MoneySavingExpert.com Cheap Train Tickets Article Discussion

dzug1

midflight wrote: »

Can National Express East Coast tickets be bought in person from a train station? I've just tried it, and they said no - those are online prices only. But that's not what the website said - the "internet only" prices were shown in red, and the ones I wanted were not.
I need to buy in person as I'm using National Rail vouchers, and they are not accepted online (or over phone)... I think?

So it seems I have to either:

(1) buy in person with vouchers but pay higher prices
(2) buy online cheaper, but can't use vouchers

Is this right?

Yes they can be bought at a station in person.

However for certain tickets there is a 10% online discount which you wouldn't get. This is for advance singles on 100% National Express East Coast journeys. You should stilll be able to buy them without the 10% off.

Sounds as though you encountered an ill trained ticket clerk - not surprising given the complexities

dzug1

Livingthedream wrote: »

noelphobic its a dirty trick some train companies do to get a little extra cash from you

If I book advance tickets from Manchester to N.Wales for 1 adult and 1 child with family railcard it costs £9.35 so if I was to do 2 adults and 2 children it should cost £18.70 (9.35 x 2) you would think?
Answer: NO the train site gives you £23.80 :eek: so I have to book twice to get it for £18.70 :mad: and hope the seat reservations are near each other

That calculation does look odd, not sure why. More likely a foul up rather than a dirty trick

Problem with booking twice is that they might expect each adult to have a railcard, not just one between you.

Livingthedream

dzug1 wrote: »

Problem with booking twice is that they might expect each adult to have a railcard, not just one between you.

Hope Not or might be in trouble :eek:

but was lucky all the seat reservations are together, so when the guard checks we'll be there as a group me holding 4 tickets and one railcard. But you are right could be an issue if I was in one carriage and the OH in another.

miamidice

ADVANCE TICKETS STOPPED???!

I'm checking online on trainline and network rail site for advance tickets up to 12 weeks in advance from london to chesterfield but there doesn't seem to be any advance tickets available AT ALL!

What's happened? Have the companies stopped doing cheaper advanced tickets? Cheapest I can see is £40

miamidice

BAD NEWS

http://business.timesonline.co.uk/tol/business/industry_sectors/transport/article5425815.ece

These train companies are absolute joke! It seems like it's going to cost me an extra £15 more every time I want to go to Chesterfield from London from now on - £40 up from £25 - and that's with a young persons railcard!!! I'm furious!

dzug1

miamidice wrote: »

ADVANCE TICKETS STOPPED???!

I'm checking online on trainline and network rail site for advance tickets up to 12 weeks in advance from london to chesterfield but there doesn't seem to be any advance tickets available AT ALL!

What's happened? Have the companies stopped doing cheaper advanced tickets? Cheapest I can see is £40

12 weeks in advance rarely if ever happens. It's often nearer 8 weeks and not always then. Just be patient and you will be rewarded.

But..... £40 is way below the normal fare. Unless you have a railcard that is. If it's a none-railcard fare then it's probably as cheap as you are going to get. Also look at megatrain - generally released 45 days in advance

bikerjodie

Hi

Can someone offer some help and advice please. We would like to travel to Manchester Airport from Glasgow on 17th April 09 and have been trying to work out the cheapest way to do this.

Do we need to split our journeys and if so can you suggest the changes please? or Altenatively, what time exactly should we expect they 12 weeks advance tickets to go on sale (for example is it 00.01 or later in the day) exactly 12 weeks before the date of travel?

We had thought that leaving from Manchester would be cheaper but if we dont manage to get a reasonable deal on train tickets we fear it will cost us more!

Help much appreciate.

Jodie

dzug1

The cheap tickets never go on sale exactly 12 weeks in advance - it's more commonly about 8 weeks and I have (for weekend journeys badly affected by engineering work) known it to be as late as the Monday before. As to time - there is no set time. You are looking for exactness where it doesn't exist.

To see what sort of fares might be available, look about a month ahead.

ukgolfer92

For your journey, there are direct trains provided by Transpennine Express. Try giving their Customer Services a call, and they may be able to tell your when tickets for your journey should be released, or alternatively visit their website.

iwant2asave

Hi,

I dont travel on trains much so dont know what the cheapest ways to get tickets is, so if anyone who can tell me the cheapest way to get tickets for the following journeys then i'd appreciate it!

Three people travelling from Luton Station to London Gatwick Airport on 19/1/09 (off peak - evening), returning on 03/2/09 (off peak - evening). There are 2 pensioners and 1 adult. Thanks in advance for any help :-)

Sam