Cheap Train Fares guide discussion

buglawton

Good call, now I see discounts. This makes the cost of 2 adults only about 50% higher than the petrol cost so is getting close to a no-brainer. At destinations like West Country and Isle of Wight, there are really good tourist-oriented bus services and you can do interesting circular walks/trips that are not possible if you use your car to start/end local trips.

If thetrainline's website had flagged up this opportunity sooner I'd have bought a Two Together card sooner, its as if they are shy about publicising this!

[ edit ] A disappointment: The overnight services from Fort William back to the South only quotes Anytime Singles (so it is seen as a peak time service). So £283 for 2 for the return leg alone, regardless of the Two Together card.

yorkie2

buglawton wrote: »

I found that a Two Together discount card makes no difference to
a) A super saver return Reading - Torquay

This is now called Super Off Peak Return, though the code "SSR" has been retained.

MSE rules do not allow me to link to the site "BR Fares", but I will anyway:
Non-discounted fare:
http://www.brfares.com/#faredetail?orig=RDG&dest=TQY&grpo=0403&tkt=SSR

Discounted fare (Railcard T&Cs additionally apply):
http://www.brfares.com/#faredetail?orig=RDG&dest=TQY&grpo=0403&rlc=2TR&tkt=SSR

Two Together Railcard discounts do apply, and makes no difference to the validity of the ticket, except on the return portion you cannot depart Torquay until 0930 (otherwise 0905).

buglawton wrote: »

b) A return London - Fort William

Undiscounted fares:
http://www.brfares.com/#!fares?orig=1072&dest=FTW

Discounted fares:
http://www.brfares.com/#!fares?orig=1072&dest=FTW&rlc=2TR

So, yes, the discount does apply. If any booking site claimed otherwise, that is an error.

(I apologise for breaking MSE rules by linking to the above site, but I have emailed numerous times requesting permission, yet never received a reply, so I will assume that they don't mind me linking to BRfares.com)

buglawton

Yes after entering 2 people to test the Torquay fares I was seeing discount, per earlier post.

Fort William > London this is the issue with overnight trip, scuppering the discount, per the BR site:

Outward: NOT VALID ON TRAINS ARRIVING LNDN BEFORE 1008 M-F.
Return: AT ANY TIME
Fare Setter: EAST COAST

miller

Avantix Traveller / NFM is available for free download now from ATOC
http://data.atoc.org/user/login (you need to create an account, then click on Data Download).

That will make sense to people who are interested!

miller

25% off Off Peak Day Returns on Fridays, Saturdays & Sundays on South West Trains until 28th September. Not valid with railcards.

Further info:
http://www.southwesttrains.co.uk/sept-terms-conditions.aspx

yorkie2

miller wrote: »

Avantix Traveller / NFM is available for free download now from ATOC
http://data.atoc.org/user/login (you need to create an account, then click on Data Download).

That will make sense to people who are interested!

Yes, this is the same data as showb ib brfares.com. The advantage of downloading Avantix Traveller is that it provides offline use, unlike BRFares, which requires an internet connection.

On the other hand, brfares.com is regularly updated, and as it's web-based, will work on many systems for which you'd not be able to install Windows applications.

yorkie2

buglawton wrote: »

Outward: NOT VALID ON TRAINS ARRIVING LNDN BEFORE 1008 M-F.
Return: AT ANY TIME
Fare Setter: EAST COAST

What date are you travelling?

It appears that you may be travelling on a day when the Sleeper is diverted via York, and therefore the route: via York fare is being offered.

In fact, the via York fare is redundant, as York is on a permitted route and therefore the route via York fare is of course valid.

If a booking site is trying to charge you a higher fare, I would encourage you to make a complaint (contacting Passenger Focus, if the reply is unsatisfactory), but you can buy the appropriate fare from any booking office.

That's why I use brfares.com; it shows all fares. The booking engines do not always show the cheapest fares, as they're riddled with errors.

Quentin

yorkie2 wrote: »

This is now called Super Off Peak Return, though the code "SSR" has been retained.

MSE rules do not allow me to link to the site "BR Fares", but I will anyway: ........

Strange behaviour from one who regularly makes such a point about sticking to the rules.


If you don't like the rules don't join the club.

buglawton

yorkie2 wrote: »

What date are you travelling?

It appears that you may be travelling on a day when the Sleeper is diverted via York, and therefore the route: via York fare is being offered.

In fact, the via York fare is redundant, as York is on a permitted route and therefore the route via York fare is of course valid.

If a booking site is trying to charge you a higher fare, I would encourage you to make a complaint (contacting Passenger Focus, if the reply is unsatisfactory), but you can buy the appropriate fare from any booking office.

That's why I use brfares.com; it shows all fares. The booking engines do not always show the cheapest fares, as they're riddled with errors.

This shows what a minefield getting cheap long distance tickets is!

Yes, the brfares site reveals a lot of hidden info that can guide what dates & routes to aim for for the cheapest fares...

Anyways, just preparing my Two Together application form.

debsign

well I found it cheaper to get 2 singles, but as I don't live or go to London most of this site does not apply because not everyone lives or gos to london