Cheap Train Fares guide discussion

dggar

Doc_N wrote: »

I'm looking for some cheap tickets into London and back via East Coast.

Not too much bothered which day, but the problem is teasing out the £10 single tickets without going through the laborious process of checking each day individually.

There must, I guess, be a website that lists all the fares for a particular route (and a particular time slot) over the coming 12 weeks, showing the fare on each day.

I haven't managed to find such a site - does anyone know if it exists, please?

As I understand it there is some form of demand management involved,, so ticket availability and cost on any particular day in the coming 12 weeks is dependent on how many tickets have already been sold

Doc_N

dggar wrote: »

As I understand it there is some form of demand management involved,, so ticket availability and cost on any particular day in the coming 12 weeks is dependent on how many tickets have already been sold

Indeed so - the prices will be almost as dynamic as flight prices. But (as with flights) it's still possible to build a website that would show the prices on a more or less 'live' basis.

Maybe such a site doesn't exist? Click-through profits for an entrepreneur?

JulieM

If you google 'best fare finder' you will find various websites which show which days you can get cheap tickets. I've used this search on Cross Country trains website which gives a monthly overview. Just giving this as an example, though probably not suitable for you as it doesn't include London but it's worth checking.

Doc_N

JulieM wrote: »

If you google 'best fare finder' you will find various websites which show which days you can get cheap tickets. I've used this search on Cross Country trains website which gives a monthly overview. Just giving this as an example, though probably not suitable for you as it doesn't include London but it's worth checking.

Thanks for that advice! I tried googling that, along with 'east coast' and found http://www.mytrainticket.co.uk/.

It's not perfect but it's a lot better than using the East Coast website for teasing out cheaper fares. A bit more digging around might find an even better site, but this will do for now.

Thanks again for the helpful post.

dggar

Doc_N wrote: »

Thanks for that advice! I tried googling that, along with 'east coast' and found http://www.mytrainticket.co.uk/.

It's not perfect but it's a lot better than using the East Coast website for teasing out cheaper fares. A bit more digging around might find an even better site, but this will do for now.

Thanks again for the helpful post.

I notice that site is powered by TheTrainLine.

I advise people not to buy tickets using TheTrainLine as they charge a booking fee.
Once that site has demonstrated a fare that you're happy with I would use the East Coast site to purchase the tickets as they sometimes offer a 10% discount for journeys that are operated by East Coast.

Doc_N

dggar wrote: »

I notice that site is powered by TheTrainLine.

I advise people not to buy tickets using TheTrainLine as they charge a booking fee.
Once that site has demonstrated a fare that you're happy with I would use the East Coast site to purchase the tickets as they sometimes offer a 10% discount for journeys that are operated by East Coast.

Sound advice. I avoid thetrainline for the same reasons, and East Coast is always cheaper - it also has a useful rewards scheme. Why people use thetrainline beats me - presumably because it was the first one on the scene and advertises a lot.

I thought when I saw the trainline reference on the website that mytrainticket was run by thetrainline but it seems to be independently owned. Useful site, though there may be better ones.

tin87tin

I'm trying to book a single from Leicester to St Pancras. I just looked online and an advance is £10.55 with 16-25 railcard, however an advance for Nottingham to St Pancras (the same train) is £6.60.

Can I get the £6.60 advance but board from Leicester?

wealdroam

tin87tin wrote: »

I'm trying to book a single from Leicester to St Pancras. I just looked online and an advance is £10.55 with 16-25 railcard, however an advance for Nottingham to St Pancras (the same train) is £6.60.

Can I get the £6.60 advance but board from Leicester?

No you can't.

yorkie2

tin87tin wrote: »

Can I get the £6.60 advance but board from Leicester?

You are not permitted to 'start short' on Advance tickets, although some Train Companies do not enforce the rules rigidly, depending on the journey. There is a very real possibility that the staff working at the Leicester station gateline may refuse you access to the platforms with that ticket (that said, the ticket is likely to work the gates, but that cannot be guaranteed). Furthermore, if you did successfully board the train, there is the possibility that the Guard may be aware you did not board at Nottingham and may charge you an excess fare accordingly.

Kite2010

This is kinda mad, I've been playing this afternoon getting ideas for my next 'day-trip', I was thinking of visiting Dover.

Southampton Central to Barhham is £9.90 (using Network card) taking just over an hour
Southampton Central to Brighton is £9.90 (2 hours)
Southampton Central to Ashford International is £9.90 (3 hours 45) (changing at Brighton

---

Anyhow managed to get this quote for an off-peak day return using Network Card:
Romsey to Dover Priory - £15.85

What is more interesting is the return leg, The Southern Website, National Rail Enquires & Red Spotted Hanky are all showing 3 different routes to get back to Southampton
National Rail - Dover to Ashford to Brighton to Fareham to Romsey
Southern - Dover to Ashford to Tonbridge to Redhill to Fareham to Romsey (has the RSH route highlighted as unavailable for the fare)
RSH - Dover to St Pancras to Gatwick Airport to Fareham to Romsey

Who do I believe?

Edit - Shows what a rip-off The Train Line is, the cheapest I can get is £43, putting the same route, same via Barnham in, sends me to Victoria, although ticking the 'Select slower routes' brings up the same routing as given on National Rail Enquires.

I was going to buy via Red Spotted Hanky, but they are taking me into London, I'm confused