London to Durham - been away a good few years and don't know where to get best prices

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I want to travel to Durham with my 2 year old child (return journey). I'd need a seat for me and a seat for the child, preferably at a table, facing forward.

I thought that this trainline things was the way to go but it has all changed since I used it just after it had first started up. I get prices in the hundreds and that seems to be with stipulated trains.

Surely there has to be a better way and the 3 hour journey cannot cost hundreds of pounds, even in 2009. I was hoping for something under £100 for both of us as we are flexible with dates and can work around black out times etc.

Inactive

Try here;

http://www.nationalexpresseastcoast.com/

Lemonade_Pockets

As above, you can try splitting the tickets at Peterborough or Doncaster too.

You will have to pay £2.50 to reserve a seat tho.

dzug1

You will need to buy a ticket for the child if a guaranteed seat is required.

For a couple of random dates in November, midweek, you can do it for £45.10, total - that's using the NXEC site recommended by inactive.

hopefulfooluk

Think about getting a family & friends railcard too. I do Durham-London and back once every couple of weeks and when I travel on my own, it costs between £55 and £95. However the times I've taken the little one down with me using the railcard, the last time it worked out at £25 return for the both of us - a monumental saving even if you do end up paying full whack to buy the railcard in the first place. Look on here for special offers buying the railcard - I got mine 50% off so it was only £13.

But yes if you go the railcard route you will need to book a child's ticket even though the child is under 5 (otherwise you won't get the discount).

Enjoy Durham - it's a lovely place

Cheers

Chris

KeithP

Lemonade_Pockets wrote: »

You will have to pay £2.50 to reserve a seat tho.

But if you buy Advance Singles, the seat reservation fee is included in the ticket price.

Otherwise, seat reservations are optional.

See the NXEC website...

Seat Reservations

If you would like to reserve a seat in Standard Class, a fee of £2.50 will be added to the ticket price. This fee applies to each leg of your journey that you wish to reserve a seat on.
Reserving a seat is optional and the fee applies to the following ticket categories:

• Standard Anytime
• Standard Off-Peak
• Standard Super Off-Peak
• Rangers and Rovers (including BritRail)
• Weekender
• Superbreak (and other Inclusive tour tickets)

Seat reservation charges do not apply in First Class or with Season tickets on National Express East Coast services. If you are travelling in First Class or with a Season ticket, seat reservations can be made free of charge.
If you are travelling on an Advance ticket or a Standard Business Package your seat reservation is included with your ticket and you will not be charged the reservation fee.