen.. all i want to know is if i order them, what happens if my trail is delayed and i don't make that time train ? will they let me get another one ?

That's always the worry, not really sure to be honest. I would like to think if it happened they would apply some common sense but as it is 2 different train companies that might be a bit niave. If it happened to me and I had left a reasonable amount of time between trains, Birmingham is an awkward station to change at in a hurry so allow a bit of time, I would ask at the help desk for authorisation, in writing, before getting on the next train. I know Virgin only sell full priced tickets on board their trains and if the ticket guy decided to be funny it could work out expensive. That is only my opinion, as I said dont know really

cd02

pompeyrich wrote: »

That's always the worry, not really sure to be honest. I would like to think if it happened they would apply some common sense but as it is 2 different train companies that might be a bit niave. If it happened to me and I had left a reasonable amount of time between trains, Birmingham is an awkward station to change at in a hurry so allow a bit of time, I would ask at the help desk for authorisation, in writing, before getting on the next train. I know Virgin only sell full priced tickets on board their trains and if the ticket guy decided to be funny it could work out expensive. That is only my opinion, as I said dont know really

i know new street like the back of my hand so that doesn't bother me too much.. just with the weather recently etc nervous of missing the connection.. think i'll wait til the morning and call someone.. thanks for all the help ppl :O)

trubster

AP wrote: »

The minimum number of people in the 'group' travelling using a family railcard is one adult and one child (aged between 5 and 15), though the adult and the child do not have to be related. Alternatively, you can have one adult and one infant (under 5) and buy a child's ticket for the infant to take advantage of the family railcard discount. Again the adult and the infant do not have to be related.

The family railcard is not valid if no child or infant are travelling.

You can buy a child ticket and not use it, you need to present all tickets with family railcard. the fact there is no children is irrelevant (Or at least thats what the staff said at sheffield station when I mystery shopped them.

crazy_guy

cd02 wrote: »

i know new street like the back of my hand so that doesn't bother me too much.. just with the weather recently etc nervous of missing the connection.. think i'll wait til the morning and call someone.. thanks for all the help ppl :O)

Hope i've got the end of the stick but i've bought Central value tickets from which is only valid on central value trains but have so many times missed this connection. But i just get on GNER and transpennine express (the other route to manc) and i've explained that i missed my connection due to a delayed train so i could not get that train. Its hardly your fault that they cannot run on time and on this remark they never make me pay for another ticket.

On another subject - i'll be travelling mon-fri soon from manchester piccadilly to chester - a monthly ticket is £188 - is there any way except from hiding in the toliet to avoid such a high ticket cost?

chardonnay_2

hi, we just won a free holiday to pontins southport:j

we will be travelling on 2nd july and returning on 6th july.

the cheapest total i can find for 2 adults is £26, each way - which seems good but can i get it cheaper?

many thanks for any suggestions

ps if we buy tickets what will happen if the rail strike goes ahead on the 6th july?

RAGSTORICHES

Hi,I too have just won a holiday at southport and I live at Clacton in Essex. It is from 9th to 13th july.I would really like to go as i have never been to this part of country, however I am worried about travelling costs as our car is heavy on petrol.I haven't been on a train in years and wouldn't know where to start it would be just my husband and myself, we are over 50 and I am disabled.I would appreciate any ideas.

AP

trubster wrote: »

You can buy a child ticket and not use it, you need to present all tickets with family railcard. the fact there is no children is irrelevant (Or at least thats what the staff said at sheffield station when I mystery shopped them.

That's interesting! However, the terms and conditions in:

http://www.family-railcard.co.uk/terms_conditions.htm

do mention 'Group Size' as follows:-

"2. Group size: To enable discounted tickets to be used the minimum group is one child and one named Railcard holder. The maximum group who can travel on one Railcard is both named holders, two other people aged 16 years and over and four children aged over five and under 16 years."

It would appear to me that the discounted child ticket will not be valid if the child is not present.

I don't know if anyone has travelled with a child ticket for an 'invisible' child using the Family Railcard has got away with it. Did you get the name of the person at Sheffield station who gave you this piece of information?

shelleyblake

When I travelled with my 2 year old with the rail card they told me to pay for him even though technically he is free, as it worked out cheaper, Under there own conditions this would be incorrect, although no one questioned it on the train?

Not too sure if I am brave enough to do it for this trip without him but it does save £26.!

would be helpful to know name of person insheffield who advised it was OK though as back up!

shelley

pompeyrich

shelleyblake wrote: »

When I travelled with my 2 year old with the rail card they told me to pay for him even though technically he is free, as it worked out cheaper, Under there own conditions this would be incorrect, although no one questioned it on the train?

Not too sure if I am brave enough to do it for this trip without him but it does save £26.!

would be helpful to know name of person insheffield who advised it was OK though as back up!

shelley

The buying a ticket for a child under 5 is ok and covered by the T&Cs, taken from APs link above

"Don't forget children under five travel free and each adult may take up to two 'under fives' with them. If the only child in the Family Railcard group is aged less than five years of age, the Railcard holder may purchase a discounted ticket for that child in order that the accompanying adult(s) can qualify for the discount on their tickets."

Doesn't solve the "invisible" child question but clarifies it for you Shelley

pompeyrich

RAGSTORICHES wrote: »

Hi,I too have just won a holiday at southport and I live at Clacton in Essex. It is from 9th to 13th july.I would really like to go as i have never been to this part of country, however I am worried about travelling costs as our car is heavy on petrol.I haven't been on a train in years and wouldn't know where to start it would be just my husband and myself, we are over 50 and I am disabled.I would appreciate any ideas.

It would be worth you applying for a disabled persons railcard, it costs £18 for a year but gives you and another adult 33% off your fares. However these have to be applied for by post and it maybe too late for this trip.

There also doesn't seem to be any cheap fares for the 13th, if you were happy to stay over, maybe in a B&B until the 14th, you could both travel by train for £53 with a railcard or £80 without but on the 13th it would be £109 with card or £165 without.

A good place to start looking is HERE, you have to change trains a couple of times and get across London from Liv St to Euston so maybe not the easiest trip for you either.