Booking Train tickets - Getting the best deal.. PITA?
Discussion
So I worked out that if I buy 2 separate tickets in advance it works out a bit cheaper.
£114 vs £76 and 14.60
Runcorn to Milton Keynes at 5:43am Advance
Milton Keynes to Hemel Hempstead Anytime valid All day.
Now try and book it from national rail enquires. It just crashes when I try and book them. Almost like they put a bug in the software to make you pay £114 instead of £90.60
In the End I book one in One Browser (Explorer) via Virgins website and the Other using Google Chrome via London Midland's Website
Strangely for my Return Journey it is cheaper to book as one ticket (with 2 changes)
£114 vs £76 and 14.60
Runcorn to Milton Keynes at 5:43am Advance
Milton Keynes to Hemel Hempstead Anytime valid All day.
Now try and book it from national rail enquires. It just crashes when I try and book them. Almost like they put a bug in the software to make you pay £114 instead of £90.60
In the End I book one in One Browser (Explorer) via Virgins website and the Other using Google Chrome via London Midland's Website
Strangely for my Return Journey it is cheaper to book as one ticket (with 2 changes)
The National Rail Enquiries website does not always give you all the information that is out there. I doubt that it is a malicious plot to make you pay extra, but more likely the usual problem of companies employing IT experts who need replacing with experts in IT.
The whole area of ticketing and pricing has become a minefield since privatisation, but there are usually three basic options:
Advance tickets - these are the cheapest but you have to specify the train you are going to use and the ticket isn't valid on any other train. You misses the train you loses your money.
Off peak tickets - normally only available for any train after 0930 and all day at weekends. Some restrictions also apply in the evening peak.
Anytime tickets - go when you like on whatever train you like. Best go to the bank to arrange a loan first, though...
The system is also full of anomalies. For example, I am not above going down to Weston Super Mare for lunch on a Saturday. An off peak return from my home station is £16.50, but I can knock a coupe of quid off that by buying a ticket to Yatton and another from Yatton to WSM. Just but one example.
When I recently wanted to go to Manchester, it was cheaper to buy a return to Bristol and then another from there to Manchester rather than booking a through ticket.
The trouble is, you only get to find out about these things when you start digging around yourself. There is a website (name forgotten but I wouldn't give it a plug even if I could remember it) that purports to find you the cheapest deal but I have found it to be as much use as a chocolate teapot. I have found better deals myself by doing the spadework on my home PC.
Happy investigating
The whole area of ticketing and pricing has become a minefield since privatisation, but there are usually three basic options:
Advance tickets - these are the cheapest but you have to specify the train you are going to use and the ticket isn't valid on any other train. You misses the train you loses your money.
Off peak tickets - normally only available for any train after 0930 and all day at weekends. Some restrictions also apply in the evening peak.
Anytime tickets - go when you like on whatever train you like. Best go to the bank to arrange a loan first, though...
The system is also full of anomalies. For example, I am not above going down to Weston Super Mare for lunch on a Saturday. An off peak return from my home station is £16.50, but I can knock a coupe of quid off that by buying a ticket to Yatton and another from Yatton to WSM. Just but one example.
When I recently wanted to go to Manchester, it was cheaper to buy a return to Bristol and then another from there to Manchester rather than booking a through ticket.
The trouble is, you only get to find out about these things when you start digging around yourself. There is a website (name forgotten but I wouldn't give it a plug even if I could remember it) that purports to find you the cheapest deal but I have found it to be as much use as a chocolate teapot. I have found better deals myself by doing the spadework on my home PC.
Happy investigating
I did a number of website comparisons, and quite frankly red spotted hanky and the train line, and others, don't give me anything different on price, and they all chuck you at the train operators website to actually pay your money.
Incidently, I'm travelling first class on my return trip, for the first time ever, because it was cheaper.
Now I have to work out what bus gets me the 3 miles from the station to my client. It's all Pubic transport isn't it.
