Rail season ticket?

Jaydox

Hello All,

Starting in June, I will need to be travelling from Stockport to London Euston, perhaps once or twice weekly for about 4 months. I dont know what days I need to travel, this depends on project progress!

So, as I can't book exact dates in advance to save a bit, and didn't want to get an open return at £218 a pop (!!!!!!!!!!!) I was looking at a few months season ticket.

I have just spoken to National Rail, a very unhelpful and uncapable person took around 5 minutes on hold, to tell me that a one month ticket will cost £885.90. I then asked if it got cheaper for longer periods, she didnt understand that so after asking if it would be cheaper for 3 months she said yes and quoted £2657.70, thats exactly 3 times the one month cost!

So, if I can limit my visits to once a week I may as well just get 4 open return tickets. I can then always hope that the tickets dont get stamped and carry them over to the following month. Shh, I didnt say that.

OR - can anybody suggest a more cost effective but still practical way to do this journey, I'm trying to start-up a new business and I can't afford to take an £900+ a month hit for travel as well as everything else!

Thanks in advance,
JJ

laird

The Standard Open Return is cheaper if you travel from Stockport to Chesterfield then on to London (or by any train passing through Chesterfield).

Failing that there are a myriad of different options to bring the cost of your travel to London down some of which are aimed at business travellers.

London to Stockport is a route subject to frequent ticket checks both by machine and manual gate reviews so it is unlikely to be possible to retain your tickets in a reusable state.

Split ticketing may be an option for you, check whether you can buy cheaper tickets to the trains calling points along the route to London.

Don't forget you are entitled to receive a receipt for the ticket purchased which may be reclaimable as business expenses. Tip - all transport costs should be in your business plan.

Have you considered flying? At the moment Virgin Trains have an offer running whereby you hand in your used boarding cards in exchange for a free first class return ticket on the Manchester to London route.