Outrageous rail ticket prices - What has happened?
Discussion
It looks like I’ll finally be getting out and about a bit more for work, after a solid 12 months of working from home.
I usually try to leave my car at home and use trains where possible, and certainly for when I am in our London office.
Haven’t even looked at rail prices for a year (with the exception of a buying a handful of local journey tickets) I just started browsing a few example journeys on The Trainline, and I’m in shock at the prices and timetables.
A return journey that would always normally cost me £80 is showing as £260 and only one train per day, the rest of the trains are showing as ‘not available to buy’, another regular journey of mine that is usually about £25 is £100.
These are Avanti/west coast mainline journeys.
I’m really hoping this is some temporary Covid madness.
Can anyone shed any light?
I usually try to leave my car at home and use trains where possible, and certainly for when I am in our London office.
Haven’t even looked at rail prices for a year (with the exception of a buying a handful of local journey tickets) I just started browsing a few example journeys on The Trainline, and I’m in shock at the prices and timetables.
A return journey that would always normally cost me £80 is showing as £260 and only one train per day, the rest of the trains are showing as ‘not available to buy’, another regular journey of mine that is usually about £25 is £100.
These are Avanti/west coast mainline journeys.
I’m really hoping this is some temporary Covid madness.
Can anyone shed any light?
Lord Marylebone said:
It looks like I’ll finally be getting out and about a bit more for work, after a solid 12 months of working from home.
I usually try to leave my car at home and use trains where possible, and certainly for when I am in our London office.
Haven’t even looked at rail prices for a year (with the exception of a buying a handful of local journey tickets) I just started browsing a few example journeys on The Trainline, and I’m in shock at the prices and timetables.
A return journey that would always normally cost me £80 is showing as £260 and only one train per day, the rest of the trains are showing as ‘not available to buy’, another regular journey of mine that is usually about £25 is £100.
These are Avanti/west coast mainline journeys.
I’m really hoping this is some temporary Covid madness.
Can anyone shed any light?
https://www.thetrainline.com/I usually try to leave my car at home and use trains where possible, and certainly for when I am in our London office.
Haven’t even looked at rail prices for a year (with the exception of a buying a handful of local journey tickets) I just started browsing a few example journeys on The Trainline, and I’m in shock at the prices and timetables.
A return journey that would always normally cost me £80 is showing as £260 and only one train per day, the rest of the trains are showing as ‘not available to buy’, another regular journey of mine that is usually about £25 is £100.
These are Avanti/west coast mainline journeys.
I’m really hoping this is some temporary Covid madness.
Can anyone shed any light?
Trainline. Book 6 weeks or more in advance.
Otherwise drive. This is PH.
I'd recommend this place for getting the cheapest prices, though your train would need to have at least one intermediate stop between origin and destination.
https://www.splitticketing.com/
https://www.splitticketing.com/
Lord Marylebone said:
It looks like I’ll finally be getting out and about a bit more for work, after a solid 12 months of working from home.
I usually try to leave my car at home and use trains where possible, and certainly for when I am in our London office.
Haven’t even looked at rail prices for a year (with the exception of a buying a handful of local journey tickets) I just started browsing a few example journeys on The Trainline, and I’m in shock at the prices and timetables.
A return journey that would always normally cost me £80 is showing as £260 and only one train per day, the rest of the trains are showing as ‘not available to buy’, another regular journey of mine that is usually about £25 is £100.
These are Avanti/west coast mainline journeys.
I’m really hoping this is some temporary Covid madness.
Can anyone shed any light?
I thought the Trainline was always the most expensive? Can't you book Avanti direct?I usually try to leave my car at home and use trains where possible, and certainly for when I am in our London office.
Haven’t even looked at rail prices for a year (with the exception of a buying a handful of local journey tickets) I just started browsing a few example journeys on The Trainline, and I’m in shock at the prices and timetables.
A return journey that would always normally cost me £80 is showing as £260 and only one train per day, the rest of the trains are showing as ‘not available to buy’, another regular journey of mine that is usually about £25 is £100.
These are Avanti/west coast mainline journeys.
I’m really hoping this is some temporary Covid madness.
Can anyone shed any light?
Trainline charge commission on the tickets they sell. You can buy tickets for any rail journey from any of the train companies, or use www.nationalrail.co.uk
Chrisgr31 said:
Trainline charge commission on the tickets they sell. You can buy tickets for any rail journey from any of the train companies, or use www.nationalrail.co.uk
I do have the National Rail app but find it a bit primitive and clunky. Good for live train times though.I’ve used Trainline for years because it’s always been a slick app, easy to use, and gives you instant e-tickets. Never had an issue until now, and their prices have always been the same as National Rail.
For whatever reason, Trainline seems to have righted itself in the last 24 hours and correct pricing and times have reappeared.
I do acknowledge that Trainline have upset a lot of people with their customer service over the years.
If anyone is interested, I just did a comparison identical journeys/times:
Trainline: £131.30
National Rail: £131.30
Rail Easy: £127.13
Train Pal: £126.40
Trainsplit: £127.14
Lord Marylebone said:
I do have the National Rail app but find it a bit primitive and clunky. Good for live train times though.
I’ve used Trainline for years because it’s always been a slick app, easy to use, and gives you instant e-tickets. Never had an issue until now, and their prices have always been the same as National Rail.
For whatever reason, Trainline seems to have righted itself in the last 24 hours and correct pricing and times have reappeared.
I do acknowledge that Trainline have upset a lot of people with their customer service over the years.
If anyone is interested, I just did a comparison identical journeys/times:
Trainline: £131.30
National Rail: £131.30
Rail Easy: £127.13
Train Pal: £126.40
Trainsplit: £127.14
I just buy from the TOC, it's usually the cheapest. Why go to other parties?I’ve used Trainline for years because it’s always been a slick app, easy to use, and gives you instant e-tickets. Never had an issue until now, and their prices have always been the same as National Rail.
For whatever reason, Trainline seems to have righted itself in the last 24 hours and correct pricing and times have reappeared.
I do acknowledge that Trainline have upset a lot of people with their customer service over the years.
If anyone is interested, I just did a comparison identical journeys/times:
Trainline: £131.30
National Rail: £131.30
Rail Easy: £127.13
Train Pal: £126.40
Trainsplit: £127.14
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