Best options for a regular commute to London?

Phunky

I'll shortly be looking at commuting to London on a regular monthly basis and I was wondering if anyone could advise on my best options for getting the cheapest train fares.

I know using sites like Trainline.com and book single ticket in advance is good, but are there any other options? Like a discount rail card or anything else?

I will most likely be traveling to London once a month for 2-4 days at a time.

Many thanks in advance

KeithP

You haven't told us where from, but Advance Singles are probably your best bet.

Oh, and avoid booking with the trainline and avoid their fees.

Phunky

Haha, yeah it might help if i said where from it will be from Saltaire, West Yorkshire. I've been looking from Leeds to London which can come in under £50 most times, even seen it at £32 which is not bad at all.

Where would you advise booking from if not the train line? Is there any rail passes open for myself - even tho im only 26?

Humphrey10

There is a discount card available to anyone if you are travelling just in the south east, a Network Card. Costs £25, and gets you 1/3 off tickets, but only after 10am on a weekday (or all day at weekends) http://www.railcard.co.uk/network.
Advance Singles are probably cheapest, if they are avaible.

Edit: posted that before your reply, you can't use a Network Card if you are travelling from there, sorry.

Book on National Rail Enquires as it's the offical site...

TimothyEBaldwin

http://www.nationalexpresseastcoast.co.uk/ would be the best choice for this route because of their 10% online discount.

As a general rule a website of train operator in question is the cheapest place to book trains - but may be no cheaper. Complications include special websites for the cheapest fares, and journeys involving multiple train operators.

dzug1

Humphrey10 wrote: »

Book on National Rail Enquires as it's the offical site...

Except that National Rail enquries don't DO bookings - only provide information.

Phunky

By the looks of things a Rail card does not even effect a advance booking fee - it will only really be worth getting if i have to go down at the last minute which should never happen.

Thanks for the heads up about using the other trainline.com powered sites, it seem there much cheaper thanks to the lack of booking fees and such.

Now i just have to start scouting out some places to stay!

dzug1

Phunky wrote: »

By the looks of things a Rail card does not even effect a advance booking fee - it will only really be worth getting if i have to go down at the last minute which should never happen.

Don't understand that - a railcard will give you a discount on advance purchase tickets as well as walk on ones. A couple of return journeys at £50 a time coming down to £33ish and it's paid for itself.

You have to be eligible for one - over 60 or under 26, not in between

The Network card that someone mentioned earlier is NOT valid from Leeds - if you say you've got one it will just give the normal fare

KeithP

I've just looked at info about most railcards and as far as I can see, all except the Network Railcard give a discount on Advance Tickets.

Here is an extract of the blurb from the Senior Railcard website...

Save on these ticket types:

• Standard Off-Peak Day Singles and Returns
• Anytime Singles and Returns
• Anytime Day Singles and Returns
• First Class Off-Peak Day Returns
• First Class Anytime Day Singles and Returns
• First Class Anytime Singles and Returns
• Advance fares
• Most Rail Rovers
• Off-Peak, Super Off-Peak
• etc etc

AdrianHi

From my location if you travel into London at least 3 out of 7 days in a week it is worth getting a weekly or monthly season ticket. you don't save much going for annual over monthly so I'd rather not shell out the cash for that.
For tube and bus travel an Oyster card with auto top up will definately be your best bet unless your going to walk or take a fold up bike on the train.

Phunky

dzug1 wrote: »

The Network card that someone mentioned earlier is NOT valid from Leeds - if you say you've got one it will just give the normal fare

That will explain why i didn't have any effect on the price of an advance ticket then. Sadly the Network Rail card is the only one that i would be eligible for so it does seem pointless for myself.