MoneySavingExpert.com Cheap Train Tickets Article Discussion

enoyna

dzug1 wrote: »

This particular fare is valid on any off peak train of any operator on any valid route between Stoke and London - you can even travel to Paddington via Birmingham and Oxford if you wish using Cross Country Chiltern and First Great Western. You can also buy it on the day at the same price.

Cheaper fares are available - from £20 each return - using London Midland services only.

The wording on the website is a standard phrase - don't worry about it

Thanks for the reply, that's reassuring. I know there are £20 pound tickets (I actually bought a couple for other family members who leave earlier) but I need to leave at night and £109 for two was the cheapest I could find

Since it is a return off peak I don't think I can reserve any seating, is there any chance that they'll be full and deny me boarding? Also, I heard that London Midland has cancelled services on Sundays, could this still happen? (Not too concerned about me as it sounds like I can take any other train but the £20 tickets was returning with LM too!).

Thank you very much for the advice and have a good weekend!

dzug1

If you buy online the system will reserve seats where possible - certainly with Virgin. Don't know if LM do reservations at all. It doesn't commit you to using that particular train - you can just use another (off peak) one if need be.

Unlikely that trains will be so full you can't get on - they won't deny you boading as such, you just physically won't get on the train if it's full and standing.

LM cancellations depend on whether sufficient drivers/staff volunteer for overtime or not - yes it could happen unfortunately. Arrangements are made to travel on other operators if this happens.

KeithP

enoyna wrote: »

Since it is a return off peak I don't think I can reserve any seating, is there any chance that they'll be full and deny me boarding?

Extremely unlikely.

enoyna wrote: »

Also, I heard that London Midland has cancelled services on Sundays, could this still happen? (Not too concerned about me as it sounds like I can take any other train but the £20 tickets was returning with LM too!).

On 6 Sept they ran only one train I think.

I don't think anyone knows what will happen on future Sundays,
but the LM website says...

London Midland is to continue enhanced overtime payments for an extended period while it seeks a long-term solution to Sunday working arrangements.
Following the cancellation of the majority of London Midland’s services last Sunday (September 6) meetings have been held with the trade unions and staff representatives for drivers and conductors to discuss the issues around Sunday working and the reasons for the low numbers of volunteers last weekend.
As a result of these discussions, and to ensure that London Midland passengers are not inconvenienced by further cancellations and disruptions with the Sunday services, London Midland managers have advised Aslef and the RMT we will continue to offer enhanced overtime payments for drivers and conductors working Sunday shifts.
This is again for a time limited period and we will be continuing to seek a longer term solution, as we have already been doing, as well as ensuring that we continue to offer passengers improvements to the performance and reliability of London Midland services across the week.
We apologise for the disruption to services on September 6. London Midland fully understands the need to be able to offer our passengers a robust and reliable Sunday service in the future.

djpailo

I want to make regular journeys from Bristol to Leeds. Does anyone know some split ticket method for this. I can't find many yet

KeithP

djpailo wrote: »

I want to make regular journeys from Bristol to Leeds. Does anyone know some split ticket method for this. I can't find many yet

I have answered your other post.
Sadly without any positive solutions.
There is no quick fix.
Need to spend lots of time looking.
You may never find a good split for a particular route.

maxmor

My daughter is going to univeristy and the standard fair from where we live to Glasgow each day for lectures is £9.90. She receives DLA so could apply for the Disability Discount card but like the 16-25 card it prohibits any discount during peak travel times (up to about 9:30/10:00am). 3 days per week her lectures start at 10:00 so her travel costs are going to be horrific. Is there any discount card at all which does not discriminate against students during peak travel times? After all you have to pay for the card in the first place.

jkdd77

A Disabled Adult railcard does not actually have any restrictions during peak time. I know, because I have one myself, but also see page 11:
http://www.disabledpersons-railcard.co.uk/clientfiles/File/Rail_Travel_Made_Easy_-_Accessible_Easy_Read__2_.pdf

Bigyeti86

I have a 16-25 railcard and regularly travel to london from tunbridge wells before 10am. The minimum price before 10am has recently gone up to £12 (previously £8) and as a saver day return costs £14 I was not getting much of a saving.

However as you can buy tickets for the next day at ticket stations, when purchased after 10am I get the same ticket for only £9.25. So if anybody is using a railcard and traveling before 10am, it may be cheaper to buy the ticket the day before you travel.

dzug1

maxmor wrote: »

My daughter is going to univeristy and the standard fair from where we live to Glasgow each day for lectures is £9.90. She receives DLA so could apply for the Disability Discount card but like the 16-25 card it prohibits any discount during peak travel times (up to about 9:30/10:00am). 3 days per week her lectures start at 10:00 so her travel costs are going to be horrific. Is there any discount card at all which does not discriminate against students during peak travel times? After all you have to pay for the card in the first place.

The 16-25 card does NOT actually prohibit discounts in peak hours

What there is is a £12 minimum fare before 1000am. OK in your case this means no discount, but it's not a universal no discounts

The disability card looks to be yiur answer as aleady said

KeithP

Bigyeti86 wrote: »

I have a 16-25 railcard and regularly travel to london from tunbridge wells before 10am. The minimum price before 10am has recently gone up to £12 (previously £8) and as a saver day return costs £14 I was not getting much of a saving.

However as you can buy tickets for the next day at ticket stations, when purchased after 10am I get the same ticket for only £9.25. So if anybody is using a railcard and traveling before 10am, it may be cheaper to buy the ticket the day before you travel.

Hi Bigyeti, welcome to the forums.
I believe that is against the rules.
Any ticket inspector worth his salt will spot that a YP railcarduser is travelling on a ticket that cost less than £12 before 10am.

Be careful.

:beer: