MoneySavingExpert.com Cheapest Train Fares Article Discussion

KeithP

The maximum age for a child travelling on a Family Railcard is 'aged between 5 - 15 years'.
Dzug, are you saying there is something different when travelling in Cornwall?

Yes you can buy those tickets at any staffed station. But be quick, they do run out/get more expensive the later you leave it.

Lilly_May_2

Many thanks Keith, tried to get them on line, but it wouldn't accept my Electron Visa card (please note people)..so mad dash to Station, and picked them up for £58 return per people....now I can breathe, lol, Hotel already booked using my Airmiles, so lets hope for a bit of Febuary Sun, well maybe Lol... many thanks for your help....:beer: Lilly

dzug

Lilly_May wrote: »

Can you use a family rail card? I know that you can have up to four adults traveling with you, I have tried putting in family rail card when I tot up the price, but it doesn't seem to count it, I don't want to spend £24 out, if I can't use it...Can you get these advance train trickets from the Station, does anyone know? would they know???if you can use a family rail card....daughters 19 so would be counted as an adult, don't think you have to take children with you to get the discount from the Rail card...any ideas....thanks....Lilly :j

You DO have to have at least one child with you to use a family railcard.

dzug

KeithP wrote: »

The maximum age for a child travelling on a Family Railcard is 'aged between 5 - 15 years'.
Dzug, are you saying there is something different when travelling in Cornwall?

No - I'm saying it's the same in Cornwall. OP seemed to think it might be different. Turned out to be because there was no child travelling.

mh174

Hey guys,
I'm a mature student and a group of 12 of us (not all mature, but all over 18) are travelling from Hastings to London on Fri 28 March, return with travelcard option - we need to get to Hammersmith - I haven't checked which zone it is. Leaving around 4pm then last train from London, which appears to be 11.37pm.
Does anyone know any options for groups that save money? At the station they quoted £12.50 each (approx).
I have a "Young Persons" railcard as a mature student, but not all of the group have these.
Any ideas?
Thanks,
Mark

dzug

mh174 wrote: »

Hey guys,
I'm a mature student and a group of 12 of us (not all mature, but all over 18) are travelling from Hastings to London on Fri 28 March, return with travelcard option - we need to get to Hammersmith - I haven't checked which zone it is. Leaving around 4pm then last train from London, which appears to be 11.37pm.
Does anyone know any options for groups that save money? At the station they quoted £12.50 each (approx).
I have a "Young Persons" railcard as a mature student, but not all of the group have these.
Any ideas?
Thanks,
Mark

Southeast trains have a groupsave offer for groups of 10 or more - their website doesn't say how much but looking at that fare it seems remarkably cheap (particularly if it includes the underground) so may well include it.

Southern do a daysave for 3 or 4 people at £20 total (or £10 for one) - buy online only. You'd have the underground to add to this, and can only use Southern trains - ie the slower route via Lewes. Last train back is slightly earlier I think.

The YP railcard won't add anything to the group saving

mh174

It appears that the Southeastern fares are the best, it works out at £104 for 12 return, Hastings to London.... £8.67 each and then buy a group Tube ticket at £3.00 each, total £11.67 each; I don't think this can be bettered! The Southern trains journey also adds a lot to the travel time.
Thanks for your reply

Jennikay

Anyone travelling from Hull to London (or the other way round):

I'm sure you've heard of Hull Trains, and they do £15 singles if you're lucky, however NXEC (National Express East Coast) does £10 singles

Hope this helps someone, it certainly saved me £20

cheapycheep

If you're travelling on the east coast line (formerly GNER, now National Express East Coast), check the prices booking through National Express East Coast Line directly (http://www.nationalexpress.com/trainslanding.html) before you book on thetrainline.com.

I booked a couple of London-Leeds return tickets last month. We split the tickets into two singles to get the cheapest fares, and it was £43 on thetrainline, but £38 on the National Express website, saving a fiver. Presumably this is a booking fee, which I didn't even know thetrainline charged. On a low-cost ticket, £5 is a good saving! The only downside is the site was a little unreliable. For example my friend couldn't book multiple tickets, but when I went on the next day I could.

Thanks for reading!

Pinky_Ponk

Jennikay wrote: »

Anyone travelling from Hull to London (or the other way round):

I'm sure you've heard of Hull Trains, and they do £15 singles if you're lucky, however NXEC (National Express East Coast) does £10 singles

Hope this helps someone, it certainly saved me £20

NXEC is great if you are felxible about times of travel and/or can book in advance. Single tickets between Doncaster and King's Cross (A journey I do regularly) start at £9 one way. I looked at getting a season ticket as I don't qualify for a railcard but travel to and from London 2 or 3 times a month at least but the season ticket doesn't give me any savings - I think it would if travelled daily or something - are there any other alternatives? I have M.E but don't claim disability benefits so i don't qualify for a disabled person's railcard either - very frustrating!