Cheap Train Fares guide discussion

katies_mum

Good morning,
I`m wondering if anyone can help? I was hoping to take my 17 year old daughter shopping to Manchester 10th April and possibly book a hotel and travel back 11th.

I have been looking at rail prices from Southport (traveling out early 8am`ish and back after 6.30`ish) the return prices I have found are all £30+ each (I am not a confident enough driver to take the car). Its scary when we could get a return Liverpool to London for less!!

Am I looking in the wrong places, also I have heard that you can break your journey and sometimes that is cheaper is there a specific site to get prices for this?

Many thanks.

Stompa

katies_mum wrote: »

I have been looking at rail prices from Southport (traveling out early 8am`ish and back after 6.30`ish) the return prices I have found are all £30+ each

I get £16.30 each here:

http://ojp.nationalrail.co.uk/service/timesandfares/SOP/Manchester/100414/0800/dep/110414/1830/dep

The_Highwayman

Is anyone else fed up with National Rail's "Cheapest Fare Finder" temporally unavailable ?

I have been trying it for months now.

You can find it by choosing at least one fare, any fare, using "Train times & tickets" form national rail's hme site where the link appears at the very bottom of the web page (under the "Train times & tickets" links. It doesen't appear until you choose at least one fare.

I have been in e-mail contact with National Rail Customer Relations since January after first noticing the "Cheapest Fare Finder" temporally unavailable in December and they have twice fobbed me off with expected availability of this web page. it's now - 15 March 2014 !

katies_mum

Many thanks Stompa, I couldn`t find prices that cheap when I looked.

The_Highwayman

The_Highwayman wrote: »

Is anyone else fed up with National Rail's "Cheapest Fare Finder" temporally unavailable ?

I have been trying it for months now.

You can find it by choosing at least one fare, any fare, using "Train times & tickets" form national rail's home site where the link appears at the very bottom of the web page (under the "Train times & tickets" links. It doesen't appear until you choose at least one fare.

I have been in e-mail contact with National Rail Customer Relations since January after first noticing the "Cheapest Fare Finder" temporally unavailable in December and they have twice fobbed me off with expected availability of this web page. it's now - 15 March 2014 !

The National Rail's "Cheapest Fare Finder" is now back online (as of 18:30 on 20 Mar 14, when I last checked).

Well done National Rail and there customer services team.

Shirtygert

Hi everyone, travelling one way only from Honiton in Devon to Wellington in Shropshire 3 July .. can leave anytime in the morning and not fussed about getting there at any given time so can travel slowly if necessary but I cannot seem to find a price for July on the National Rail websites.. is it too soon and if I don't go via this site then is there another one I can find a cost on, even if it means going via different train companies etc??? Confused muchly.....:o

rosad76

Looking for a bit of advice. 3adults looking to travel from Dundee to Manchester Airport on 23rd June, return 8thjuly. At the moment looks like tickets are about £150 pp. don't know wether to book singles as soon as released next week or wait and see returns once released. If this is going to be the price may have to consider car hire for journey there but can't for return due to long flight home. Any advice?

dzug1

I would book singles as released - though I'm not sure why you think they will be released 'next week'. They may be but 12 weeks is not a precise timescale. Don't panic if there aren't any then - just be patient


The chances of there being no cheap tickets for your return are slim to non-existent


Don't know where you get your £150 from though - the walkon off peak return fare is £101.40 via the West Coast - any train out, 1030 or later on return. You could buy this on the day

dzug1

Shirtygert wrote: »

Hi everyone, travelling one way only from Honiton in Devon to Wellington in Shropshire 3 July .. can leave anytime in the morning and not fussed about getting there at any given time so can travel slowly if necessary but I cannot seem to find a price for July on the National Rail websites.. is it too soon and if I don't go via this site then is there another one I can find a cost on, even if it means going via different train companies etc??? Confused muchly.....:o

Yes it's too soon


To get an idea of the fare look it up for a closer date. I've found advance fares varying between £28.50 and £45 for random days in May. That's via Exeter/Birmingham


Splitting tickets and travelling via London/Birmingham (possibly using megatrain) you MIGHT do it cheaper but not by much. Possibly a greater selection of times

rosad76

dzug1 wrote: »

I would book singles as released - though I'm not sure why you think they will be released 'next week'. They may be but 12 weeks is not a precise timescale. Don't panic if there aren't any then - just be patient


The chances of there being no cheap tickets for your return are slim to non-existent


Don't know where you get your £150 from though - the walkon off peak return fare is £101.40 via the West Coast - any train out, 1030 or later on return. You could buy this on the day

I checked the week prior to us going and they are £90 p/p single, hope they come down. I saw £150 on am advance booking site.