MSE News: Cheaper train fares on the way with planned ticket overhaul

Owain_Moneysaver

jbuchanangb wrote: »

Those were for booking a few weeks in advance, but even booking today for travel tomorrow, you could do the trip for £188.90. (out via London, return via Leeds and Peterborough) or for £231 (both ways via London, with many different choices of timing)

If travelling after 0930 weekdays, reduce those prices by 1/3rd with a Two Together Railcard (costs £30, last for a year, covers two people).

Chaufeurse1956

Had a bit chuckle at Red Spotted Hanky's fare increase. Including a £6.50 RSH e-voucher the National Rail website remains cheaper. RSH fare £20.90pp (plus £1 booking fee) vs NR at £17.90pp, no booking/cc fee. Tried splitting at various points, more expensive.

I actually think the £17.90pp fare is good, sadly, after many years, RSH have lost me as a customer. Wouldn't touch the Trainline; £1.96 credit card and £1.50 booking fee.

dzug1

Chaufeurse1956 wrote: »

Had a bit chuckle at Red Spotted Hanky's fare increase. Including a £6.50 RSH e-voucher the National Rail website remains cheaper. RSH fare £20.90pp (plus £1 booking fee) vs NR at £17.90pp, no booking/cc fee. Tried splitting at various points, more expensive.

I actually think the £17.90pp fare is good, sadly, after many years, RSH have lost me as a customer. Wouldn't touch the Trainline; £1.96 credit card and £1.50 booking fee.

What was the journey? Would add better context to your post

Chaufeurse1956

dzug1 wrote: »

What was the journey? Would add better context to your post

Hi dzug... Durham to Heald Green. We do this journey yearly, looked into splitting at York, Leeds or Huddersfield, more expensive. Dhm to Man Airport, whilst canny at £15.50, we'd need to add circa £2.10 for the train back up the line to HDG, so six and two threes.

Certainly not complaining about the fare dzug, smiling at the amusing irony that even including a £6.50 Red Spotted e-voucher it's still cheaper to book via the National Rail website .

Smidster

Chaufeurse1956 wrote: »

Hi dzug... Durham to Heald Green. We do this journey yearly, looked into splitting at York, Leeds or Huddersfield, more expensive. Dhm to Man Airport, whilst canny at £15.50, we'd need to add circa £2.10 for the train back up the line to HDG, so six and two threes.

Certainly not complaining about the fare dzug, smiling at the amusing irony that even including a £6.50 Red Spotted e-voucher it's still cheaper to book via the National Rail website .

While RSH have long lost me as a customer they have standard access to the fares.

As they are clearly advance fares are you sure it was the same train?

yorkie2

Chaufeurse1956 wrote: »

Hi dzug... Durham to Heald Green.

OK, that's part of the info we need, which is useful, but we'd need to know more about the itinerary. Was the same itinerary offered on both websites, or did the itinerary alter? What does your itinerary say?

Chaufeurse1956 wrote: »

Certainly not complaining about the fare dzug, smiling at the amusing irony that even including a £6.50 Red Spotted e-voucher it's still cheaper to book via the National Rail website .

National Rail Enquiries doesn't sell tickets; it will re-direct you to a train company website. Some train companies use the same booking engine as RSH, some use a different one.

Occasionally different booking engines will show different fares, but the reasons for this would require investigation before we could comment.

Chaufeurse1956

Smidster wrote: »

While RSH have long lost me as a customer they have standard access to the fares.

As they are clearly advance fares are you sure it was the same train?

Yes, book the same advance fare, Sunday, 13.23 Durham to Heald Green, each year. Understandably there are fare rises but this is the first year I've seen the fare £3 cheaper with one site. RSH, TPE and Virgin Trains, £20.90, National Rail, £17.90.

yorkie2

Chaufeurse1956 wrote: »

Yes, book the same advance fare, Sunday, 13.23 Durham to Heald Green, each year. Understandably there are fare rises but this is the first year I've seen the fare £3 cheaper with one site. RSH, TPE and Virgin Trains, £20.90, National Rail, £17.90.

When you bought the ticket, which company name was on the email confirmation?

Also, is this one full-priced undiscounted adult Anytime fare? Or something else?

Chaufeurse1956

Thanks to all for your time, but we may have crossed wires... I don't have an issue/problem with the price, tickets or itinerary. My post was simply a heads up for anybody surfing for fares to perhaps check National Rail, who forwarded the sale/buying process onto TPE, for a quote too.

The_Groat_Counter

Pincher wrote: »

If they want people to use public transport instead of cars, they will have to do better.
...

The thing is, more people are travelling by train than ever before. Or something like that. Despite the perceived complexity of the rail ticket system, the railways are a very popular way of getting about.