MoneySavingExpert.com Cheapest Train Fares Article Discussion

gner_ex

WishI'dReadSooner wrote: »

Can any of you advise? Gatwick-Newport, S.Wales.
I think I have my single outward trip 28th may sussed at £23. 1 Ticket already bought DUH - I needed 2. (Yes, maybe I should have bought open return!)

I'm in the process of thinking of booking the return flight to Gatwick.
I was going to come back on 18th June in early hours BUT looking at single fare to Newport S.Wales it seems the single will be £49+ soooo I might come back Sat 21st about 6am - when fares seem to be cheaper £15-£18 online.

Question - IF I didn't book but just turned up at rail station at Gatwick what are the fares likely to be?

1. I'm frightened flight will be delayed, rendering prepurchased ticket useless?
2. I'm wondering whether to leave booking flight until a day or 2 before I return, hoping to get it cheaper.
3. Could I book online at overseas airport once I know the 4hr flight is going out on time - or is this likely to be too late for a good deal fare?

HELP! I was going to drive until I found out the price of carparking at Gatwick - minimum of £135 for 3+ wks. I'm a train novice!

You are indeed correct, any advance purchase ticket would indeed be useless in that situation (just as it would with an advance air ticket if your car broke down on the way to the airport etc).

WED 18th JUNE early hours, SINGLE FARES:
Via London Standard Single £89 (including underground transfer, etc) leave Gatwick 03:30, 06:20, 07:22... Saver Single £61 (off peak) leave Gatwick 08:20 then frequent trains to Victoria (then short hop round the circle line to Paddington).

Not London; Full Price £84 (leave Gatwick 05:31, 05:57, 06:59, travel via Reading) Saver Single £53 (off peak) leave Gatwick 07:58, 09:17 then approx hourly.

SAT 21st JUNE
Both saver fares I mention above are available all day, 06:03 not London, 06:25 via London, etc.

BEST OPTION FOR YOU
Depending where you bought this ticket from, you may be able to exchange it (possibly paying a £5 admin fee). The best option for you (bearing in mind flexibility, etc) is a SAVER RETURN. Due to a quirk of train fares, the returns are often only £1 more than the singles.

Leave Newport at 09:09 (or any later, flexible ticket so no problem if you miss it) and go via London, saver RETURN fare is £62, travel back (via London, any off peak train) first train would be leaving Gatwick at 08:20 mid week, any time at weekend.

The not London saver return fare is £54, first train from Newport is 10:39, first train on the weds morning is 07:58 or any train on the Saturday.

note - via London means you can get the Gatwick Express or Southern Railway trains from Victoria, or the First Capital Connect Thameslink from Blackfriars, whereas not London means you must travel from Reading to Gatwick on the direct trains (Arriva Cross Country or First Great Western Turbo).

I'll not go into detail about the Saver Return fare, as you probably won't buy it, but I think you _can_ in actual fact go a bit earlier, at least thats what I see when looking at Avantix.

Question for Dzug and the other experts - the not London ticket is marked Reading Guildford, is this valid on the Arriva Cross Country services that don't go via Guildford, but instead go via Kensington Olympia? I don't _think_ Kenny O is considered a "London Terminal" any more, but I could be wrong.

dzug1

elliewelly wrote: »

I am such an idiot, desperate for some cheap train tickets I just signed up to this bargaintrains site before I read the 'spam' post underneath.

What will happen?! I am usually so careful about what I sign up to...momentary lapse.

You'll get a newsletter. It will promise cheap fares. Introductory offers aside, they will be exactly the same as anywhere else - more if they charge a booking fee.

elliewelly_2

dzug1 wrote: »

The 'normal' advance purchase tickets haven't been released yet either beyond 11 July - weekdays only. Weekends even further behind.

That £62 fare can be bought on the day - no point in booking it in advance.

So worth waiting in any event

Thanks dzug - very useful advice - any idea when they will be released? How do I find out release dates?

dzug1

gner_ex wrote: »

Question for Dzug and the other experts - the not London ticket is marked Reading Guildford, is this valid on the Arriva Cross Country services that don't go via Guildford, but instead go via Kensington Olympia? I don't _think_ Kenny O is considered a "London Terminal" any more, but I could be wrong.

