MoneySavingExpert.com Cheap Train Tickets Article Discussion

dzug1

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.

It's when you TRAVEL that counts, not when you buy the ticket.

You will get penalty fared when a sharp enough inspector comes along.

loonywitch

Hi, I'm new and I'm hoping that I've put this in the right place. I'm trying to find the cheapest train fare for me and my friend to travel to London on Thursday 15th October and return Friday 16th October. I can travel from Doncaster or Sheffield. I've tried several sites and they're all returning silly prices. Any suggestions? I'd be extremely grateful

Edit: If it helps I'm wanting to go Thursday morning and leave Friday afternoon/evening

KeithP

loonywitch wrote: »

Hi, I'm new and I'm hoping that I've put this in the right place. I'm trying to find the cheapest train fare for me and my friend to travel to London on Thursday 15th October and return Friday 16th October. I can travel from Doncaster or Sheffield. I've tried several sites and they're all returning silly prices. Any suggestions? I'd be extremely grateful

Edit: If it helps I'm wanting to go Thursday morning and leave Friday afternoon/evening

Loonywitch, welcome to the forums.

Yes, time of day does help.
What prices have you found so far?

Livingthedream

loonywitch wrote: »

Hi, I'm new and I'm hoping that I've put this in the right place. I'm trying to find the cheapest train fare for me and my friend to travel to London on Thursday 15th October and return Friday 16th October. I can travel from Doncaster or Sheffield. I've tried several sites and they're all returning silly prices. Any suggestions? I'd be extremely grateful

Edit: If it helps I'm wanting to go Thursday morning and leave Friday afternoon/evening

You could try this;

Doncaster to London KX 15th Oct 11:13 Advance single £19.35
London KX to Doncaster 16th Oct 13:35 Advance single £19.35
Total: £38.70 return per person

To get these prices you need to buy from the NXEC discount website (20% off) and click 'Book now before it's to late', there are other prices and times available but this deal only on til the 2nd Oct

KeithP

loonywitch wrote: »

Hi, I'm new and I'm hoping that I've put this in the right place. I'm trying to find the cheapest train fare for me and my friend to travel to London on Thursday 15th October and return Friday 16th October. I can travel from Doncaster or Sheffield. I've tried several sites and they're all returning silly prices. Any suggestions? I'd be extremely grateful

Edit: If it helps I'm wanting to go Thursday morning and leave Friday afternoon/evening

Or if you prefer Sheffield...

15 Oct. Dep Sheffield 11:27, arr St Pancras 13:34. Advance Single £13.00 when bought online from East Midlands Trains website.
16 Oct. Dep Kings Cross13:10, arr Sheffield 15:41. Advance Single £19.35 from NXEC, as described by Livingthedream above.

Total: £32.35 return per person.

Edited to add...
On the same 11:27 Sheffield departure, £11.00 Megatrain tickets are available.

SD-253

My mum visited me in Lincolnshire train was from Manchester to Grimsby return and the price was £37 a fair price for the journey but she had a bus pass (OAP) and asked if he could do better..........yes he said with the card he could do it for £10. Only stipulation was it had to be off peak that was after 9.30 AM and I assume before some other time either way they fitted in with her plans so she had it. NOTE the requirement was to show your bus pass to prove your age but bus passes are not issued only on age mine is for a disability so maybe you get it anyway??

Ruthie5

I need to travel back from London Euston to Llandudno Junction next Thursday, and need to be on a specific train - the 17.10.

It seems that the walk on price is £70 single and £71 return. If I got the return, and then didn't use it, does anyone know if it can be changed to another journey? It is a bit galling to be paying the same for a single as a return....Also, I would have thought that a cheaper fare might be available with a week to go...am I missing something?

I have looked at some splitting options too - but I don't seem to be any better off. If anyone has any ideas, I'd be really grateful.

KeithP

Ruthie5 wrote: »

I need to travel back from London Euston to Llandudno Junction next Thursday, and need to be on a specific train - the 17.10.

It seems that the walk on price is £70 single and £71 return. If I got the return, and then didn't use it, does anyone know if it can be changed to another journey? It is a bit galling to be paying the same for a single as a return....Also, I would have thought that a cheaper fare might be available with a week to go...am I missing something?

I have looked at some splitting options too - but I don't seem to be any better off. If anyone has any ideas, I'd be really grateful.

By saying you need to be on the 17:10, you are seriously restricting your options.

That train only stops at eight intermediate stations, so it is easy, if laborious, to decide if splitting will produce a saving.

This is a peak hour train. The railway company does not need to offer cheap tickets when they know they will fill the train with full fare payers. They only offer cheap tickets to fill what would otherwise be empty seats.

Editted to add...
From the Virgin website...

Refunds: A full refund minus £10 fee is payable for any wholly unused ticket returned to the place of purchase within 28 days of its expiry.

So, you cannot get a refund on a return ticket once you have used the outward portion.

Frugalboy

London Underground is a huge rail network, but is not mentioned in the article. The fact is that a very great number of people from outside London visit London. The final Trick should be "Get an Oyster Card in advance if you plan to visit London." Details of how to do this and the savings offered can be found at the Oyster page of the Transport for London (tfl) website. Apart from the Underground it can also be used on buses and some mainline routes in London.

People from outside London may not realise that an Oyster Card is valid indefinitely. So, as long as its topped up, you can use the same Oyster Card every time you visit London. You can easily top it up by a small amount at any Underground station. The only extra cost is a small refundable deposit for the card itself. However, note that each person travelling together needs their own card. You can't pass it back over the barrier for your companion to use!

Ruthie5

I would agree that an oyster card is great. We have a couple permanently charged up for when we go to London, and they are convenient. Someone told me that the best deal for you is also worked out as you use the card, and adjustments are made, to save you working this out for yourself.