Cheap Train Fares (not)

[G3CWI]

All the the websites offer cheap fares up to 70% off - but as far as I can see they all offer exactly the same fares. I was looking to do some day trips with the bike using the train but it looks rather expensive and there appears to be no real competition. Are there any bargains to be had?

 

[Dangermouse]

If you book weeks in advance or hours before you are due to leave, that's the best time...........if you feel lucky, try a couple of hours before travelling, the rail companies would rather have a tenner off you for a £70 ticket rather than leave it empty

 

[vernon]

All the the websites offer cheap fares up to 70% off - but as far as I can see they all offer exactly the same fares. I was looking to do some day trips with the bike using the train but it looks rather expensive and there appears to be no real competition. Are there any bargains to be had?

Yes. I'm doing a FNRttC from London. I got my Leeds to London and London to Leeds rail tickets for a fiver each. I routinely buy them at £13 each - a fiver is exceptional. Most journeys have variable discounts depending on how far in advance you order.

 

[DefBref]

http://www.nationalrail.co.uk/times_fares/ticket_types/44703.aspx

Above link is constantly updated and useful for checking when you can book tickets early and get the biggest discount. No good if you aren't planning far ahead tho.

 

[G3CWI]

Most journeys have variable discounts depending on how far in advance you order.

Long journeys - yes, there are bargains. I am not so sure that this applies to shorter journeys though. Macclesfield to Chester return is £18 - which is more than the cost of the petrol to drive there (I know that's not the only cost of driving).

On that route the price is the same however far in advance I look.

 

[vernon]

Long journeys - yes, there are bargains. I am not so sure that this applies to shorter journeys though. Macclesfield to Chester return is £18 - which is more than the cost of the petrol to drive there (I know that's not the only cost of driving).

On that route the price is the same however far in advance I look.

It's a whopping twenty pence more than the cost of a single ticket. How much more of a discount do you want?

 

[G3CWI]

It's a whopping twenty pence more than the cost of a single ticket. How much more of a discount do you want?

More, much more.

 

[vernon]

Just drive and stop whining.

 

[alans]

IIRC my fare from Crewe to Inverness was £16.
Considering the distance I reckon that was excellent VFM

ETA: & a fare from Penzance to Derby would have been a similar amount

 

[ColinJ]

It is often cheaper to split your journeys into several 'legs' with separate tickets. As an example - I have saved over £20 by buying Hebden Bridge to Leeds, Leeds to Derby, Derby to Coventry, rather than Hebden Bridge to Coventry. I caught the same trains that I would have done with the more expensive single ticket.

There isn't a lot of help to work out the best combinations. I just check them manually on the National Rail website.

 

[Flying Dodo]

It is often cheaper to split your journeys into several 'legs' with separate tickets. As an example - I have saved over £20 by buying Hebden Bridge to Leeds, Leeds to Derby, Derby to Coventry, rather than Hebden Bridge to Coventry. I caught the same trains that I would have done with the more expensive single ticket.

There isn't a lot of help to work out the best combinations. I just check them manually on the National Rail website.

On the MoneySavingExpert.com website, try out their "TicketySplit" tool.

 

[vernon]

Although why anyone should have to play such stupid games is another matter.

SImple - the complexity of the simplified fare structure, vagaries of the individual train companies, and route permutations make the programming of a foolproof, best value universal on-line ticketing system impossible to implement within an acceptable budget and timeframe.

Tickety Split has its limitations - it can only cope with splitting a journey into two parts.

 

[ColinJ]

On the MoneySavingExpert.com website, try out their "TicketySplit" tool.

That's a help, but as Vernon pointed out - it doesn't do multiple splits, which are sometimes the best bet.

Talking about complexity of ticketing ... I had to tell the train manager (or whatever they call the onboard ticket-selling person these days!) about a Lancashire Day Rover ticket which would save me money. He didn't know about it and neither did his machine. He had to consult a huge book which he kept in his compartment at the end of the train!

 

[vernon]

[QUOTE="vernon, post: 2981059, member: 858- the complexity of the simplified fare structure, vagaries of the individual train companies, and route permutations make the programming of a foolproof, best value universal on-line ticketing system impossible to implement within an acceptable budget and timeframe..

A simple price per km no good?[/QUOTE]

That would only work if each train operating company used it....

As it is each company leases locomotives and rolling stock from one of three ROSCOS, rolling stock operating companies, each with its own scale of charges.

Now if there was one unified company owning locomotives and rolling stock and operating rail services while allowing cross subsidies between loss making and profit making services, there might be mileage in your proposal.

 

[Mad Doug Biker]

Long journeys - yes, there are bargains. I am not so sure that this applies to shorter journeys though. Macclesfield to Chester return is £18 - which is more than the cost of the petrol to drive there (I know that's not the only cost of driving).

On that route the price is the same however far in advance I look.

Without any price splitting, I can go Glasgow to London/vice versa single for that!* (I do have a Disabled card though. It would be £27 otherwise**)

* - I used to be able to get it for £12 if I travelled on the last Virgin train of the day, getting to Euston at about 1am (it left Glasgow at 17.35 though, so it was a rather convenient service to get at the end of a day providing you had accomodation/other plans nearby once in London).

** - The £18 and £27 I am referring to here is on the (quite frankly hideous) Seated Sleeper, although I have no doubt the prices also apply to other services too, so a jump from the aforementioned £12 in the previous footnote to 18 isn't too bad considering fare rises, inflation, etc etc. £6 - Big deal!