Train Fare, did he mean per person??

redmel1621

Hi

I have a query and I'm hoping someone on here might be able to help me.
I have not long come off the phone to National Rail Enquiries. I was asking for advice regarding a journey from Chester to Brighton: prices, journey time etc...anyway I came off the phone with that many figures written down I have gotten myself confused.
He advised me to get a Family railcard as this would save me a lot on such a long journey.

Some of the figures he gave me were...on a return saver (which I could buy at the station) for the 4 of us would cost £239.60 but with the railcard this would be £137.60, all well and good I am ok up to here..
He then said if I could book in advance I could save even more but only for a single journey so would have to book 2 journey's??(I am not sure about this part, does this sound right). He went on to say it would cost £37.50 or with the railcard £21.30 by doing this advance booking. It is this part I am most confused with....does he mean it will cost that much per person or it will cost that much for the 4 of us but each way???

I would phone back but don't want to appear thick!!!

Hope you can help

Mel x

Edinburghlass_2

Use one of the rail booking websites, you don't need to continue on with the booking and input your journey there but yes 2 singles are often cheaper than a return. You'll find a couple of websites in Martin's article here and there is a drop down menu where you tick which rail card type you have.

http://www.moneysavingexpert.com/travel/cheap-train-tickets#cheap

redmel1621

Edinburghlass wrote: »

Use one of the rail booking websites, you don't need to continue on with the booking and input your journey there but yes 2 singles are often cheaper than a return. You'll find a couple of websites in Martin's article here and there is a drop down menu where you tick which rail card type you have.

http://www.moneysavingexpert.com/travel/cheap-train-tickets#cheap

But do you think the prices were right?? 2ad 2ch Chester to Brighton for £21.30...it seems awfully cheap, so I'm not sure if he meant per person. If he did mean per person then it is quite dear!!!!

Mel x

SweetPea73

can I just say that £21 .20 per person sounds right , also check about 1st class, sometimes its just as cheap to travel in 1st , and you often get complimentry drinks and snacks

Edinburghlass_2

Doing a very rough check via Trainline, not necessarily the cheapest, I get it to £119 for all 4 with a Family Rail card next week for 2 single journeys.

Doing it the same way return its £134 (a saving of £35 for two single journeys) so he has split it down per person, as far as I remember from my days of having a rail card I think the kids go for something like £2 per journey but this was some time ago. I'd say he has worked it out per person.

Edinburghlass_2

What I did notice is your journey has several changes so your cheapest way would be ticket splitting which means you buy each leg separately but this takes some working out, have a look at this thread here..

http://forums.moneysavingexpert.com/showthread.html?p=11677601#post11677601

and the bit from Martin's article here...

http://www.moneysavingexpert.com/travel/cheap-train-tickets#t2

No-one ever said money saving is easy but it may well be worth it

redmel1621

Thanks for your replies...He did make it sound as though splitting the journey to two ways and booking in advance would make it a lot cheaper, but £21.20 each is £80.80 each way so making it £161.60 which is dearer than the buying it on the day at the station which he quoted me £137.60....

Thanks for all your replies guys but I'm still as confused as before. I will phone them back tomorrow!!

Mel x