Cheap Train Fares guide discussion

T8RSP wrote: »

Hi everyone!

I really fancy going to watch my beloved Bath City away at Darlington in 2 Saturday's time. I won't be able to get the time off work for when they are away to them in the league (Grand National Day when I work in a bookies... it's easier to get a meerkat to say simples in a zoo then get the day off that day!) so this extra Trophy game will give me the chance to go to their rather impressive ground.

I have to go up and back in a day, so know it's going to be a long day for 2 hours, hopefully it will be worth it.

I have checked already so I have done my research.

It's a shade over £65 for two singles

That's a bad deal for Advance singles that are non-refundable and to change the times incurs a £10 admin fee per leg!

A walk-on Off Peak Return (routed Not London) without splitting is £75.55. I'd always pay a small percentage extra for total flexibility.

This ticket is valid on any train after 5am Mondays-Fridays and, importantly for you, on literally ANY train on weekends. Return within 1 month.

T8RSP wrote: »

I am tempted to try this split ticket idea, but don't know if it will be worth my while.

Can anyone beat my price?!

I need to be there by 2pm really which will give me an hour to find the ground and an leaving at 6pm which will give me an hour to find my way back to the train station from the ground! I failed History at school you see.....oh, I see my mistake now! I should have taken the geograpy exam! D'oh!

Any help or ideas would be fantastic!

TIA! :beer:

Yes, if you want Advance fares you can try going via, and splitting at, Manchester. From Manchester to Durham use the TPE website and select the Student 50% off promo.

If you want walk-on Off Peak Day (CDR) fares, then the places to split (via Derby) are: Cheltenham, Birmingham, Derby, Sheffield and York. I am unsure if this would be cheaper but you can look 'em up and check. I know that for journeys like York-Bristol it is certainly cheaper to split, but when you extend it, the savings can get less (this is because the through SVR fare increases at a lower rate when you get beyond really long distances of over, say, 200 miles or so).

BTH - CNM 8.20
CNM - BHM 13.55
BHM - DBY 9.05
DBY - SHF 5.80
SHF - YRK 11.35
YRK - DAR 11.55
TOTAL = £59.50

All above are Off Peak Day Rtn (CDR) fares. Return same day, valid any train on Saturdays. The train must call at the station where you change from one ticket to the next (ie, you cant go via Manchester). All trains if you go via Derby call at these stations as they are all major stations.

Broadstone wrote: »

Thank goodness for the continued incompetence from our rail companies !!

Due to the adverse weather, I (and my family) was forced to use our poor railway system to visit family over Xmas and New Year rather than go via car.

We got six sets of rail tickets for our outward and return journeys. None of these tickets were stamped, clipped or collected from us by any rail inspector. I now intend to claim that these tickets have never been used and to reclaim a refund accordingly. I did exactly the same last year without any probs.

I'm also hopeful that I will be given train vouchers as compensation with regards the poor quality of one of our rail carriages.

This means that my overall rail costs will be very small and will be slightly cheaper than by travelling by car; although car will always be my preferance due to it's convenience and comfort compared with trains.

I just hope the rail companies keep up with their incompetence in the event that I need to use them again.:rotfl::):rotfl:

And people wonder why ticket prices go up when there are other travellers out there who are willingly going out of their way to defraud the TOCs.

There is - but

Not many people fancy it!

£29 for the return - but it means leaving at 6:30am and returning at midnight probably!

The Football Club's Supporters Club run the coach travel, they are prepared to make a £200 loss which means they need about 32 to travel on a 49/53 seater coach.

There is the option of a mini-coach/minibus. But as 2 drivers are needed, the 19 seater becomes an 18 seater.

There is about 26 people interested in the trip, which means so far it's only viable for two thirds of people who have said they want to go, and they are doing it based on whoever has gone on the most trips so far this season. I've done 8 out of 15 when I know many others have done more, so unless 7 or so people decide "Darlo in mid Jan is a must for me" it's not going to happen and I will need to go via other means!!!

I am not a student Yorkie2 so I can't do the student deal and I would normally book a lot sooner, but the trip was confirmed a few days before Christmas and I assumed enough people would want to go by coach to allow me to go!

You know what assuming does...

Thanks for all your help!

I think I may pay the extra £10 and get a off peak return. Maybe splitting it, but I know what I'm like - I'll start playing cards with all my train tickets and either lose one or keep it up my sleeve!

Has anyone any idea while fares from Glasgow to Inverness have apparently doubled in 6 months??

I went with my daughter using a Family and Friends Railcard in June last year and I was really pleased that it only cost £19 for the 2 of us return. I am now trying to book the same journey for 12 weeks time, going on the same days of the week and at the same time, and the cost it is giving is £40! At first I thought that it was not taking account of the Railcard, but in fact without that it would cost £70. The bus would cost the same .

Would appreciate any help as this wold make it too expensive for me to visit my friends as planned

geordie_taxi wrote: »

i was one of those freezing cold passengers stuck at a station for over an hour because of some rubbish railway excuse. thats why i have no problem in sticking in compo claims when something goes wrong

Well, depending on the tickets held, and the company policy, the irony is that pretending you didn't travel and asking for a refund on that basis may get you less compensation than if you told the truth and said you did travel and being compensated for the extent of the delay. It would depend on various circumstances though.