Best options for a regular commute to London?

Phunky

AdrianHi wrote: »

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.

I would only be going into London once or twice a month for 2-3 days at a time, i'm not sure it would be worth it to get a monthly pass and i certainly won't be paying out the 10k they want for a yearly one!

AdrianHi wrote: »

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.

This is just what i was also thinking of, never had one before but they seem ideal.

AdrianHi

Phunky wrote: »

I would only be going into London once or twice a month for 2-3 days at a time, i'm not sure it would be worth it to get a monthly pass and i certainly won't be paying out the 10k they want for a yearly one!

Sorry, must have mis-read. The singles tickets people are talking about will be best then. The Oyster card is pay as you use and guaranteed to be cheaper than individual tickets even if it is by as little as a 50p a day.
I have a work collegue who comes over for a few sesions of a few days a year from LA, California and he has an Oyster card.
£3 deposit they want now is annoying but refundable when you surrender the card.

Humphrey10

dzug1 wrote: »

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

Sorry you are right, I wasn't clear - if you look up a train journey on National Rail Enquires website, then click on book ticket, it will default to the train operator in question, who won't charge extra fees (at least in my experience!).

dzug1

Humphrey10 wrote: »

Sorry you are right, I wasn't clear - if you look up a train journey on National Rail Enquires website, then click on book ticket, it will default to the train operator in question, who won't charge extra fees (at least in my experience!).

It should default to the TOC in question but I've heard it can be random on occasion.

One TOC (Cross Country) is now charging fees to post the ticket to you but in general they don't.

Queen_of_the_Hive

Hi I do this route fairly regularily upto Bradford and I use the coach, obvious disadvantage is that it takes longer than the train but is definately a lot cheaper! From bradford you can get both national express or megabus. tickets normally start from £5 each way. Oyster card is definately the way forward in london, dont pay cash fare its a rip off!

Oh and try gumtree for places to stay, again always someone looking to rent out a random spare room.

Phunky

clarissa62 wrote: »

Hi I do this route fairly regularily upto Bradford and I use the coach, obvious disadvantage is that it takes longer than the train but is definately a lot cheaper! From bradford you can get both national express or megabus. tickets normally start from £5 each way. Oyster card is definately the way forward in london, dont pay cash fare its a rip off!

I'm not sure i could handle the coach, i mean its like a 4-5 hours trip and I could do with the possibility to work during the journey which would be tight on a coach + no net access.

But i must admit the price is a hell of a lot better

gner_ex

If you are travelling on a morning (say to arrive in London 8am/9am) you will be lucky indeed to get advance fares. Full fare return Saltaire to Kings Cross £228 is what you'll need.

PlutoinCapricorn

I have often travelled between London and Leeds on National Express coaches for £1 each way. You do need to book around a month in advance.

Phunky

gner_ex wrote: »

If you are travelling on a morning (say to arrive in London 8am/9am) you will be lucky indeed to get advance fares. Full fare return Saltaire to Kings Cross £228 is what you'll need.

Luckily i don't need to get in for 9 am i've noticed that most of the advance fares only start after 10am which is fine as i will most likely travel down the next day.

It has however got me thinking about taking the bus down there for 5 and getting the earliest one they offer and then getting the train back for £14-28 depending on the advance ticket price.

I think between £30-40 for a return journey is not a bad deal i mean even if i was working in leeds i would be looking at paying between £50-72 for a monthly train pass so it's not that bad.

Lugh_Chronain

If you don’t mind being flexible you could try the train lines Best Fare Finder, if you haven’t already that is.

And don’t forget Network Rail have their timetables set 12 weeks in advance. This is when tickets are released and cheapest deals are usually found when booked early.

I had a look at the Best Fare Finder for October and found prices started from £14.60 single journey from Leeds to London Kings Cross. There were also a few for £21.

By the way, if you do use booking sites, beware, you’ll pay more ... the Trainline charges a £1 booking fee, plus an extra £2.50 for credit card payments. So make sure you go direct to the train company’s website to avoid these extra charges.