What is the best way to book a train

DevilsAdvocate1

Hi,

I've not travelled by train in 20 odd years, but need to go from Durham to Northampton next week. I don't know where to start. There seem to be loads of websites, but which one is a good one?

Thanks.

Alan_Bowen

Durham is on the East Coast line, their website, www,eastcoast.co.uk takes booking for all companies, is easy to use and doesn't charge a credit card fee. The quickest route will probably be Cross Country to Birmingham and then London Midland to Northampton. The one thing you need to learn is to book early, seats go on sale 12 weeks before departure, and the current single fare next week is £114!!!! Check out trains at different times of the day to find the cheapest, unfortunately Cross Country are known for higher fares than other carriers but the alternative routes will take longer

wiogs

Do not use thetrainline.com as they charge fees for using credit cards (if that is how you intend to pay)

stephb34

I use red spotted hanky.com you can use your Tesco clubcard vouchers to buy train tickets, they are worth double the normal value.

Flugelhorn

can get off peak return for £115 but not anything particularly cheap! I use eastcoast.co.uk and nationalrail.co.uk (the latter to search for routes and rates but have to buy them through another site)

DevilsAdvocate1

Thanks everyone. Have managed to get booked up. Cost £118 in the end. Luckily, the company I work for is paying, especially as I will be doing the trip in reverse in a couple of weeks.

pogofish

You are aware these places are actually in the UK..?

If you are needing to travel between the US cities with those names, you may find other sites better.

DevilsAdvocate1

pogofish wrote: »

You are aware these places are actually in the UK..?

If you are needing to travel between the US cities with those names, you may find other sites better.

I'm in the UK.

Voyager2002

DevilsAdvocate1 wrote: »

I'm in the UK.

You missed the unsubtle dig... This section of the forum is for international travel, and I think that was a hint that you could have used the section for travel within the UK.

pogofish

Or the Public Transport Forum - which already has lots about train booking.