Incidently, I'm travelling first class on my return trip, for the first time ever, because it was cheaper.
Now I have to work out what bus gets me the 3 miles from the station to my client. It's all Pubic transport isn't it.
DoctorX said:
Simpo Two said:
Bring back British Rail. Simpler, easier and probably, with all that crap stripped out, cheaper.
I used to just turn up a the station and buy a ticket. How simple life was back then...Hence why I bought a Friday Ticket from Coventry to Brum, met my fiancée in a pub next to new street station, got pissed, then waited until midnight, to get the train to Scotland (arriving at 7 am) in order to attend my Cousin's 18th birthday party. Thus saving enough for the beer we drank. DOH.
Well worth digging around for 'split ticket' options. I once saved £170 on one journey purely because I booked the trip as two seperate tickets instead of just buying the journey as one ticket:
Liverpool to Newton Abbot (changing at Stafford): £220
Liverpool to Stafford: £8.60
Stafford to Newton Abbot: £41.00
All on EXACTLY the same trains.
Liverpool to Newton Abbot (changing at Stafford): £220
Liverpool to Stafford: £8.60
Stafford to Newton Abbot: £41.00
All on EXACTLY the same trains.
rs1952 said:
Little more than a 45 to 50-minute walk 
So assuming the bus takes 10 mins, it's 35 mins longer which will cost me erm about £?? in lost turnover. This week it took me 3 hours and 25 mins to drive 200 miles on Monday Morning and 3 hours and 35 mins back this afternoon, whereas last week it took 4 hours 15 mins and 5 and half hours to do the same journeys, which is why I decided that every now and then I could use the train.
From leaving home it will take 3 hours and 20 mins including driving to station, parking, one change, and getting the bus the last bit, and on the way back will take exactly 4 hours including 2 changes.
essayer said:
To avoid embarrassment make sure that the train stops at the station you split at 
(Not necessarily the case when splitting with a season ticket)
How is it different with a season ticket?(Not necessarily the case when splitting with a season ticket)
http://splitticket.moneysavingexpert.com
Only single tickets however.
BlackST said:
That is Perfect - Just checked for the following week. £35.90 from RUGBY to Hemel (anytime ticket)£36 from Runcorn to Rugby (Advance Ticket) - the app came up with a more expensive £39 ticket but hey.
Total equals £71.90
Unfortunately the suggestion for the return journey is pants. £67 from Hemel to Hartford and £3 from Hartford to Runcorn, does not trump the first class advanced at £55
But another tool to aid in the challenge.
Next? Station Parking ! Runcorn. Anyone know a decent mechanic within walking distance of Runcorn station ? That way I could leave my car getting work done for the week, and get parking free.
BlackST said:
How is it different with a season ticket?
http://splitticket.moneysavingexpert.com
Only single tickets however.
If you have a season ticket or zonal ticket (Travelcard etc) you can buy an additional ticket and change from one ticket to another at any point both are valid and the train does not need to stop at that station (see NRCOC for details)http://splitticket.moneysavingexpert.com
Only single tickets however.
Well, my first train Journey in a couple of years, and it all went (almost) swimmingly.
Okay, I got to Runcorn far too early, and I complained half heartedly to a member of staff that they didn't even have a coffee machine (which at 5:15 am would be nice). And after a bit of banter, I sat down to read Sunday's paper, and 5 mins later, she brought me a paper cup with coffee in it. Free.
So my change at MK was about 6 mins, so when we stopped on the approach due to a broken down train on our section of track, I was able to watch my connecting London midland train pass us on the slow track, before we then changed lanes and followed it into MK station. When we got to the station my connecting train was pulling away, so I had a 30 minute wait. At Hemel, I didn't wait long for the bus, so ended up getting to the office 20 mins later than I expected.
Next week I will leave the house 15 mins later.
