Beware when buying Day Returns on the train!

Legacy_user

I can't quite believe train ticket pricing. I travel once or twice a week from Leeds to Manchester on the train for work, which is not frequent enough to make the most of a season ticket.

For the first couple of weeks I just bought STD Day Return tickets on the train but soon discovered when staying over at a friend's in Manchester one night that a Saver Return ticket could be purchased at the same time for the same journey with £1.50 less.

What a con!

I'm not sure if you can use the return portion of a Saver Return on the same day but I just buy one in the morning and one in the evening and use the two return portions on my next trip.

anewman

You should be able to use a saver return on same day. If you travel after a certain time, I think after 10.30am a cheap day return is even cheaper.

If you live in leeds one possibility is to buy a west yorkshire metro pass which lets you travel anywhere in west yorkshire (whichever zones and stuff you need) but if you get all train zones you can get from Leeds to Huddersfield on this pass then if it's after 10.30am in huddersfield you could get a cheap day return from huddersfield to manchester. If you happen to be a full time student you may be able to get a massively discounted WY metro pass.

dmg24

NEVER buy Day Returns on the train

Perhaps you should review your title?

This may be true of this one particular route, but on many routes a day return is cheaper.

Perhaps a better title would be 'Do your research before you travel'?

System

anewman wrote: »

You should be able to use a saver return on same day. If you travel after a certain time, I think after 10.30am a cheap day return is even cheaper.

If you live in leeds one possibility is to buy a west yorkshire metro pass which lets you travel anywhere in west yorkshire (whichever zones and stuff you need) but if you get all train zones you can get from Leeds to Huddersfield on this pass then if it's after 10.30am in huddersfield you could get a cheap day return from huddersfield to manchester. If you happen to be a full time student you may be able to get a massively discounted WY metro pass.

Thanks for that, I've contacted Metro for further information and prices...it would be helpful if they had it on their website of course!!

System

dmg24 wrote: »

Perhaps you should review your title?

This may be true of this one particular route, but on many routes a day return is cheaper.

Perhaps a better title would be 'Do your research before you travel'?

Good suggestion I was a little carried away with the irritation of constant stupid train ticket pricing!

I've changed the title anyway hope that's more appropriate!

dzug

Yes you can return on the same day with a saver. The only point to watch is that it may have more time restrictions on it than a standard day return - which is why it is cheaper.

System

dzug wrote: »

Yes you can return on the same day with a saver. The only point to watch is that it may have more time restrictions on it than a standard day return - which is why it is cheaper.

Why is it so complicated!!! :mad:

Surely just charge a standard amount for each journey (return 2 x single) and if they must apply a % premium at peak times and deduct a % for people with concessionary cards, frequent traveller cards or something similar!

Half the problem is even the conductors don't seem to know (either that or they just steer you to the most expensive ticket), the websites such as thetrainline.com don't define the tickets properly...all just vague information and companies such as GNER who I've written to twice asking about ticket pricing in the last 2 months don't bother to reply!

How can anyone ever make sense of it all?!

Sorry...rant over!

New rant...they're overpriced late, unreliable, overcrowded and uncomfortable too!!...2nd rant over!!

I'd walk, run, cycle if I could but Leeds - Manchester return is a bit beyond me and the M62 and combined Leeds and Manchester rush hours...don't even go there!!!

misscutiepie1984

Imagine working for a train station then, would that make you feel better?

System

misscutiepie1984 wrote: »

Imagine working for a train station then, would that make you feel better?

I'm not sure it would no! Do you work for one? Doing what? Can you shed any light on my situation?

You have my full sympathy for what I'm sure isn't the most pleasant of jobs...I do my best to not direct my frustrations at the poor front liners who are probably not to blame! Problem is the folk that make these stupid decisions are protected by the abused front liners and hence nothing ever changes and life just becomes unpleasant for everyone but the profit makers!

Lucie_2

Yes, it's bonkers, not to mention confusing. I regularly travel to Leeds from Blackburn on the train (single - hubby picks me up at the other end). A single to Wakefield (change at Leeds) is cheaper than a single to Leeds. Go figure?! It was the ticket office blokey who told me that..........

System

Lucie wrote: »

Yes, it's bonkers, not to mention confusing. I regularly travel to Leeds from Blackburn on the train (single - hubby picks me up at the other end). A single to Wakefield (change at Leeds) is cheaper than a single to Leeds. Go figure?! It was the ticket office blokey who told me that..........

Good god! I spend enough time searching for ticket prices as it is without having to search for journeys that I'm not even making on the off chance that it's cheaper!!! You're right bonkers is the only word!!

Maybe it'd be cheaper for me to get a return from Newcastle to Liverpool changing at Leeds and Manchester!!!

I waited an hour tother day for a delayed train at Headingley! They finally announced a replacement bus service so I headed for the road and while my back was turned the train pulled up and I missed it! I complained to the conductor on the next train and was he apologetic? No...he laughed in my face and carried on walking!