Train ticket prices make no sense

[Cush]

Train to Kirby Stephen from Carlisle @ 10:55 £9 single @ 11:55 £3 single (with pensioner card). My pet argument the prices on the railways I haven't had our potential MP come to the door so I can give him / her an ear bashing.

 

[Brandane]

I keep reading about the cheapest fares being released 6 weeks in advance. I might take myself down to Cornwall in late May, so checked the fares from Ayrshire on 20th May, going for 1 week. Off peak return £270, anytime return £440 .
Outrageous, insane pricing. I flew to Orlando and back in January, from Glasgow via London with British Airways, for less than that.
I quite enjoy travelling by train, but at those prices they can FRO..

 

[neil_merseyside]

Use brfares.com to give you the prices of the various tickets, cheapest prices on the bottom just like supermarket shelves, then use your rail website of choice (but redspottedhanky if you have tesco points) from around the 10-11 week mark to virtually guarantee the best advanced fares, the advanced fares seem to be available until midnight on the full day before journey date, but only if any are still left! I book at around 10 weeks to get a bike reservation for an essential to my tour train journey, but I will chance a few days for just a seat, I have done last minute bike tours really late (within weather forecast window of a week), but only for stuff that didn't matter.

 

[Pale Rider]

Book with Southern

http://www.southernrailway.com/offers/money-back-guarantee

As long as you get the right ticket type, and don't collect it, you can get your money back.

Used this to book 2 trains back from a France ferry. As the stupid thing stayed docked but didn't open the doors for 20 minutes I was glad to have the alternative ticket on a separate booking. Online refund really simple.

A good tip, not least because it gives me the chance to have another moan.

Why buy a Sunderland ticket from Southern Railways?

If I want Tesco own-label jam, I wouldn't expect to have go to Sainsbury's to get it.

 

[ufkacbln]

Another added bonus of the car is that you don't have to worry that someone has taken your luggage (accidentally or otherwise) every time you stop.

In reality theft from cars is more common then teft from trains (or airlines)

 

[snorri]

A good tip, not least because it gives me the chance to have another moan.
Why buy a Sunderland ticket from Southern Railways?
If I want Tesco own-label jam, I wouldn't expect to have go to Sainsbury's to get it.

OTOH, if you are too lazy to do a little research to find the cheapest price for a product, don't come moaning to me if you have paid through the nose for a rail ticket, or a hotel booking, or a bicycle, or a jar of jam.

 

[vernon]

I keep reading about the cheapest fares being released 6 weeks in advance. I might take myself down to Cornwall in late May, so checked the fares from Ayrshire on 20th May, going for 1 week. Off peak return £270, anytime return £440 .
Outrageous, insane pricing. I flew to Orlando and back in January, from Glasgow via London with British Airways, for less than that.
I quite enjoy travelling by train, but at those prices they can FRO..

The cheapest fares are released twelve weeks in advance and you can get to Penzance from Ayr early-July for around £67 one way if you split the journey at Carlisle, and Birmingham that is buy three tickets; Ayr to Carlisle, Carlisle to Birmingham and Birmingham to Penzance.

Timing is everything.

 

[vernon]

A good tip, not least because it gives me the chance to have another moan.

Why buy a Sunderland ticket from Southern Railways?

If I want Tesco own-label jam, I wouldn't expect to have go to Sainsbury's to get it.

Wrong analogy. The product is the same - the delivery vehicles are different leading to 'Why buy your Kelloggs cornflakes from Waitrose when you can buy them for much less at Netto?

 

[Arrowfoot]

If companies told their staff

The cheapest fares are released twelve weeks in advance and you can get to Penzance from Ayr early-July for around £67 one way if you split the journey at Carlisle, and Birmingham that is buy three tickets; Ayr to Carlisle, Carlisle to Birmingham and Birmingham to Penzance.

Timing is everything.

Is there some kind of software or a website that works out these affordable combinations?

 

[vernon]

If companies told their staff


Is there some kind of software or a website that works out these affordable combinations?

Some ticket staff do tip you the wink.

There is a web site but its cheapest fare for Ayr to Penzance was £40 more than the one that came up with using intuition and knowledge of 'break points' gleaned from extensive train use. The web site can only cope with one split.

http://www.moneysavingexpert.com/split-cheap-train-tickets/results/5528c63fd085e6.83015038

 

[Arrowfoot]

Some ticket staff do tip you the wink.

There is a web site but its cheapest fare for Ayr to Penzance was £40 more than the one that came up with using intuition and knowledge of 'break points' gleaned from extensive train use. The web site can only cope with one split.

http://www.moneysavingexpert.com/split-cheap-train-tickets/results/5528c63fd085e6.83015038

Thanks, much appreciated.

 

[Brandane]

Timing is everything.

Having the patience to search for such fares is another thing! And then there's the required knowledge of where to break the journey. It shouldn't have to be like that.
Sod it; it's still cheaper and easier to drive .

 

[vernon]

Having the patience to search for such fares is another thing! And then there's the required knowledge of where to break the journey. It shouldn't have to be like that.
Sod it; it's still cheaper and easier to drive .

Not to Cornwall it isn't.

 

[Brandane]

Not to Cornwall it isn't.

Not far off it! 600 miles one way = 15 gallons (40 mpg quite easily) of unleaded @ £5 = £75.
That's assuming I'm staying at Penzance train station. There would obviously be onward fares to my accommodation if travelling by train, whereas the car takes me to the door.

 

[vernon]

Not far off it! 600 miles one way = 15 gallons (40 mpg quite easily) of unleaded @ £5 = £75.
That's assuming I'm staying at Penzance train station. There would obviously be onward fares to my accommodation if travelling by train, whereas the car takes me to the door.

Driving to Cornwall is a chore and not a pleasure it's a challenging drive from Leeds never mind Ayr.