MoneySavingExpert.com Cheap Train Tickets Article Discussion

Cal_Culater

Halva wrote: »

Hi folks,
I was hoping that people in the know could help me. This is the first time that I've tried to be organised and book tickets far in advance.

I am looking to do the following journey:
Warrington Bank Quay - London
Out 19/2/10
Return 21/2/10

I cannot see whether the advance tickets have been released yet on raileasy.co.uk or thetrainline.com. A trainline.com operative told me yesterday that they hadn't.

The website is showing single tickets at around £33.00. I am getting a bit twitchy so don't want to hang around if these are the advanced tickets. But equally, if cheaper ones become available later, I'm going to kick myself!

Could someone help me clarify??

Many thanks!!

Halva (Confused) in Warrington

Another tip is when you use the NationalRail site, choose advanced search and click "use only trains with operator" London Midland. Or click "show overtaken trains" is another way of doing it.

This gives you the stopping trains rather than the speedy Virgin ones. They take 3 and a half hours or so but are much much cheaper, and you can always read a book

Livingthedream

Halva wrote: »

Thanks for that. Looks like I was too late to get the really cheap ones. They really do get snapped up quickly, even 8-9 weeks in advance!

Just had a quick look and there still some cheap £11 Advance singles available there and back;

Warrington BK to London Euston 19/2 14:21 £11 Advance single

London Euston to Warrington 21/2 20:25 £11 Advance single

The other advance tickets are more expensive not because they've sold out but because Virgin Trains has raised the lowest advance ticket tier of some of its more popular train times in the New Year.

Your Booking so much in advance you shouldn't need to split

Livingthedream

Cal_Culater wrote: »

Another tip is when you use the NationalRail site, choose advanced search and click "use only trains with operator" London Midland. Or click "show overtaken trains" is another way of doing it.

This gives you the stopping trains rather than the speedy Virgin ones. They take 3 and a half hours or so but are much much cheaper, and you can always read a book

As 'London Midland' don't serve Warrington Bank Quay, you would have to do this;
Warrington Bank Quay to Crewe 2x Day Singles £18.60
Crewe to London Euston 'London Midland Trains Only' Super Off Peak Return £22 or 2x Advance Singles £16
Total Return £40.60 Semi-flexible or £34.60 Restrictive Advance

Halva

Livingthedream wrote: »

Just had a quick look and there still some cheap £11 Advance singles available there and back;

Warrington BK to London Euston 19/2 14:21 £11 Advance single

London Euston to Warrington 21/2 20:25 £11 Advance single

The other advance tickets are more expensive not because they've sold out but because Virgin Trains has raised the lowest advance ticket tier of some of its more popular train times in the New Year.

Your Booking so much in advance you shouldn't need to split

That's useful to know about raising the tier. How mean! I was really looking forward to snapping up an £11 ticket Unfortunately, I need to be on those peak time trains. Still at £33.00 each way, it's not an awful price so mustn't grumble

moviemanlo

i think i got a bargain ticket just had to travel midland rail and change at northampton £15 instead of around £ 40 for a straight through train .

KeithP

moviemanlo wrote: »

i think i got a bargain ticket just had to travel midland rail and change at northampton £15 instead of around £ 40 for a straight through train .

Moviemanlo, welcome to the forums.

When are you travelling?
There is an even better deal if you are going between 27 Dec and 3 Jan inclusive.

See London Midland Trains Great Escape promotion.

amc1

how far in advance do the advance tickets come out ? (Looking for Warrington-London for 26/3, returning 28/3). Apologies if its already there somewhere in the thread.

rich_shot2003

amc1 wrote: »

how far in advance do the advance tickets come out ? (Looking for Warrington-London for 26/3, returning 28/3). Apologies if its already there somewhere in the thread.

Its about 12 weeks ahead.

dzug1

amc1 wrote: »

how far in advance do the advance tickets come out ? (Looking for Warrington-London for 26/3, returning 28/3). Apologies if its already there somewhere in the thread.

Virgin are out until 16 March

amc1

thx - how do you find that out ?