Trainline booking or get ticket at station?

skycatcher

Flying into Birminham tomorrow afternoon and returning on Sunday afternoon going to Leicester. Is it cheaper to buy an off peak return (£21.30) from the train,ine app or just get a ticket from the machine in the station?  

Thanks

James_Londoner

An off-peak return isn't quota-controlled (so it won't sell out) and will be the same price at the station as on Trainline.

If you buy from Trainline in advance of the day of travel they will charge you a booking fee.

Alternatively you may wish to buy from the website of any train operating company, where the fare will be the same and there will be no booking fee.

The only advantage to buying a walk-up ticket prior to travel is to obtain seat reservation(s), if these are available on the trains you plan to use.

skycatcher

Very helpful James. I did not know that about off-peak rtns! I'll probably buy from West midlands railway online then!