Trainpal - pricing

toozie_2

I always thought booking train tickets well in advance was more cost effective? 

I never travel by train, but I have to go to London in May.

I've been looking at pricing for the May dates (Mondsy to Thurs - return) 
The cheapest price is £163 with Trainpal.

Just for curiosity to looked at a Monday to Thursday return at the start of April and it's £102.

Neither dates are over bank holiday or school holidays.

My question is sm I best to not book now, and wait in case it's cheaper? 
Or is the price different because May is going into the summer months? 

Thank you in advance for any tips
(Both prices are with a 2:1 Railcard which I will buy) 

oldernonethewiser

toozie_2 said:

I always thought booking train tickets well in advance was more cost effective? 

I never travel by train, but I have to go to London in May.

I've been looking at pricing for the May dates (Mondsy to Thurs - return) 
The cheapest price is £163 with Trainpal.

Just for curiosity to looked at a Monday to Thursday return at the start of April and it's £102.

Neither dates are over bank holiday or school holidays.

My question is sm I best to not book now, and wait in case it's cheaper? 
Or is the price different because May is going into the summer months? 

Thank you in advance for any tips
(Both prices are with a 2:1 Railcard which I will buy) 

Advance tickets ie the cheaper ones are usually, not always, released about 12 weeks in advance of travel dates so you might just be outside of the window.  You can check to see how far in advance you can currently get the Advance tickets.

Any reason for not booking direct with the Train Operating Company?

FrugaiMacDugal

Depends when your travel day is, Advance tickets are usually 12 weeks before travel.

There are various options available here.

If you have Tesco Club card points you can use them here.

daveyjp

Start of April is school holidays in quite a few areas.

It all comes down to route, how many cheap tickets have been released and the TOC.  The cheapest tickets are Advance fares.  You can check here for all the different fares and restrictions available for the route.

https://www.brfares.com/

The dates may also be tied up with the change to the summer timetable which happens on 18 May 2025.  If times have not yet been fully finalised Advance tickets may not have yet been released.

toozie_2

Thank you all.
The date I have to go to London is the 19th May - so I guess that is the start of the Summer timetable?

I just tok advice from here regarding Trainpal, and the cheapest tickets. I looked at LNER too- that's £6 dearer for the dates I have to travel.

I'll check the above links now- thank you 

JGB1955

Also - check to see if it's cheaper to split your fare.  I'm travelling home from Mallaig a week later and managed to nab tickets for £65 as opposed to the £130 published price.

alanrowell

Where are you travelling from? What time of day? Is the £163 a return fare - if so when are you returning? How many people are travelling - you keep saying "I" but are implying the use of a two-together railcard

toozie_2

alanrowell said:

Where are you travelling from? What time of day? Is the £163 a return fare - if so when are you returning? How many people are travelling - you keep saying "I" but are implying the use of a two-together railcard

2 adults over 60
Travelling from Bangor N wales to Euston.19th May
Must stay 3 nights coming home 22nd may

msa1204

I’ve always found https://tickets.railforums.co.uk/ very good. For dates in question currently showing about £130

alanrowell

Using the Scotrail website (which does split-ticketing) I get from £118 assuming the use of a Two-Together Railcard. On the 08:02, returning on the 20:00 put that up to £130

For £169 you can get an off-peak return but the earliest train you could use is the 10:03

MSE_James

From North Wales you may well be able to do even better by splitting at Crewe and taking the slow London Northwestern train from there.  You may have to tweak the advanced options in journey planners to be offered this option as they tend to default to offering you the fastest options.