ticket pricing issue London Kings X to Scarborough

katejo

I am doing the above journey on March 10th to return on March 13th. I have already dismissed Advance tickets because they are only about £1 cheaper than Super off peak. I tried looking at split tickets with 1 ticket from London to York and another from York to Scarborough. It wasn't any cheaper but I wasn't expecting to also find that a ticket from London to York was far more restricted re. choice of train than a ticket from London to Scarborough. A super off peak to York was only valid for 2 time slots in the day while a ticket to Scarborough only had restrictions before about 9am and between about 12 and 2pm.
Any known explanation for this? Why is it ok to start a super off peak journey to Scarborough at around 10.30 or 11am but not to york (on the same train)?

wealdroam

katejo wrote: »

I am doing the above journey on March 10th to return on March 13th. I have already dismissed Advance tickets because they are only about £1 cheaper than Super off peak. I tried looking at split tickets with 1 ticket from London to York and another from York to Scarborough. It wasn't any cheaper but I wasn't expecting to also find that a ticket from London to York was far more restricted re. choice of train than a ticket from London to Scarborough. A super off peak to York was only valid for 2 time slots in the day while a ticket to Scarborough only had restrictions before about 9am and between about 12 and 2pm.
Any known explanation for this? Why is it ok to start a super off peak journey to Scarborough at around 10.30 or 11am but not to york (on the same train)?

I imagine the York tickets are quite popular to the train company sees no need to offer the attractive cheaper ticket.
That's just one guess, you aren't going to get a definitive answer from anyone - including the train co.

Anyway, that aside, what fares have you found?
Depending on the times of travel of course, but I can see a return trip costing £70.50 using Advance Singles. Significantly less that the Super Off Peak Return at £118.50.

katejo

The London to York may well be popular but that journey is also part of the London to Scarborough one. That is what seems illogical. I will look again at the Advance tickets but I couldn't find anything under £117. Perhaps it is just the timings. I do need to start my journey between 10 and 12 to arrive at the right time.

k3lvc

Have you considered Megabus - £16 return from London to York on those dates then you just have the York-Scar leg to pay for ?

redux

If you have some time to spare, think of split fares and going off-track a bit. Sheffield looks promising if it fits your timing (from 16.50 and 10.00 for the 2 legs one way). Maybe even Birmingham. Edit: maybe split at Nottingham on the way home

Mardle

How about this?
10.03 dep Kings Cross arr Doncaster 11.39 advanced single £14
12.19 dep Doncaster arr Scarborough 14.46 advanced single £9.50

Return
11.28 dep Scarborough arr Doncaster 13.47 advanced single £9.50
14.17 dep Doncaster arr Kings Cross 16.00 advanced single £14

katejo

Thanks for that but too late. I have already bought the tickets. Doncaster didn't occur to me at all. I tried York for a split ticket and that was no cheaper so doubted that there would be other options.

Didn't really look at Mega bus options. What I'd save in money, I'd lose in time.

kinger101

There are two franchises which do London to York. Virgin East Coast and Grand Central. It sounds like you've found fares for Grand Central, which have very few trains each day.

katejo

kinger101 wrote: »

There are two franchises which do London to York. Virgin East Coast and Grand Central. It sounds like you've found fares for Grand Central, which have very few trains each day.

Are you referring to the cheaper Doncaster option here? Just out of interest. I have a reasonable choice of train times via York. If you are, that probably explains why I didn't find the cheaper tickets via Doncaster. I didn't look at the Grand Central route.