MoneySavingExpert.com Cheap Train Tickets Article Discussion

MylesBetter

I have travelled to London on the Wrexham and Shropshire and two 1st class singles bought in advance were only £35 each way. That works out £10 cheaper than the standard fare qouted above in this thread of £80.

W&S is a really good service. Their is also a Travelodge right next to Marylebone Railway Station.

dzug1

21Twinkle wrote: »

No they don't - if I simply use the route that *any of them* try to get me to use - it costs me £60 more than my cheapest option - of buying two separate tickets for each journey.....

That's not the point being made - they all sell the same tickets at the same price for the same journey. Only thetrainline (and raileasy and one or two others juming on the bandwagon) charge a fee as well. And only the train companies occasionally give an extra discount as well.

Split ticketting is an entirely separate issue. Your split tickets will be cheaper from a TOC than thetrainline and maybe cheaper still from the TOC who runs the service(s) you are travelling on

Lou1202

I did the whole split ticket thing a couple of years ago when travelling to St. Ives from Liverpool, sadly it seems they've got onto it as each time I try to split, it just comes up more expensive A shame because I got a £268 journey for £114, and this year we're going over Christmas so it would have greatly helped!!

Livingthedream

Lou1202 wrote: »

A shame because I got a £268 journey for £114, and this year we're going over Christmas so it would have greatly helped!!

Perhaps one of us on the forum could help, give us a few more details ie numbers, preferred dates (Xmas not out yet only up till 19th Dec)

but to start; Look for the advance singles, if there no good then Birmingham New St, Newport (S Wales) or London are a good place to split and if you travelling with Kids get a family railcard (use Promo Code pizza25 for 25% of a Year railcard).

Lou1202

Livingthedream wrote: »

Perhaps one of us on the forum could help, give us a few more details ie numbers, preferred dates (Xmas not out yet only up till 19th Dec)

but to start; Look for the advance singles, if there no good then Birmingham New St, Newport (S Wales) or London are a good place to split and if you travelling with Kids get a family railcard (use Promo Code pizza25 for 25% of a Year railcard).

Sadly we have no kids, and don't qualify for any type of railcard.

We hope to travel on 23rd December and return on the 27th, going from Liverpool Lime Street to St. Erth in Cornwall.

Last time, I split at Birmingham New Street and Taunton (or Plymouth, can't remember). I've tried that this year, plus at other ones along the route to no avail. I plan on trying again in a couple of weeks, but otherwise I may be paying £268.80.

Thanks for your advice and help

dzug1

Lou1202 wrote: »

Sadly we have no kids, and don't qualify for any type of railcard.

We hope to travel on 23rd December and return on the 27th, going from Liverpool Lime Street to St. Erth in Cornwall.

Last time, I split at Birmingham New Street and Taunton (or Plymouth, can't remember). I've tried that this year, plus at other ones along the route to no avail. I plan on trying again in a couple of weeks, but otherwise I may be paying £268.80.

Thanks for your advice and help

There is absolutely no point whatsoever in booking until the cheap tickets are released. It won't gain you a thing - not even reserved seats which aren't available for too early bookings. And you may find that the train you have 'booked' on doesn't exist.

If you are paying full fare you might as well wait anyway - it will be the same fare on the day.

BeenieCat

Hi I'm clueless about train tickets so wonder if someone can help.

On Fri 17th Dec I want to go from Darlington to Edinburgh Haymarket, with no changes as i will be on my own with the baby/pushchair/bags and a 7 year old. We are returning the next day.

When are cheap tickets released? Cheapest return fare i can find for 1 adult + 1 child is £100, I was hoping to do much better than that.

I know my sister paid about £16 a few years ago, the Northern Echo had a promo but don't seem to at the moment.

Livingthedream

BeenieCat wrote: »

Hi I'm clueless about train tickets so wonder if someone can help.

On Fri 17th Dec I want to go from Darlington to Edinburgh Haymarket, with no changes as i will be on my own with the baby/pushchair/bags and a 7 year old. We are returning the next day.

When are cheap tickets released? Cheapest return fare i can find for 1 adult + 1 child is £100, I was hoping to do much better than that.

I know my sister paid about £16 a few years ago, the Northern Echo had a promo but don't seem to at the moment.

Just had a look on the East Coast website and you can get;
Darlington to Edinburgh Haymarket Dec 17th 08:05 £12 advance single (Direct No change)
Edinburgh Haymarket to Darlington Dec 18th 10:48 £15.35 advance single (Direct No changes)

Total Return for the both of you £27.35, there is other times/prices available.

You could reduce this further by getting a family railcard, but you'll only benefit if you use it again.

Lou1202

dzug1 wrote: »

There is absolutely no point whatsoever in booking until the cheap tickets are released. It won't gain you a thing - not even reserved seats which aren't available for too early bookings. And you may find that the train you have 'booked' on doesn't exist.

If you are paying full fare you might as well wait anyway - it will be the same fare on the day.

Thank you Yes, I'm going to try again in a couple of weeks or so, and see what happens.

leanneee

ScotRail Saisbury's offer
Does anyone know if you buy a return ticket if you have to go on the outward journey for the return ticket to be valid? For example if I choose an Aberdeen to Edinburgh return leaving on the 28th November and returning on the 27th December can I just make the return journey without having to go to Edinburgh?