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Skyscanner for trains?

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OH is a train fan - we have been watching the train journeys programmes with Bradshaws guides and I have bought the books - I'd like to treat us to some tickets for a trip to go in the parcel.

We are on the Norfolk coast (Norwich nearest big station, Tunstead and Hoveton nearest little one) - and a Friday night/Saturday morning journey, overnight and return - I don't care where really.

A town with something to do would be lovely - York? Harrogate? London (not my favourite) - maybe Oxford.

The purpose of the weekend would be the journey rather than the city (YSWIM).

Anyway - any ideas? And how do I find cheap tickets given my flexibility?

I tried York and it was ridiculous! It would be cheaper to drive - in fact, it would be cheaper, as there are two of us, to pay someone to drive us I think! I want a nice cheap as chips train journey - not a second mortgage.

Is there a way to get cheapy cheapy travel?
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Comments

  • yorkie2
    yorkie2 Posts: 1,595 Forumite
    Part of the Furniture 1,000 Posts Name Dropper
    When are you travelling?


    Fares can be very cheap if you can snap up the lowest priced Advance fares when they first go on sale.


    For York (and Harrogate/Knaresborough) it may be cheaper to "split" at Peterborough.
  • Seanymph
    Seanymph Posts: 2,882 Forumite
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    thanks yorkie - this is all new to me! It doesn't matter when we go - I'd just like to put them in the parcel...
  • Kite2010
    Kite2010 Posts: 4,308 Forumite
    Part of the Furniture 1,000 Posts Home Insurance Hacker! Car Insurance Carver!
    If there is 2 of you travelling, consider getting a "Friends and Family" railcard to give you some discounts
  • wealdroam
    wealdroam Posts: 19,180 Forumite
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    Kite2010 wrote: »
    If there is 2 of you travelling, consider getting a "Friends and Family" railcard to give you some discounts
    A Family and Friends Railcard is not suitable for two adults travelling.

    To use a F&F Railcard there must be at least one child travelling.

    The OP hasn't mentioned any children travelling.
  • Seanymph
    Seanymph Posts: 2,882 Forumite
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    nope, no children - just the OH and I
  • p00hsticks
    p00hsticks Posts: 14,451 Forumite
    Part of the Furniture 10,000 Posts Name Dropper Photogenic
    Seanymph wrote: »
    I want a nice cheap as chips train journey - not a second mortgage.

    Give us a budget and we can see what we can come up with..... £10? £20 ? £40?
  • yorkie2
    yorkie2 Posts: 1,595 Forumite
    Part of the Furniture 1,000 Posts Name Dropper
    Saturday 22 February

    • Norwich - York departing 0653: £11.55 per person
    • York - Harrogate departing any train: £7.90 per person
    • Harrogate - Norwich departing 1818: £13.35 per person

    This allows you to visit York, Knaresborough, and Harrogate. You will also travel round the entire 'Harrogate loop' line.

    For less than £10 extra, you could book your return journey instead as follows....
    • Harrogate - London departing 1714 (£13), and
    • London - Norwich departing 2130 (£8),
    ...if you wanted to cover the longer route via London (1 hour allowed to change termini, for which you'd need to take LU or a bus).

    The fares above are subject to availability, and will rise shortly, as the lowest fares are snapped up. The only fare that is the exception is York - Harrogate, which is available at any time right up to departure, and allows travel on any train (including break of journey at Knaresborough).
  • Kite2010
    Kite2010 Posts: 4,308 Forumite
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    wealdroam wrote: »
    A Family and Friends Railcard is not suitable for two adults travelling.

    To use a F&F Railcard there must be at least one child travelling.

    The OP hasn't mentioned any children travelling.

    I stand corrected, I thought it was available when you have 2 adults travelling together without kids
  • alanrowell
    alanrowell Posts: 5,386 Forumite
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    Kite2010 wrote: »
    I stand corrected, I thought it was available when you have 2 adults travelling together without kids
    In West Yorkshire you can buy a Family DayRover which doesn't need children for it to be valid
  • Seanymph
    Seanymph Posts: 2,882 Forumite
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    Good grief yorkie You are brilliant!

    I could only find returns for about £80 each. Which was too much really.

    £30 is brilliant - I'd be happy up to about £50.

    It's Mr Portillo and his Bradshaws that is to blame.
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