Help with splitting tickets / travel from Essex to Cornwall in September

bungle82

My husband and I are going away in September to Cornwall for a week.

As it's 12 weeks now until we go, I have started to look online for our rail tickets (as I know the cheapest off peak tickets go on sale 12 weeks before date of travel). However, the cheapest tickets it's coming up with still comes to close to £200 (total for both of us) so I was wondering if anyone had any ideas on where to split tickets...?

We need to travel on the morning of Saturday 25 September from Colchester to Redruth, and then return a week later on Saturday 2 October.

So, 2 adults (with a network rail card which could be used on part of the journey - as far as Exeter I believe) from Colchester to Redruth (return preferred but OK with singles if cheaper) for cheaper than £180ish ... can it be done?

Thanks for your help in advance!

Bungle x

Livingthedream

The '12 week before' is a bit of a hit and miss and varies from Train company to Train company, First Great Western who run that route have only release advance tickets up to 22 Sept, here's the link for current release dates

Had a quick look for the weekend of the 18th Sept Out and 21st Sept return as a guide and you can do the journey for £87 total for both of you (£49 Advance single out travelling AM, £38 Advance single back)

Livingthedream

Forgot to say most Train companies release their Advance tickets on a Thursday, but sometimes with weekends they won't release them until much later due to the possibility of engineering works.

You can all check direct when FGW release their advance singles from their website

KeithP

In addition to LTD's ideas...

It also might be worth splitting at Exeter St.Davids.

There are usually lots of £6.00 Advance Singles from Exeter St.D to Redruth and vice versa.

Use your Network Railcard for the other bit.

You might want to consider Megatrain from Waterloo to Exeter St.D too. Although tickets for your dates are not yet available.

bungle82

Thanks for your advice LTD & Keith. I will investigate your suggestions further!

One thing - I'm really confused now about FGW saying bookings can only be made up to 22 September because although it says that on the main page, it does let me search and select tickets for the days I want. Here's a screenshot:

Livingthedream

Train Companies ain't daft, they would love to sell you a full price ticket anytime you wanted one, which is what you got from your search. That price will be the same now and if you went to Colchester station on the 25th.

But the cheap advance singles won't show up on that search page until FGW released them and booking this early you should get a good deal or try Keith's idea of splitting at Exeter and/or using SW trains to Exeter with your network card which is very good money saving idea.

bungle82

I think i'll wait and see what happens when tickets go on sale on FGW website for days we want.

If anyone has any other ideas i'd love to hear them as all advice is really appreciated,

Thanks x

wealdroam

bungle82 wrote: »

I think i'll wait and see what happens when tickets go on sale on FGW website for days we want.

If anyone has any other ideas i'd love to hear them as all advice is really appreciated,

Thanks x

Forgive me for asking, but what is wrong with the ideas you already have?

bungle82

Nothing wrong at all with the ideas I have (as I have already said - I was really pleased with them!)

I haven't booked my tickets yet though so if anyone else had any other ideas i'd look at those too.

Jadedwords

bungle82 wrote: »

Nothing wrong at all with the ideas I have (as I have already said - I was really pleased with them!)

I haven't booked my tickets yet though so if anyone else had any other ideas i'd look at those too.

Sent you a PM,

bungle82

Have just booked the tickets. Managed to get it down to £124 in total for the 2 of us by splitting the journey into 3 parts (Colchester-London, London - Exeter St Davids & Exeter St Davids to Redruth) and buying cheap singles.

Thanks for everyone's help and ideas! x