Railway web sites

[Cush]

I fancy going down to the Outdoor exhibition in London in January (both for the walking show and cycling show) but dont want to drive, so I tried to get a cheap train fare from Carlisle and what a faff it has turned out to be. I tried several train ticket sites, put in that I wanted a "day return" ticket and all I get is the price for singles in both directions. It may be me but I have found the sites difficult to work and there is no cheap fares even with a senior railcard. Sorry there was one fare that meant a single on one train that suited me from Carlisle but the cheapest fare from London meant leaving Euston at 06:00 the next morning and I dont want to spend night in a London station.
The coach site was a lot easier to work and I was able to get both times and fares, still dearer than I want to pay but I can manage that. Only thing is I have to leave Carlisle at 00:45 and catch 23:00 back, dont mind that either but it is going to be a long trip without much sleep and a three mile walk home at 04:00 the next morning.
I must admit I prefer the train but not at those prices.

 

[sheddy]

Can't help with specifics but you might want to go to http://www.seat61.com and look at the UK page

 

[snorri]

or try http://www.redspottedhanky.com/

First thing to do before buying rail tickets is to throw logic out of the window!

It can be cheaper to buy two singles rather than a return ticket. Sometimes it is cheaper to buy two tickest for one journey on a through train, eg tickets from Carlisle to Birmingham and Birmingham to London may well be cheaper than a Carlisle London ticket.. You would not need to get off the train at Birmingham, just make sure you are on a through train.

 

[Cush]

Just spent another frustrating hour checking tables etc Yes I can get two singles or a return for almost the same price as a bus ticket (£35.80) but I have to leave carlisle at 01:40 and I dont get back till 05:30 the next day!!

 

[Leedsbusdriver]

It might be cheaper to fly.For example from Edinburgh or Leeds Bradford airport.
Just a thought though.

 

[Flying Dodo]

For the train, it's probably the case that all the cheap seats have already been sold, as they're generally released 12 weeks in advance. So the only options left are either the expensive normal priced tickets, or unsuitable departure times.

 

[Miquel In De Rain]

Bloody railways been crap since Nationalization.

 

[subaqua]

Bloody railways always been crap for booking tickets as we have companies still forced to use archaic systems and have "members" resistant to change for the better .

FTFY.

 

[Miquel In De Rain]

FTFY.

I work for them pal.

 

[subaqua]

so you understand then

 

[Miquel In De Rain]

so you understand then

Well I've worked on the railways for 30+ years so I understand how they work a bit and the problems faced.

 

[grolyat]

Wow, that's expensive. I've done a quick trawl using eastcoast.co.uk and haven't found the cheap fares from Carlisle that I expected. Weekend prices are still high ten or eleven weeks ahead, in March.

The Off Peak Return - for any trains on Saturday or Sunday is £107.40. You can save a bit by restricting yourself to specific trains with a £43 single to London and a £33 return (Sunday £43). I can get you there more cheaply by splitting the journey at Crewe and switching to a London Midland train - but that'll mean a journey time of half a day instead of three and a half hours.

If you can spare the time, I'd go for the coach.

PS: As a user of the West Coast main line over several decades, I have to say that the British Rail service on that line was appalling. Virgin are a million times better/faster/cleaner/politer(?) etc.

Aieee - edit... you have a senior rail card.

So - Off Peak return is £71 (any weekend trains)
Saturday singles: out £29, return £22 (specific trains)

Or you could do first class advance singles for £47 each way! Free food and booze!

Edit again: A first class advanced single from Carlisle to London Bridge station is cheaper (£35) and includes a London Travelcard for zone one. The logic of that defeats me completely.

 

[Cush]

Got the price down to £35.80, if I leave on the 01:40 and return on the 23:50 (gets in around 05:30) or for another £10.80 I can come back on the 18:30 and get home before midnight. Seeing as the only thing I got for Christmas was the bills SWMBO has offered to pay for the trip, temptation is to get 1st class on the 05:40 and the night sleeper back but I know who will be paying for that!. I am also tempted to take the bike down, if I can find a suitable route over London but I will open a second posting on that.

 

[Miquel In De Rain]

Good luck.

 

[grolyat]

Got the price down to £35.80, if I leave on the 01:40 and return on the 23:50 (gets in around 05:30) or for another £10.80 I can come back on the 18:30 and get home before midnight. Seeing as the only thing I got for Christmas was the bills SWMBO has offered to pay for the trip, temptation is to get 1st class on the 05:40 and the night sleeper back but I know who will be paying for that!. I am also tempted to take the bike down, if I can find a suitable route over London but I will open a second posting on that.

Have you thought about using the Boris bikes? It's easy and only £1 for the day.