Rail Travel: Tips on Cheap Tickets

CharleneUK

pompeyrich wrote: »

Forgot to say to get those prices you will have to book in advance, like as soon as possible, you will also be restricted to travelling on the train you book. If you leave it until the day of travel the fare rises to £98 return from EC but is a fexible fare which allows you to catch any train to or from Newcastle.

Just checked the GNER site and the only £26:45 fares left for the 5th are on the 08:30 and 09:00 from Kings X so dont leave it too long.

I've missed out

Poland

Hi I am looking at going from Liverpool to Newcastle on Sun 7th October but the cheapest fare i can find is 63.10 return. Does anyone know of any way to bring this price down via a number of cheap day return connections etc. Any help would be appreciated

hogshead

Are you planning on returning on the same day, what times restraints do you have & do you/are you eligible for any railcards at all:ie, young persons railcard.

Might help others who search for you.

Poland

hogshead wrote: »

Are you planning on returning on the same day, what times restraints do you have & do you/are you eligible for any railcards at all:ie, young persons railcard.

Might help others who search for you.

Returning the same day. Have to be there by 1.30. Not eligible for railcards

tubechallenger

Liverpool Lime Street - Manchester Victoria CDR £8.50
Manchester Victoria - Huddersfield CDR £8.90
Huddersfield - York CDR £13.30
York - Newcastle CDR £20.50

I make that £50.20...

Journey outwards is as follows:

From LIVERPOOL to Newcastle departure at 09:00 on 07 Oct Sunday

departure 9:10 arrival 13:25 traveltime 4:15 with 1 changes. T T
Liverpool Lime Street 9:10 Train 1E69 Trans First Reserv Scarborough
York 11:39
York 12:21 Train 1S11 Great Cold B Trolle First and Standard Class Reservations Essential Newcastle
Newcastle 13:25

hogshead

I really hate to ask AGAIN but I need a fare from Liverpool to Gloucester this coming weekend either the 5th departing after 5pm or for the 6th arriving before 6pm.
Single fare. As few changes as possible.
Can purchase a YS card to make some savings ( over the year it'll pay for itself )

Can collect from Stroud, Swindon, Cirencester, ( Tewkesbury or Worcester if they have train stations ) Cheltenham & Stonehouse if the route is any better.

HUGE apologies for pestering, bit last minute & I can't find any cheapo tickets .

Also I only have 4 operators in my faves. Do they all check each others & offer the best fare or only select their own ( hope that makes sense )

Thanks in advance

tubechallenger

I won't hold up much hope of you getting any cheap singles - so here are the fares for walk on trains:

Standard Day Single without railcard £35.90
Standard Day Single with railcard £23.70

That's a £13.20 saving, but by purchasing a YP railcard you will pay £6.80 more - however this will last a year but I'm sure you know that.

Having a quick look there are two trains on the Saturday, these involve 2 and 3 changes respectively.

Option 1 on Saturday
From Liverpool Lime Street to gloucester departure at 17:00 on 06 Oct Saturday

departure 17:28 arrival 22:26 traveltime 4:58 with 2 changes. T T T
Liverpool Lime Street 17:28 Train 2C25 Arriva First Standa Chester
Chester 18:11
Chester 18:20 Train 1V63 Arriva First Standa Reservations Possible Cardiff Central
Newport (S Wales) 20:59
Newport (S Wales) 21:30 Train 2G72 Arriva First Standa Gloucester
Gloucester 22:26

Option 2 on Saturday
From Liverpool Lime Street to gloucester departure at 17:00 on 06 Oct Saturday

departure 18:28 arrival 0:40+ traveltime 6:12 with 3 changes. T T T T
Liverpool Lime Street 18:28 Train 2C28 Arriva First Standa Chester
Chester 19:11
Chester 19:34 Train 1K14 Arriva Trolle Standa Reservations Possible Crewe
Crewe 19:59
Crewe 20:18 Train 1V89 Arriva Standa Reserv Cardiff Central
Newport (S Wales) 22:37
Newport (S Wales) 23:39 Train 2G74 Arriva First Standa Gloucester
Gloucester 0:40+

On the Sunday, you must get a bus whatever - to arrive before 6pm this is probably your best option:

From Liverpool Lime Street to gloucester departure at 10:00 on 07 Oct Sunday

departure 11:15 arrival 16:10 traveltime 4:55 with 3 changes. T T T B
Liverpool Lime Street 11:15 Train 1A37 Virgin First First Reservations Possible London Euston
Stafford 13:11
Stafford 13:19 Train 1B38 Virgin Cold B First Reservations Possible London Euston
Birmingham New Street 13:56
Birmingham New Street 14:12 Train 1V30 Centra Standa Worces
Worcester Shrub Hill 14:55
Worcester Shrub Hill 15:04 Bus 0B00 Replac Glouce
Gloucester 16:10

pompeyrich

Liverpool-Gloucester friday 5th 19:19 arr 21:50, or sat 6th dep 11:05,12:05 or 13:30 for £19:50 or £12:85 with railcard showing as available HERE. The Friday one is best as there are replacement busses from Birmingham to Gloucester this saturday. The saturday ones depart from Liv. Central, as opposed to Lime Street, dont leave it much longer to book

dzug

hogshead wrote: »

Also I only have 4 operators in my faves. Do they all check each others & offer the best fare or only select their own ( hope that makes sense )

Thanks in advance

They all sell each others fares - they all feed off the same national database. The default is to search for the quickest journey time, regardless of operator.

The fares will nearly always be the same regardless of site. The exceptions are:

GNER give a discount for some of their own fares over the national fare

Virgin, on a return journey, will sell you an advance single one way and half a saver the other if advance singles are not available both ways - again on their own trains. (I do find the latest version of their website a bit confusing though)

hogshead

Thanks for all you help 'guys' I really do appreciate it. I'm sure I will get the hang of this eventually & don't mean to sound dim ( not hard to do ) but you really are much more competant than me on this subject.

Now who want tips on sewing, crafting, being a taxi etc etc.....I'm your gal.