Trains - massive cost difference 2010-11

RetroBob

Last year I went to the awesome retro (and modern) gaming event, Replay Expo in Blackpool (http://www.replayexpo.com/). Two weeks before my bro and I paid for the ticket, train and hotel which came in at £88 each. I'm sure the train was less than £20.

The event is happening on the same weekend (first weekend in November, but I also checked other weekends too) - but the trains are £77 return on their own! From experience and MSE guide, it's cheaper to buy in advance, but it seems massively more expensive? Does anyone know why this might be?

Jeff_Bridges_hair

They may not have released the cheaper tickets yet. Plus there is no direct service to Blackpool. What you could do is use virgin fare finder to get tickets to Liverpool then separate ones to Blackpool from there.

Im sure it wouldnt have been less then £20 for a return to Blackpool though someone with avantix could confirm if this fare has ever existed

Mike1901

Jeff_Bridges_hair wrote: »

Im sure it wouldnt have been less then £20 for a return to Blackpool though someone with avantix could confirm if this fare has ever existed

Not without the origin station we can't!

If you give us a few more details, such as any railcards held, rough time you wish to arrive/depart Blackpool and and where you're starting from, we will be able to help get the price down - without this information I can't even start looking!

Jeff_Bridges_hair

Mike1901 wrote: »

Not without the origin station we can't!

For some reason i assumed london.. no idea why though

Lakeuk

I can travel to Blackpool for just under £20 off peak, but I am 60mile down the road in Kendal (still cheaper/quicker by car)

moonrakerz

You haven't defined exactly when you are going and returning - but I've just picked Nov 2nd to see what is available. (from Euston)

An Off Peak Ret is £74.80. (Nothing at £77 !)
Advance singles are from £14.50 each way.

dzug1

It is true that this year train companies are making fewer cheap tickets than they have done in the past, and those that there are tend to be in the higher price bands rather than lower.

RetroBob

Thanks guys - origin station is Peterborough, so one change at Leeds. I have looked at breaking up the journey with different tickets but it was more expensive.

dzug1

If you are returning on a Sunday cheap tickets are not yet released into November, so you are not yet getting the cheapest price that will be available

RetroBob

dzug1 wrote: »

If you are returning on a Sunday cheap tickets are not yet released into November, so you are not yet getting the cheapest price that will be available

That's right, I am returning on a Sunday, what's the ETA for cheap Sunday tickets? Based on that... is it worth ordering my cheap outward journey now as a single or wait for the Sunday tickets?

wealdroam

RetroBob wrote: »

That's right, I am returning on a Sunday, what's the ETA for cheap Sunday tickets?

Any day now... that's my guess.

Go to the East Coast Trains website and click on the Get Alerts button down the right hand side.
Hopefully, they will then tell you when they're available.

RetroBob wrote: »

Based on that... is it worth ordering my cheap outward journey now as a single or wait for the Sunday tickets?

Always a gamble.
If you buy the cheap outward ticket now, there is the possibility that no cheap tickets become available for the return leg... due to engineering works or whatever.
That means it may've been cheaper to get an Off Peak Return.

Conversely, if you wait for the cheap return leg tickets, the cheapest Advance Singles for the outward leg may have then sold out.

You decide.