KO is not a London terminal so a 'not London' ticket is valid that way

But Reading Guildford is a specific route so would only be valid that way and not via KO nor (the other not London route) Reading Ascot Clapham Jn

http://nationalrail.co.uk/times_fares/promotions/pr7a943fc35ce74101db9503cebaecbe/details.html may be the answer - Gatwick Flyaway £105 total return Newport Gatwick with no peak hour restrictions and no need to buy in advance. Just a 'not London' routing. Pity about the ticket already bought.

dzug1

elliewelly wrote: »

Thanks dzug - very useful advice - any idea when they will be released? How do I find out release dates?

No idea about future release dates.

If you follow the 'Booking Horizons' link from http://www.atoctravelagents.org/ it gives you the latest dates for each company. It's only updated about once a week so can be a few days out of date but it's a good guide

Edit - it's just been updated with some later dates available

mjon3105

Quite a few tickets even if you have no rail card, at £8.50 single that day on https://www.nationalexpresseastcoast.co.uk .... Good Luck...Mike

Mat_Money_saver_wannabe wrote: »

Hi,

Wonder if anyone can help.

Looking to book a single ticket to Stansted Airport from Nuneaton for Friday 15th August. Have looked at thetrainline and rail easy website and can find a ticket for £8.50 for the 14th August but (infuriatingly) the only ticket price available for the 15th is £40.50 (quite a big difference I am sure you will agree).

Does anybody have any tips or advice.

Many Thanks

elliewelly_2

dzug1 wrote: »

No idea about future release dates.

If you follow the 'Booking Horizons' link from http://www.atoctravelagents.org/ it gives you the latest dates for each company. It's only updated about once a week so can be a few days out of date but it's a good guide

Edit - it's just been updated with some later dates available

Can you help me where to look on the site? I have tried browsing round but I couldn't find where I should be looking.

Thanks.

dzug1

elliewelly wrote: »

Can you help me where to look on the site? I have tried browsing round but I couldn't find where I should be looking.

Thanks.

On the left hand side of the page, about half way down, is a series of quick links. 'Booking Horizons' is one of them - the last but one

http://www.atoctravelagents.org/clientfiles/File/TOC%20Booking%20Horizons%2023%20May%2008.htm is a direct link to the page you want - but it won't work after they've updated it whereas if you go via the home page you'll always get therer

ticketcollector

Dont forget to have a look at the national rail routing guide. This tells you what routing is valid with what ticket. Be warned it is confusing as hell.
http://www.atoc.org/rsp/Routeing_Guide.asp


Had only one result come up for Gatwick to Newport and is listed as below.
GATWICK AIRPORT 5416 - NEWPORT S.WALES 3674

rte WARMSTER-SALSBRY 800 +
ATW
Ticket type Restrictions (S) (R)
SD 37.60
SV 8A 42.20
7D 197.80

ticketcollector

Mat_Money_saver_wannabe wrote: »

Hi,

Wonder if anyone can help.

Looking to book a single ticket to Stansted Airport from Nuneaton for Friday 15th August. Have looked at thetrainline and rail easy website and can find a ticket for £8.50 for the 14th August but (infuriatingly) the only ticket price available for the 15th is £40.50 (quite a big difference I am sure you will agree).

Does anybody have any tips or advice.

Many Thanks

NUNEATON. 1077 - STANSTED AIRPORT 6834

rte NOT LONDON 700
CC
Ticket type Restrictions (S) (R)
SO 40.50 81.00
SV 2V 43.60

rte XC ONLY 024 + +
CC
Ticket type Restrictions (S) (R)
MA XV 19.50
MB XV 17.00
MC XV 11.00
MD XV 10.00
ME XV 8.50

rte + VWC & CONNECTNS 452 +
VWC
Ticket type Restrictions (S) (R)
VA VR 22.50
VB VR 19.50
VC VR 14.00