Manchester-Sunderland train return

redalert_2

Hi,

I need to get a train to Sunderland on 19th Nov early afternoon and return the following day. The prices i've found are over £100 which is far too much, can anybody suggest anything?

Thanks

KeithP

You are obviously doing something wrong!

The walk-up AnyTime Return is only £78.50, and an Off Peak Return is £62.10.

Try splitting at York, and getting a 'Grand Central only' ticket between Sunderland and York. May be a saving there.

redalert_2

I'm not a regular train user so might not be on the best site. Where did you find your prices?

Thanks for your help.

Quentin

There's an MSE article on buying train tickets:

http://www.moneysavingexpert.com/travel/cheap-train-tickets

underlay_guru

Hi,
This is the cheapest split ticket method I can find:

19th Nov:
10:07 from Manc Oxford Road to Leeds Central = £6.00 (from Trainline)
11:27 from Leeds Central to Newcastle Central = £10.50 (from National Express)
Metro from Newcastle Central to Sunderland = £2.90


20th Nov
Metro from Sunderland to Newcastle = £2.90
12:19 from Newcastle Central to Leeds = £17.00 (from National Express)
14:40 from Leeds to Manchester (any station) = £6.50(from Trainline)

=£45.80 return. All these fares are currently availiable NOW from their respective websites. Metro fare is standard charge.

Livingthedream

redalert wrote: »

Where did you find your prices?

Try a Train operating Company ie East Coast Trains or Grand Central Trains both are good and don't charge booking/credit card fees like thetrainline

Thomas_Crown

redalert wrote: »

Hi,

I need to get a train to Sunderland on 19th Nov early afternoon and return the following day. The prices i've found are over £100 which is far too much, can anybody suggest anything?

Thanks

Try the Virgin Trains website as it will be considerably cheaper than £100. The main part of the journey will be by Trans Pennine Express. You will not actually travel with Virgin Trains. Depending on the exact time of travel, one, two or three changes must be made enroute to Sunderland.

underlay_guru

Hi,

Or if price is paramount, why not get the bus? These Megabus journeys are almost direct, and VERY SURPRISINGLY the journey times are quicker than the train! (Bus journey is approx 3 hours 10 mins. Train journey with stops is approx 3 hours 25 mins):

19th Nov
08:40 from Manchester to Sunderland = £5.00, or...
12:35 from Manchester to Sunderland = £6.00.

20th Nov
14:25 from Sunderland to Manchester £6.00, or
18:25 from Sunderland to Manchester £6.00

= approx £11-12 return.

(All of these journeys are available,as I type, from megabus)

KeithP

redalert wrote: »

I'm not a regular train user so might not be on the best site. Where did you find your prices?

Thanks for your help.

I got them from the NXEC website.

Out of interest, where did you find you over £100 ticket?

The trainline was mentioned earlier.
By all means use the trainline to find tickets, but best to avoid their charges by buying somewhere (almost anywhere!) else.

Quentin

You can currently get £4 per ticket cashback from virgin via cashbackkings. You have to order each ticket as a separate transaction, but that will reduce the price by £16 per person if you buy singles and split at York. No booking fees are charged by virgin.

KeithP

Expanding on my earlier Grand Central Trains idea...

19Nov
Dep Manchester Pic. 08:10, arr York 09:35. Advance Single £6.50.
Dep York 10:14, Arr Sunderland 1150. Anytime Return Grand Central Trains only £16.00.

20Nov
Dep Sunderland 09:18, arr York 10:48 (return ticket already purchased)
Dep York 11:28, arr Manchester Pic 12:49. Advance Single £10:00.

Total for one adult = £32.50.

Different times of day can be cheaper or more expensive.

Details from the NXEC website.

Remember, with Advance Singles you must travel on the booked train.