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Cheap Train Fares guide discussion

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  • Bogof_Babe
    Bogof_Babe Posts: 10,803 Forumite
    https://www.eastcoast.co.uk is one of the more user-friendly websites for finding and booking tickets.

    Do you want to travel in First Class? For a journey of over six hours I'd suggest going for it if you're not on too tight a budget - at the moment Advance tickets are available for 13th and 20th, possibly not ideal timings but you could do the return trip in First Class for around £100, which is only about £20 more than Standard Class. With Advance tickets you must travel on the booked train/s. These tickets sell out quickly, so you need to decide your preferred dates and get on with it if you don't want to miss out!

    You will have to change at either Edinburgh or Newcastle, depending on which service you choose, so when selecting your tickets check that the connection time is adequate for you to find your way between platforms, if you're not familiar with these stations.

    Have a play around with the eastcoast.co.uk website and see how you get on. Come back with more information if you need specific guidance.
    :D I haven't bogged off yet, and I ain't no babe :D

  • Indie_Kid
    Indie_Kid Posts: 23,097 Forumite
    Part of the Furniture 10,000 Posts Combo Breaker
    I am an OAP but no senior railcard but could buy if worth it as I think at £30 they take third off your fare? I think that's right?

    Yes, that's right.

    http://www.senior-railcard.co.uk/
    Sealed pot challenge #232. Gold stars from Sue-UU - :staradmin :staradmin £75.29 banked
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  • Bogof_Babe
    Bogof_Babe Posts: 10,803 Forumite
    Sorry, I should have said - my earlier reply was based on the assumption that you would get a Senior Railcard. It would pay for itself in just this trip, and of course it's valid for a year so if you wanted to go anywhere else (they are even valid on most local services) you'd save every time.

    Just a reminder that you have to carry the Railcard with you when you travel on a discounted ticket, otherwise the ticket is not valid.
    :D I haven't bogged off yet, and I ain't no babe :D

  • skidia
    skidia Posts: 14 Forumite
    Hey,

    I need to go from London to Abergavenny on Weds next week (13th August), ideally arriving by 2pm. Happy to leave early and on a specific train.

    I'll be returning Monday 18th but need to be flexible with the time so Advance tickets are out.

    Super Off Peak Return is £67.

    So far none of the splits I've tried have worked out cheaper.

    Does that mean a SOPR can't be beaten?
  • miller
    miller Posts: 1,684 Forumite
    Part of the Furniture 1,000 Posts Name Dropper Combo Breaker
    Looks like a super off peak single is £38.50 so you may be able to use that on the return if you can find a cheap enough advance on the outward leg.

    There is also an Off Peak Return routed Salisbury & Warminster for £59.00 ("show slower routes" on e.g. Southern Railway's website to reveal that), but the timings may be prohibitive for your plans and you would need to get to Waterloo instead of Paddington.
  • hardpressed
    hardpressed Posts: 2,099 Forumite
    Part of the Furniture 1,000 Posts Combo Breaker
    Indie_Kid wrote: »

    Some councils offer a reduced price for Senior Railcards,
  • rebeccak
    rebeccak Posts: 138 Forumite
    Part of the Furniture 10 Posts Combo Breaker
    Can anyone tell me....do all advance single train tickets for the same route/train company/day get released at the same time?

    I'm travelling from Manchester to London on 22 November and returning the following day. I've had an alert that the cheap advance tickets are available but, while there are some cheap advance fares for some journeys some of the others are very expensive and the pricing is very odd e.g. if I set off late morning on the 22 November, I'd pay 70 pounds for an advanced standard class ticket but only 67.50 pounds for first class.

    I know sometimes the cheapest standard class tickets can sell out, making the first class cheaper but these tickets have only just gone on sale so it's seems a bit strange. I just wanted to check that, if I go ahead and buy tickets now, some cheaper standard singles won't appear later on.
  • miller
    miller Posts: 1,684 Forumite
    Part of the Furniture 1,000 Posts Name Dropper Combo Breaker
    The short answer to your question is usually, but not always.

    You might as well get the £12.50 fare on the way back, that is the cheapest standard Advance fare available (excluding any promos).

    It it was me, I'd be getting the £19.00 fare on the 0940 on the Saturday as well.

    If you look at the "blackout" (i.e. where the £70.00 fare is offered) it looks to be deliberate between 1000-1259. I would guess Virgin are trying to encourage people to travel outside these times on Saturdays and/or use first class so have reduced the quotas accordingly.

    They have 3 first class carriages to fill plus the restaurant car - £67.50 is their second cheapest 1st Advance tier.
  • buglawton
    buglawton Posts: 9,246 Forumite
    Part of the Furniture 1,000 Posts Name Dropper
    I found that a Two Together discount card makes no difference to
    a) A super saver return Reading - Torquay
    b) A return London - Fort William

    So what's the point of Two Together if you can't get leisure discounts?
  • miller
    miller Posts: 1,684 Forumite
    Part of the Furniture 1,000 Posts Name Dropper Combo Breaker
    edited 3 September 2014 at 9:20AM
    I fell into the trap of not being quoted a fare. You must put 2 adults into whatever booking engine you are using.

    Reading - Torquay Super Offpeak Return is £99.70 (price for 1 adult w/o railcard £75.50)
    London - Fort William Offpeak Return is £206.30 (price for 1 adult w/o railcard £156.30)
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