I need help booking train tickets

Idontlikeworking

I'm going to Blackpool on the 26th of October and returning on the 2nd of November so I've been to the train station to get some information on fares and times but I don't know how the woman got the 07:01 train from Cwmbran to Blackpool North as it's not showing on transport for wales website. 
I told the woman that I will be travelling from Cwmbran to Blackpool North and she said I need to change at Crewe so I told her I want a direct train to Manchester Piccadilly so she searched again and came back with Service AW910400 depart Cwmbran 07:01 and arrive at Manchester Piccadilly 10:15 then Service NT930400 depart Manchester Piccadilly 10:33 and arrive at Blackpool North 11:50.
If I go on trainline and put Cwmbran to Blackpool North it comes up with 07:01 Transport for Wales Service AW9104 but I need to change at Crewe so if I change it to Cwmbran to Manchester Piccadilly it shows 07:01 Transport for Wales Service AW9104 and that takes me direct from Cwmbran to Manchester Piccadilly so do I have to book Cwmbran to Manchester Piccadilly then Manchester Piccadilly to Blackpool North. If I do have to book separately what ticket will I need so I can get on the train at anytime of the day.

elsien

I wouldn’t use the trainline anyway. You’re paying extra to use a third-party and add an extra layer of complication. 

The National Rail site is showing the trains that you want and you can filter the route to buy a through ticket from Cwmbran via Manchester Piccadilly to Blackpool North and change the ticket type to an anytime one. 

This is the price at the moment

lr1277

What time do you want to leave or arrive? I know you said 7:01 in your post but is that what you want or what the ticket lady assumed?

I looked at National rail and put in your journey details, but suggested I wanted to leave after 9am.

The 10:17 leaves Cwmbran and arrives at Blackpool North at 14:50. You change at Manchester Piccadilly.

The advantage of the National Rail site is that it shows the number of changes. If there is only 1 change, then I think you change at Manchester Piccadilly. If there are 2 changes I think you will change at Crewe and Preston.

Then if you find a journet that suits you, you choose the relevant tickets and then directed to the Avanti West Coast website to buy the tickets. Well I was when I put in your journey details.

Btw: you can buy tickets for any journey from any train operator. The train operator does not have to serve that station. Some credit card holders get discounts if booking through certain train operators. But the downside is not every train journey is shown if that train operator does not stop at your required station. I find this especially applies if there are engineering works on your intended route.

So you could book your journey with LNER (on the LNER website) if you can find the journey you want even though you are NOT going anywhere near the east coast of the UK.

But I suggest going through the National Rail website or even the Avanti West Coast website.

JGB1955

One option is to use split-ticketing and buy tickets from Cwmbran to Shrewsbury and Shrewsbury to Blackpool North, changing just once at Manchester at a cost of £102.10 - see 

Ticket Information | Split Ticketing  

Idontlikeworking

lr1277 said:

What time do you want to leave or arrive? I know you said 7:01 in your post but is that what you want or what the ticket lady assumed?

I looked at National rail and put in your journey details, but suggested I wanted to leave after 9am.

The 10:17 leaves Cwmbran and arrives at Blackpool North at 14:50. You change at Manchester Piccadilly.

The advantage of the National Rail site is that it shows the number of changes. If there is only 1 change, then I think you change at Manchester Piccadilly. If there are 2 changes I think you will change at Crewe and Preston.

Then if you find a journet that suits you, you choose the relevant tickets and then directed to the Avanti West Coast website to buy the tickets. Well I was when I put in your journey details.

Btw: you can buy tickets for any journey from any train operator. The train operator does not have to serve that station. Some credit card holders get discounts if booking through certain train operators. But the downside is not every train journey is shown if that train operator does not stop at your required station. I find this especially applies if there are engineering works on your intended route.

So you could book your journey with LNER (on the LNER website) if you can find the journey you want even though you are NOT going anywhere near the east coast of the UK.

But I suggest going through the National Rail website or even the Avanti West Coast website.

To be honest I don't know what time train I want to catch but my missus wants to be in Blackpool as early as possible and with 2 kids I want to catch the least amount of trains. If I catch the 06:02 I would have to take my car to the train station but I don't know if I want to leave it at the train station for a week so my only other option is catch the 07:01 or the 08:15 but then I would have to catch a bus to the train station and the bus stop from my house is a 15 minute walk.

I've been to the train station again and if I book the 07:01 Cwmbran to Blackpool North I will have to change at Crewe but if I use a split ticket from Cwmbran to Manchester Piccadilly then Manchester Piccadilly to Blackpool North I can catch the same 07:01 train .

HillStreetBlues

Idontlikeworking said:

To be honest I don't know what time train I want to catch but my missus wants to be in Blackpool as early as possible and with 2 kids I want to catch the least amount of trains. If I catch the 06:02 I would have to take my car to the train station but I don't know if I want to leave it at the train station for a week so my only other option is catch the 07:01 or the 08:15 but then I would have to catch a bus to the train station and the bus stop from my house is a 15 minute walk.

I've been to the train station again and if I book the 07:01 Cwmbran to Blackpool North I will have to change at Crewe but if I use a split ticket from Cwmbran to Manchester Piccadilly then Manchester Piccadilly to Blackpool North I can catch the same 07:01 train .

If it's you wife ad 2 kids then at the prices of the trains you need to get a Family & Friends Railcard if one child is between 5-15
https://www.familyandfriends-railcard.co.uk/about-railcard/are-you-eligible/

elsien

Already posted the link for the trains you can get via Manchester, and I’m really unclear why you are asking the question at a train station and then not buying the ticket while you’re there if you’re not confident on the websites?