Train Fare bonkersness

[MarkF]

Each March I take my wife away for her birthday, we'd like to go to London but it's cheaper to go to Barcelona (again). The train is too expensive and the pricing structure just too much hassle for me. It's simpler, cheaper and takes about the same time to fly to BCN from Leeds.

 

[theclaud]

Each March I take my wife away for her birthday, we'd like to go to London but it's cheaper to go to Barcelona (again). The train is too expensive and the pricing structure just too much hassle for me. It's simpler, cheaper and takes about the same time to fly to BCN from Leeds.

And/or the flights are waaaaaaaaay too cheap.

 

[twentysix by twentyfive]

[QUOTE 2356284, member: 259"]Here's an example using the TicketySplit site and a test journey to Nottingham tomorrow morning in 2nd class - a journey I sometimes do.
Just by splitting your fare and buying two tickets instead of one you can very often save a lot of money, but the savings are often much bigger than in this example. It's daft, but it's worth doing.

Home
Info
Standard rate: £78.50

This is based on the specific journey:
Departs: 09:30 London St Pancras (Domestic)
Arrives: 11:25 Nottingham

Currently only for walk-on faresBooking in advance is usually cheaper...more​

You can split your journey and pay £54.10, saving £24.40
Split 1
From Start
London St Pancras (Domestic) 09:30
To Price
Bedford £20.90
Ticket type: OFF-PEAK DAY S
Split 2
From Start
Bedford 10:07
To Price
Nottingham £33.20
Ticket type: OFF-PEAK DAY S[/quote]
I'm planning a trip and by splitting the tickets I'm paying 50% less. £90 vs £180 is a no brainer

 

[SquareDaff]

It's the same nuttiness on my commute. Throw in a "mainline" station and the price soars. Outwood to Bentley return is £6.70 - Outwood to Doncaster(main) is £9.50. Now to cycle between Bentley and Doncaster (which I do - cos £15 per week is better in my pocket than theirs!!) takes about 5 mins and is 1.5 miles via road. Via track its probably an extra mile. You've just travelled in the region of 25 miles for £6.70 - why does that extra mile cost £2.80????

And to make it even more confusing - buying a separate "return" from Bentley to Doncaster only costs £1.20!!!!!!

 

[srw]

Whereas Guildford (either station) to London is £12 single at any time of the day or night, something like £23 day return at peak time and about £15 off-peak (I rarely do the return journey these days). Amersham to London is £6.70 single, or £3.70 off-peak.

Some train fares are extremely straightforward.