Trains So Expensive...

Blakey123

Hello;

I am going to have to travel from Slough to Brighton for 3 days consecutively from the 25-27th of July to attend a pre-course course kind of thing for my PGCE in Biology starting in September. Now, given where I've only JUST graduated from University, I don't have nearly £100 to spend on a 3 day trip to Brighton (there and back) and was wondering if there was something I was overlooking?

Yes, I also have a 16-25 Railcard.
I also have a Young Person's National Express card if that helps?

MovingForwards

Stay in a b&b / hotel / hostel for a few nights instead of commuting each day?

lindens

too late now but trains are much cheaper if you book way ahead of the trip. NAtional Express or megabus an option?

Blakey123

Can you please define "way ahead"?

As in a month, a year?...

agrinnall

Blakey123 wrote: »

Can you please define "way ahead"?

Generally fares are released about 12 weeks in advance. Looking for tickets to travel less than a week away the cheapest ones will have almost certainly gone, especially on a route to the seaside at the start of school holidays. I'd agree with MovingForwards, but you may find the same problem with accommodation at this time of year.

lindens

Blakey123 wrote: »

Can you please define "way ahead"?

As in a month, a year?...

It is 12 weeks i believe, so this is when the cheapest tickets are available. Once the allocated amount of cheap ones are gone, that is it. You have to purchase the more expensive ones.
You are also at the beginning of the school holidays now where everything travel-connected is more expensive.
As it is education based trip, have you looked at staying in student accommodation?

Voyager2002

There are a host of 'tricks' to get cheaper train tickets, some of which work even a couple of days before you travel.


For instance: there is a direct route between Reading and Brighton, so look at tickets on that route rather than from Slough;
Those trains pass through Gatwick, so look at fares Reading-Gatwick and Gatwick-Brighton as well as all the way.

KeithP

A few years ago there used to be direct trains form Reading to Brighton - CrossCountry Trains via Guildford and Gatwick - and SouthWest Trains via Basingstoke and the South Coast. They may also have been a Reading to Brighton CrossCountry service via Ealing and Clapham Junction too.

None of those direct services now run.

Trainsplit says it can be done for £25.95 each day. That's if you don't actually buy the tickets through them.

Slough to East Croydon Anytime Day Return (SDR) (16-25 Railcard) = £12.40.

East Croydon to Burgess Hill Anytime Day Return (SDR) (16-25 Railcard) = £9.85.

Burgess Hill to Brighton Off-Peak Day Return (CDR) (16-25 Railcard) = £3.70.

Change at Paddington, tube to Victoria then train to Brighton that stops at Burgess Hill.

giraffe69

Is it just me or does anyone else think that under £30 for a return from Slough to Brighton is not all that expensive?

Mids_Costcutter

I'd agree, but to encourage more train travel in general such fares need to be easier to find, as well as sorting out all the other problems on the railways!

JJ_Egan

Sure i paid more than that back in 1984 circa BR .