Cycling UK Forum

When I'm 62, I can have a bus pass and go everywhere by bus for free.

Tonyf33 wrote:

Ron wrote:Try this website http://www.redspottedhanky.com/

RSH are always more expensive than East coast(you get 5% discount from the quoted fares everywhere else it seems), however if you have Tesco clubcard you can use your points vouchers against the train fare cost on RSH.

RSH and ECML are quoting the same prices, but how does one qualify for the 5% discount? I don't have a T**** card.

From personal expereince East Coast have always been 5% cheaper automatically for me up until I last booked some tickets a month or two back, maybe its only certain routes then?
Tesco clubcard give you double the value of your vouchers at RSH

Tonyf33 wrote:From personal expereince East Coast have always been 5% cheaper automatically for me up until I last booked some tickets a month or two back, maybe its only certain routes then?

I think our experiences merely illustrate the chaotic nature of rail ticket pricing.

I know, it used to be the same price from Letchworth to Hull as it was from Stevenage (£11.55 each way) then earlier this year it became an extra £8.45 each way (for two stops) bumping it to £20 when it only costs £7.20 for two singles...mental!
I now cycle the extra 4 miles to Stevenage which is a bane as I can't seem to be able to cycle slowly and/or not get hot no matter what the weather..changing on the platform is laugh though

I regularly have to go from Nottingham to Bristol on business. An anytime return is £139. However, if i buy a return ticket to Cheltenham, then another from Cheltenham to Bristol, it's only £78. I don't even have to change trains at Cheltenham, so long as the train does actually stop at the station where your ticket changes over. The rail companies seem to charge more when travelling between major cities.

It's a complete mess, caused by an interaction of many different rules. Anything that involves the Birmingham-Bristol route is a particularly bad example of this, with a mess of regulated/unregulated and short/long distance fares and different train operators.

Big T wrote:I regularly have to go from Nottingham to Bristol on business. An anytime return is £139. However, if i buy a return ticket to Cheltenham, then another from Cheltenham to Bristol, it's only £78. I don't even have to change trains at Cheltenham, so long as the train does actually stop at the station where your ticket changes over. The rail companies seem to charge more when travelling between major cities.

Conversely, a lot of advance tickets aren't available to smaller intermediate stations, so it can be cheaper to go further. Your method for splitting tickets, splitting at a station where you don't have to change, is the best as there is no risk from delayed trains. If a ticket is split at a station where you're changing trains, you're making two separate journeys and the operator of the second train would not have the obligation to accommodate you on a later train if the first was delayed that they would if you had a through ticket. Also, it goes without saying, but if tickets are being split both tickets have to be valid for the train(s) you're using

Adam S wrote:Conversely, a lot of advance tickets aren't available to smaller intermediate stations, so it can be cheaper to go further.

As long as you do go further. Stopping short on an advance ticket is generally not permitted and the remedy is to make you buy a full fare ticket for the entire journey it being impossible to complete your journey on the train for which you had the ticket as it would have left. If its a regular ticket you are entitled to stop and continue (or not) your journey as often as you like within the validity period and route of the ticket, but not with most Advance tickets.

Big T wrote:I regularly have to go from Nottingham to Bristol on business. An anytime return is £139. However, if i buy a return ticket to Cheltenham, then another from Cheltenham to Bristol, it's only £78. I don't even have to change trains at Cheltenham, so long as the train does actually stop at the station where your ticket changes over. The rail companies seem to charge more when travelling between major cities.

I suppose that is the big difference between being able to book advance off(ish) peak journeys and a non advance peak time ticket, generally I find travel between major cities much less than stopping somewhere along the same line/route with the advance booking.
One lady on the East coast line I met had travelled from London to Leeds direct without a change for less (though not by much) than I travelled from Stevenage to Hull with one change.

I was intrigued though, Nottingham to Bristol direct is £51 return booked 2-3 weeks in advance and somewhat off peak leaving 8:30 and departing Bristol at 6:30pm, doing the Cheltenham route in advance as two return journeys is only £25.50 booked..a massive difference like for like..crazy!

TonyR wrote:

Adam S wrote:Conversely, a lot of advance tickets aren't available to smaller intermediate stations, so it can be cheaper to go further.

As long as you do go further. Stopping short on an advance ticket is generally not permitted and the remedy is to make you buy a full fare ticket for the entire journey it being impossible to complete your journey on the train for which you had the ticket as it would have left. If its a regular ticket you are entitled to stop and continue (or not) your journey as often as you like within the validity period and route of the ticket, but not with most Advance tickets.

Thanks, forgot to add that bit - don't go travelling short (boarding at a later station or departing at an earlier station) on an Advance ticket. A few Off-Peak and many Super Off-Peak tickets have restrictions on this too. Sometimes it is still cheaper (for a journey A-B) to buy an Advance ticket from A-C, then travel back on a separate ticket from C-B. Also, sometimes people have a choice of nearby stations so it's worth comparing prices at each

I found a good deal last night. avoiding Birmingham New St and Bristol. ......Stockport to Reading £22.00 Reading to Penzance £55.00 with only a short stopover in Reading. All in all it's been a good paper exercise. I'm still waiting for a reply from Cross Country, perhaps I shouldn't hold my breath. I have got the link that was sent to me so if I don't hear anything by weekend I'll sent the query again.

Malc

Stockport-Birmingham, Birmingham-Penzance is cheaper at £48.50.

It's best to buy 12 weeks in advance - http://www.nationalrail.co.uk/times_fares/ticket_types/44703.aspx

It is a game, but like gordy said there's some fantastic bargains to be had if you don't mind playing it. It's also worth experimenting with the times when you split tickets, on the way back from Oban earlier this year 3 hours in Glasgow saved us £40 each, had a decent meal and a ride along the Clyde and still quids in.
Just one thing to be aware of when splitting tickets, If you miss a connection because of a delayed train you can claim a refund on the late one, but they have no obligation to change your reservation for the onward journey. So I always leave more time to change than I would with a single ticket.

trieste wrote:Stockport-Birmingham, Birmingham-Penzance is cheaper at £48.50.

It's best to buy 12 weeks in advance - http://www.nationalrail.co.uk/times_fares/ticket_types/44703.aspx

Just tried it on the link and the cheapest I could get was £140.00

Stockport to Birmingham £10.00
Birmingham to Penzance £130.00 +