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Advanced vs Anytime conundrum

loobs40
loobs40 Posts: 1,232 Forumite
First Anniversary Combo Breaker First Post
in Public transport & cycling
I am planning to get a train to Nottingham from Luton Parkway at peak time on 18th Dec.

Looking at the fare options it will cost considerably more to buy a ticket from Luton than it will to buy a ticket from St Pancras, the starting point for the train. It seems that I can buy an Advanced ticket from St Pancras but only have the option of an Anytime ticket from Luton !!


Can I board the train at Luton with a ticket that has St Pancras as the starting point?

Comments

  • dzug1
    dzug1 Posts: 13,535 Forumite
    Combo Breaker First Post
    edited 11 December 2013 at 8:36AM
    loobs40 wrote: »
    I am planning to get a train to Nottingham from Luton Parkway at peak time on 18th Dec.

    Looking at the fare options it will cost considerably more to buy a ticket from Luton than it will to buy a ticket from St Pancras, the starting point for the train. It seems that I can buy an Advanced ticket from St Pancras but only have the option of an Anytime ticket from Luton !!


    Can I board the train at Luton with a ticket that has St Pancras as the starting point?


    No you can't, not with the advance ticket. With the anytime you could


    You MAY get away with it but will have to buy a full priced ticket if you get caught


    Safer to book a later train
  • loobs40
    loobs40 Posts: 1,232 Forumite
    First Anniversary Combo Breaker First Post
    Grrrr :mad:

    Ticket is actually for my daughter who is attending an interview at the university. She has no choice on train times other than to go earlier which is not logistically possible for her
  • yorkie2
    yorkie2 Posts: 1,595 Forumite
    First Anniversary Name Dropper 10 Posts
    edited 11 December 2013 at 9:56PM
    I will assume you are referring to either the 0713 or 0749 departures from Luton Airport Parkway (LTN), which arrive at Nottingham 0831 and 0917, respectively.

    If so, I agree it is more expensive from LTN, as these trains cost £63 for an Advance from St Pancras, compared to £73 for an Anytime from LTN.

    A friend of mine made a website which identifies cheap "splits". I am not permitted to link to the website under MSE's rules, but I can reveal that it has identified the following tickets which will reduce the cost to only £48.70, a saving of approx £25.

    • £8.70: LUTON AIRPORT PW to BEDFORD STATIONS, ANYTIME DAY S route ANY PERMITTED
    • £12.70: BEDFORD STATIONS to KETTERING., ANYTIME DAY S route ANY PERMITTED
    • £15.80: KETTERING. to LEICESTER., ANYTIME DAY S route ANY PERMITTED
    • £11.50: LEICESTER. to NOTTINGHAM., ANYTIME DAY S route ANY PERMITTED

    Note that this assumes travel on the 0749 Luton Airport Parkway to Nottingham service, as the train must call at Bedford, Kettering and Leicester, which this service does.

    I am happy to provide such advice here, but I don't log in so often so may miss the thread or post too late. I am involved with a forum where we are happy to advise promptly, but obviously I am not allowed to link to that site either.

    I would recommend purchasing the tickets in advance, as it may take the ticket clerk some time to issue all 4 tickets, though if plenty of time is allowed prior to departure, they can be bought on the day. A through reservation for the train, from origin to destination, can also be obtained free of charge when you purchase the tickets.

    The prices shown above assume no Railcard is held.

    Hope that helps!
  • loobs40
    loobs40 Posts: 1,232 Forumite
    First Anniversary Combo Breaker First Post
    My daughter has a young persons railcard and I have managed to get down to £39.50 so far.....

    I assume there is no problem buying these tickets online and collecting from our nearest station ?

    :)
  • wealdroam
    wealdroam Posts: 19,181 Forumite
    Part of the Furniture Combo Breaker First Post Name Dropper
    loobs40 wrote: »
    I assume there is no problem buying these tickets online and collecting from our nearest station ?

    That's right... assuming your local station has a machine that allows that.
  • dzug1
    dzug1 Posts: 13,535 Forumite
    Combo Breaker First Post
    wealdroam wrote: »
    That's right... assuming your local station has a machine that allows that.


    You'll need the card used to pay for the tickets as well
  • yorkie2
    yorkie2 Posts: 1,595 Forumite
    First Anniversary Name Dropper 10 Posts
    loobs40 wrote: »
    My daughter has a young persons railcard and I have managed to get down to £39.50 so far.....
    The above tickets would cost approx £32 with a Railcard.
    loobs40 wrote: »
    I assume there is no problem buying these tickets online and collecting from our nearest station ?
    No problem doing that.
  • wealdroam
    wealdroam Posts: 19,181 Forumite
    Part of the Furniture Combo Breaker First Post Name Dropper
    yorkie2 wrote: »
    The above tickets would cost approx £32 with a Railcard.
    At the time the OP wants to travel?

    Is the £12 minimum fare applicable to some of those before 10am?
This discussion has been closed.
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