Buying Train Tickets Online

teamcullen

Hi,

I've been looking online and I can buy advance tickets for about £16 less than the normal return fare if I purchase in advance. I just have some questions about doing this.

The tickets are for a return between Durham and Leeds.
How does it work? I was looking on thetrainline at the tickets. Do I just go up to the booth at the station and collect them?
Can I collect the tickets in Newcastle? As I'll be there for work in the morning and would rather collect them prior to the day of travel?
Can I go in Newcastle station and just buy them instead of booking online?

Thats all I can think of right now, but if I think of anything else I'll add it on.

Thank you

bambinaUK

No you can't collect them at the ticket booth if your order them with thetrianline.
You have two choices for delivery

1.Self-service ticket machine, but you need to check there is one available at the station where your journey commences.

2.Tickets will be posted to you as long as you have enough time to receive them in the post.

You can of course go and purchase tickets directly from the train station if their advance ticket purchase offer meets the online one.

teamcullen

Newcastle has a self service ticket machine, could I collect it from there?
Only because I don't want any hassle as by the time I get to Durham on the day of travel I'll already be rushing for the train.

McKneff

Have you tried East Coast Trains or National Express Trains.
Prices can be very different apart from that some charge a booking fee as well as £1 for postage.
I always have mine posted to me, easiest way with no hassle.

Buying tickets on the day can be anything from double to quadruple the price.

McKneff

Have you priced up the National Express Coaches from Durham to Leeds.
It'll be a lot cheaper than the train.

Depending on your age, its half price if your over 60

teamcullen

The route is using Transpennine Express, and the day of travel is Thursday so I don't know if I can trust the tickets to arrive in time! Their website has the exact same price as the trainline though.

I'll buy them online, and go to self service in Newcastle to pick them up, thats my best plan I can think of...as long as that works out. The tickets cost £23.50 return buying in advance as opposed to £39.70 on the day. Although on the day means if I decide to stay longer I can do.

In addition to your last post...I'm 26, and the trip is to see my OH, it's our halfway point for meeting and gives us the most time together. So coaches wouldn't be an option as it simply takes too long. But thank you!

wealdroam

teamcullen wrote: »

Their website has the exact same price as the trainline though.

But do Transpennine Express charge fees?

You can buy Advance Singles from any manned railway station as long as you buy them before 6pm on the day before travel. Of course if you leave it that late they may have sold out.

You can buy those tickets online from any number of sellers. People like the trainline and raileasy charge an unavoidable fee.
If you buy online from a train operating company, like Southern Railway, you can avoid those fees and still collect from a machine at Newcastle.

Livingthedream

teamcullen wrote: »

Newcastle has a self service ticket machine, could I collect it from there?
Only because I don't want any hassle as by the time I get to Durham on the day of travel I'll already be rushing for the train.

In reality you can pick them up from any station in the UK that has machines enabled for ticket collection, and not just at the station you nominated when you bought the tickets online.

Just need the ticket ref code and debit/credit card that you purchased the tickets with.

McKneff

If youre travelling from Durham, why dont you pick them up from the station at Durham.?

teamcullen

I only go to Durham when I'm going to the train station, I work north of Newcastle so the tickets I'd be able to pick up in advance tomorrow morning on my way to work in the station.
Durham, I don't want to pick them up there incase theres any problems (I have a 15 minute window to get from the bus station to the train station which is a nice uphill walk) and if it doesn't work then I'd have to buy the tickets again and I don't have time!

I booked them using the transpennine express website, they only charged me the £23.50, no booking fees and I'm picking them up from Newcastle in the morning. Thank you for all your help guys!

McKneff

If you make a fewof these journeys, you might consider a rail card.