Rail Travel: Tips on Cheap Tickets

hebangsthedrums

Thanks dzug, do you know how far in advance you need to buy the season ticket? Also is it for travel any time, and are there further discounts ofr buying several weeks at a time?

p1an0player

dzug wrote: »

Season tickets cover you for unlimited journeys for a set period of time - one week, one month or one year are the usual ones.

A YP railcard would save you 1/3rd off daily fares, but not off a season. Say £21 or £22 a day Bedford/Wandsworth return. It will pay for itself in two days.

A weekly season from Bedford is £95 - so is worth it for 5 days travel, but not for 4.

On some lines you can also buy packs of say 10 tickets - but AFAIK yours is not one of them.

On some routes you didn't used to be able to travel before 9:30 with a YPR

dzug

hebangsthedrums wrote: »

Thanks dzug, do you know how far in advance you need to buy the season ticket? Also is it for travel any time, and are there further discounts ofr buying several weeks at a time?

Yes it's for travel any time. You can buy on the day but a busy booking clerk won't thank you for it. You also need a photocard - free when you buy your first season. You need to supply one passport photo.

The only discount for buying several weeks at a time is if you buy a monthly ticket. £364.80 from Bedford to anywhere in London

There are no time restrictions on YP cards - though there is a minimum fare in the peak hours. I believe SWT did (incorrectly) apply restrictions for a while.

penniesforme

can someone please help me find the cheapest fare from Liverpool to Reading on the 28th December ? I am looking to travel after 1600 and I have a network railcard. I dont mind travelling by bus if its cheap.

I the cheapest i am able to find is 59 pounds for train.

thank you in advance.

dzug

penniesforme wrote: »

can someone please help me find the cheapest fare from Liverpool to Reading on the 28th December ? I am looking to travel after 1600 and I have a network railcard. I dont mind travelling by bus if its cheap.

I the cheapest i am able to find is 59 pounds for train.

thank you in advance.

£49 on the train - standard open single. Buy on the day or even on the train.

All the cheap fares have gone - but where the #### did you find £59? I've listed ALL the single fares on that route (22 of them....) and it just doesn't exist.

Your network railcard is of no use at Liverpool - you are outside its area.

However:

standard day single no railcard Liverpool to Banbury £32.50
cheap day single with railcard Banbury to Reading £10.15

There is the odd advance purchase fare at £20.50 if you leave Liverpool earlier or later - still one on the 1840 train for example. Just press on the button for earlier or later trains.

penniesforme

was a typo. I meant to type £49 instead of 5.

I saw the odd fare too...but am not sure if I will be able to make it on time. will be flying with Ryanair with a scheduled arrival of 1810, but past experience tells me the plane is 50% likely to be delayed.


i think i'll go for the Liverpool to Reading via Banbury option. Cheers.

teedy23

I am left holding two first open returns from Newcastle to Edinburgh. One expires 17th Dec the other 23rd Dec. Only the return portion mind. Any ideas what to do with them, cant get them refunded cant sell them on ebay(against railway regulations)

lightning15uk

hi all could anyone help we have 4 adults and 3 children travelling on 30th december returning 2nd january, we have a family rail card we are starting in coventry and ending up in rye (sussex) we have been quoted £169 can we get this cheaper we do not mind what route we take just the cheapest please help as we are running out of time many thanks xx

portchieboy

I hav booked E/Star tickets, out from St Pancras 29th Feb., 10.00, back at around 1900 Sunday 2nd March.

Got those tickets free, Tesco vouchers, but I am shcked by train ticket prices!....£100 or so.

Any suggestions chaps....maybe even cheap parking nearer and train in on the day.

thanks

lightning15uk

portchieboy wrote: »

I hav booked E/Star tickets, out from St Pancras 29th Feb., 10.00, back at around 1900 Sunday 2nd March.

Got those tickets free, Tesco vouchers, but I am shcked by train ticket prices!....£100 or so.

Any suggestions chaps....maybe even cheap parking nearer and train in on the day.

thanks

sorry if i sound stupid but will look for you portchester-st pancras on 29th feb arriving before 10am then returning, leaving st pancras at 19.00hrs there abouts let me know i will have a look