Okay, I got to Runcorn far too early, and I complained half heartedly to a member of staff that they didn't even have a coffee machine (which at 5:15 am would be nice). And after a bit of banter, I sat down to read Sunday's paper, and 5 mins later, she brought me a paper cup with coffee in it. Free.
So my change at MK was about 6 mins, so when we stopped on the approach due to a broken down train on our section of track, I was able to watch my connecting London midland train pass us on the slow track, before we then changed lanes and followed it into MK station. When we got to the station my connecting train was pulling away, so I had a 30 minute wait. At Hemel, I didn't wait long for the bus, so ended up getting to the office 20 mins later than I expected.
Next week I will leave the house 15 mins later.
Chrisgr31 said:
Runcorn has a cafe in the station building, presumably not open though when you got there. I only know as I happen to have visited Runcorn last week on business.
It opens at 6 am. The first train leaves at 5:43 am and had about 40 people getting on the Train to Euston. (They may have been getting off earlier) Just Booked tickets for next week.
On the way there, I that app helped me split my ticket more effectively, so I have an advance for £36 from Runcorn to Rugby, where I must change seats, but not change carriage, and an Anytime Single from Rugby to Hemel (changing at Milton Keynes) for £35.90 both booked on Virgin trains website
Which is a few quid cheaper.
It is weird how the fares work.
I was up in the highlands and wanted my girlfriend to join me for some skiing at Glencoe before we headed back down.
1st class York to Fort William was about £150 IIRC, but they only have first class sections as far as Edinburgh, the Edinburgh to Glasgow and Glasgow to Fort William legs would be in 2nd class.
1st class York to Edinburgh was £47, then 2nd class Edinburgh to Fort William was £16. Best part of £100 saved, she sat in the same seats, on the same trains, at the same times.
I was up in the highlands and wanted my girlfriend to join me for some skiing at Glencoe before we headed back down.
1st class York to Fort William was about £150 IIRC, but they only have first class sections as far as Edinburgh, the Edinburgh to Glasgow and Glasgow to Fort William legs would be in 2nd class.
1st class York to Edinburgh was £47, then 2nd class Edinburgh to Fort William was £16. Best part of £100 saved, she sat in the same seats, on the same trains, at the same times.
markmullen said:
It is weird how the fares work.
I was up in the highlands and wanted my girlfriend to join me for some skiing at Glencoe before we headed back down.
1st class York to Fort William was about £150 IIRC, but they only have first class sections as far as Edinburgh, the Edinburgh to Glasgow and Glasgow to Fort William legs would be in 2nd class.
1st class York to Edinburgh was £47, then 2nd class Edinburgh to Fort William was £16. Best part of £100 saved, she sat in the same seats, on the same trains, at the same times.
I haven't bothered to look into this example in detail, but this sort of thing often happens when two different train companies are involved. Presumably East Coast as far as Edinburgh and then somebody else onwards to Fort William?I was up in the highlands and wanted my girlfriend to join me for some skiing at Glencoe before we headed back down.
1st class York to Fort William was about £150 IIRC, but they only have first class sections as far as Edinburgh, the Edinburgh to Glasgow and Glasgow to Fort William legs would be in 2nd class.
1st class York to Edinburgh was £47, then 2nd class Edinburgh to Fort William was £16. Best part of £100 saved, she sat in the same seats, on the same trains, at the same times.
I have found examples where you can save large amounts of brass by booking separate tickets for each company's train.
Bristol Temple Meads to London Paddington, one way, £45 after peak.
Do that same journey but as first class - £165.
I cannot fathom how there's £120 of extra luxury. That's a lot of complimentary tea and biscuits!
Also, this is a very useful train split site: http://split.traintimes.org.uk/
Do that same journey but as first class - £165.
I cannot fathom how there's £120 of extra luxury. That's a lot of complimentary tea and biscuits!
Also, this is a very useful train split site: http://split.traintimes.org.uk/
Edited by devnull on Thursday 19th June 13:03
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