Help wanted! Train from Preston to Oxford

aboylikeme

Hi there,

I am need of some advice for an upcoming journey.......

Me and a friend are travelling from Preston to Oxford on Sunday 18th March. We need to leave around 10am, and will be travelling back on the 19th at lunchtime (or thereabouts).

I have a railard, my friend does not. At present, due to the awful services on a Sunday, the best I can find for my friend is an open return at £65! I have a railcard so this would be nearer to £40.

I have serached for saver tickets etc but have not managed to find anything which is much cheaper.

If anyone can offer any help I would be very grateful. Also, information on splitting tickets would be of help as this is something I am unsure about.

Thanks,

S.

LesD

Best prices look like two singles. But this limits the trains to the 11:29 from Preston (£21) and the 11:36 return from Oxford (£38.50) or the 19:36 (£20.50).

Or you could try searching Trainline for various combinations of intermediate singles to see if any are cheaper.

aboylikeme

Thanks for that. Sundays are not the best days to travel on trains. You'd think it'd be cheaper when you have to get replacement coaches for a third of the journey!

alanrowell

aboylikeme wrote:

You'd think it'd be cheaper when you have to get replacement coaches for a third of the journey!

well aside form the fact the train companies have to pay for the coaches in addition to the normal train you've also got the problem that Engineering Works generally means less trains which equals less seats which equals less cheap seats

aboylikeme

Point taken, but if the services were more affordable and reliable in the first place then I wouldn't mind as much.

jrrowleyws

Most services through Oxford are not discounted much, Oxford is a great link to London and many other places.. well, thats my theory when I get ripped off getting the train to Oxford anyway

aboylikeme

That does make some sense. It seems to be an exempt area when it comes to discounts! Even looking a month ahead seems to be getting me nowhere!

boglin

PLEASE check this carefully - I think that you can save by splitting your tickets between Preston and Birmingham and Birmingham and Oxford - even though it is travelling on the same train for the return journey!

The total, using 2 singles and a return is £46.50 (without a rail card).

Buy tickets for 2 journeys separately through different railway companies:

(1) Central Trains
Outward: Get the 09:47 train from Preston to Birmingham International (you do have to get a bus from Rugby to Birmingham) (arrives 12:45) - pay for a VALUE ADVANCE SINGLE C (£9)
Return: Get the 12:34 Virgin Train from Birmingham International to Preston (arrives 14:38) - pay for a VALUE ADVANCE SINGLE B (£11.50)

(2) Chiltern Railways
Outward: Get the 13:30 train from Birmingham International to Oxford (unfortunately this is a bus!) (arrives 15:00) - pay for a SAVER RETURN (£26.00)
Return: Get the the 11:36 Virgin Train from Oxford (arrives in Birmingham International 12:33) - then remain on the train using your other single ticket as it is for the same train!!! You just change at Birmingham New Street for the Preston train.

Hope that this makes sense! The awful Sunday journey that is mostly by bus wouldn't look so bad when you see the Monday journey!!!

Alternatively, have you considered travelling by National Express coaches?!

boglin

Another spot on the Virgin Trains website (select Saver as ticket type to see what comes up) Enter 'via Birmingham' on the form.

From / To Date Depart Arrive Changes Price

Preston to Oxford 18/03/07 11:29 16:00 2 £21.00
Oxford to Preston 19/03/07 13:36 16:37 1 £32.65

Total: £53.65