MoneySavingExpert.com Cheapest Train Fares Article Discussion

smkukfan

I've recently been using http://www.crosscountrytrains.co.uk/ to get my tickets. Apparently it's powered by thetrainline search engine, but Cross Country Trains charge NOTHING for first class delivery, and NOTHING for using a credit card.

I've been able to mix and match tickets to get the best deal and you are offered all the same singles and returns that thetrainline does, just cheaper. Oh, and they'll sell you all operator train tickets, you don't have to be going on a Cross Country train to use them. I found them much easier than raileasy, and, with no fees, cheaper too.

Owing to a change in circumstances, I'm now about to find out how good their online (& post) refund process is.

dzug

smkukfan wrote: »

I've recently been using http://www.crosscountrytrains.co.uk/ to get my tickets. Apparently it's powered by thetrainline search engine, but Cross Country Trains charge NOTHING for first class delivery, and NOTHING for using a credit card.

I've been able to mix and match tickets to get the best deal and you are offered all the same singles and returns that thetrainline does, just cheaper. Oh, and they'll sell you all operator train tickets, you don't have to be going on a Cross Country train to use them. I found them much easier than raileasy, and, with no fees, cheaper too.

Owing to a change in circumstances, I'm now about to find out how good their online (& post) refund process is.

AFAIK NONE of the train companies charge a fee - only raileasy and thetrainline do that.

smkukfan

Apparently, my CrossCountry trains refund request is posted to 'thetrainline.com' in Edinburgh. So, "they" don't HAVE to charge, they just will if they can get away with it, it seems...

Downloading the refund form was easy, it remains to be seen how soon the refund will arrive.

MUNCHKIN89

I cannot understand why Martin's article continues to recommend Trainline and RailEasy (unless the fact that they contribute to the site has something to do with it, but I hope not)

The facts are simple:

Trainline charge fees for credit cards, debit cards, postage and ticket collection. You have to pay at least two of these every time, costing between £1 and £3.50.

Raileasy charge a booking fee which is sometimes higher, sometimes lower than the trainline. But it's never free. In addition if you want to call them it's a premium £1 a minute rate.

All Train company's sites sell tickets for everywhere in the UK. Some of them offer discounts. All of them apart from National Express East Coast are operated by Trainline. None of them charge fees.

In short IT IS NEVER cheaper to buy from Trainline or Raileasy. There is ALWAYS a cheaper alternative somewhere else online.

In the UK the majority of train tickets sold online are for the Intercity companies. First Great Western and Cross Country are just versions of the Trainline in different colours but without the fees.

www.virgintrains.co.uk is also operated by Trainline but some routes are presented slightly differently, e.g. you can get single saver fares on Virgin routes only. They offer discounts to VIrgin Credit Card holders on advance fares. They don't charge fees.

www.nationalexpresseastcoast.com is totally different. It's very easy to find cheap fares, is not operated by Trainline and sells tickets for every journey in the country. It has a low fares finder which shows the cheapest tickets available on any return journey in the country. It allows you to look for returns or two singles in only one search. It doesn't charge fees. Its call centre is in Newcastle, not India. Best of all, it offers 10% discount on its advance fares [National Express, (ex GNER) only] to EVERYONE.

Given the above why on earth does Martin continue to promote Trainline and RailEasy?

Ricardo_Verdi

You can get cheap £11 daysave rover tickets to use off peak on FCC Thameslink route. Buy tickets at tourist offices in Bedford, Sandy, Dunstable, Luton, St Albans, Brighton & (wait for it...) Greenwich. Not available at stations or on-line. Even the first 2 FCC officials answering my emails thought the cheapest London-Bedford single was £15.90. (The 3rd apologised). They don't work in station machines but are acceptable. Route goes through Luton, London St Pancras & Gatwick. Can only be used on FCC trains.
Up to four accompanied children travel for up to £2 each. Group DaySave tickets allow up to four people (adults and/or children) the freedom of the route and cost just £25.
http://www.firstcapitalconnect.co.uk/Main.php?iCmsPageId=104

bonzer

MUNCHKIN89 wrote: »

I cannot understand why Martin's article continues to recommend Trainline and RailEasy

Having just read my latest money tips emails I was coming here to post about the same thing.

Hasn't Martin made a mistake or are we all missing something? Why is RailEasy better than National Express East Coast or the others? Are the ticket prices different or something? Different availability of seats? What's the catch? I don't get it.

Bonzer

MUNCHKIN89

bonzer wrote: »

Having just read my latest money tips emails I was coming here to post about the same thing.

Hasn't Martin made a mistake or are we all missing something? Why is RailEasy better than National Express East Coast or the others? Are the ticket prices different or something? Different availability of seats? What's the catch? I don't get it.

Bonzer

That's the interesting thing. Sometimes the fares are different but they are NEVER cheaper on Trainline or RailEasy. They make their money from commission and charging fees. Train companies save costs by selling online because it's cheaper than selling through the telephone or at a ticket office, so they don't need to charge fees to make it worth their while.

bonzer

MUNCHKIN89 wrote: »

That's the interesting thing. Sometimes the fares are different but they are NEVER cheaper on Trainline or RailEasy.

I agree with you, I'm going to stick with NXEC. I just fear to doubt the great money saving oracle :rotfl:

Bonzer

MSE_Martin

Hi folks

To answer this question - you're quite right, as we say in the article its often cheaper going via the train company direct. Unfortuantely this was a lower down note and I took my eye of it a little it should've talked about cheapest of the enquiry and booking services.

We're currently looking at some big developments in cheap trains and just wanted to put a quick update note about raileasy as a new alternative to the trainline.

The phrasing could've been better. Though luckily the vast majority of people go through to the article itself which explains it in more detail

Sorry

Martin

MUNCHKIN89

MSE_Martin wrote: »

Hi folks

To answer this question - you're quite right, as we say in the article its often cheaper going via the train company direct.

Martin
Many Thanks for the response. However, I still beg to differ. It's not OFTEN cheaper to go to the train company direct, it's ALWAYS cheaper. Booking fees on Trainline and RailEasy are unavoidable, and I remain puzzled why they are even referenced on moneysavingexpert which is normally so reliable