Sad but true. It is a national disgraceNothing to add beyond train travel is an absolute flucking joke.
Age wise I'm target demo for this place, possibly even a bit on the young side (obvs my phenomenal hair helps) and I find it nearly impossible to buy tickets in advance, at a reasonable price.
I'll get quoted £200.
After about X minutes,get that down to £96.47.
Think bargain.
Only to then remember the journey will be about £50 in petrol.
A national disgrace.
I use splitmyfare.co.uk. It seems to do the job and is very transparent. It shows you exactly what it’s going to do before you buy, even trusting you don’t go away and buy the split tickets yourself and take all the savings. They take a small (and publicised) cut of the savings.Cheers. Which split ticket sites would you recommend?
I use splitmyfare.co.uk. It seems to do the job and is very transparent. It shows you exactly what it’s going to do before you buy, even trusting you don’t go away and buy the split tickets yourself and take all the savings. They take a small (and publicised) cut of the savings.
There are a couple of things to watch out for. Firstly you end up with a fistful of tickets that can confuse the living daylights out of you but that’s manageable with a modicum of common sense. Secondly, if one of the split legs is delayed or cancelled you can only claim back on that leg, not the whole journey.
I’ve seen claims that splitting means that if you miss an advance fare on a later leg because an earlier one is delayed, you have to buy a new ticket for a later train, but I’ve also seen that theory debunked.
The journeys are often longer (for example, they’ll sometimes take you Marylebone to Birmingham Moor Street rather than Euston to Birmingham New Street), but if you’re not time-dependent that doesn’t matter (and for rail-geeks the trip through the Chilterns is far more rewarding).
Thanks. That does seem to solve the issue of doing everything in one hit, but the saving doesn't seem to be anywhere near as much as doing it with separate railcards.Yes , with 3 or more , Groupsave is the way to go
Nothing to add beyond train travel is an absolute flucking joke.
Age wise I'm target demo for this place, possibly even a bit on the young side (obvs my phenomenal hair helps) and I find it nearly impossible to buy tickets in advance, at a reasonable price.
I'll get quoted £200.
After about X minutes,get that down to £96.47.
Think bargain.
Only to then remember the journey will be about £50 in petrol.
A national disgrace.
Train drivers on 200k and a 2/3 final salary pension init...In the 90's I used to travel by train to Edinburgh. In 1995, engrained in my mind, was the Super Apex return fare at £27 Edinburgh to/from London. Available 365, you just had to book a few weeks ahead. A good service, no slower than today.
In real terms that's just £53.
Something's gone horribly wrong. It's not train operator profits, they're minute compared to total rail industry cash flows.
Only one person here might know why .... @jackalbion.
Just paid less than £60 (£111 for 2) for a return flight to EdinburghIn the 90's I used to travel by train to Edinburgh. In 1995, engrained in my mind, was the Super Apex return fare at £27 Edinburgh to/from London. Available 365, you just had to book a few weeks ahead. A good service, no slower than today.
In real terms that's just £53.
Something's gone horribly wrong. It's not train operator profits, they're minute compared to total rail industry cash flows.
Only one person here might know why .... @jackalbion.
Don't think we're drawing Hibs or HeartsJust paid less than £60 for a return flight to Edinburgh
Viable option for the Newcastle game though……Don't think we're drawing Hibs or Hearts
When I have looked at advance train fares, they seem as cheap now as then. I remember going to Birmingham in the late 80s for £16 on my YPR. A few years back I booked an advance for the same price.In the 90's I used to travel by train to Edinburgh. In 1995, engrained in my mind, was the Super Apex return fare at £27 Edinburgh to/from London. Available 365, you just had to book a few weeks ahead. A good service, no slower than today.
In real terms that's just £53.
Something's gone horribly wrong. It's not train operator profits, they're minute compared to total rail industry cash flows.
Only one person here might know why .... @jackalbion.
When I have looked at advance train fares, they seem as cheap now as then. I remember going to Birmingham in the late 80s for £16 on my YPR. A few years back I booked an advance for the same price.
I think with the internet it is easier to get cheaper fares too.
But generally, with routine fares, the issue has been the reducing government subsidies. You are right about train companies, the profits aren't huge. Those who want a return to the days of British Rail are forgetting that it wasn't any cheaper really and the service was poorer.
I think the railways should, in principle, be in public hands. But I never felt bad about being a shareholder in Go Ahead or indeed NEX. Electricity and water is another matter.
But, yeah, I think it's reduced government subsidies that have meant things are tougher.
Well, quite. I don't like the Sussex trains much. The back breaking seats drive me to the car. And those cavernous trains that give me anxiety attacks.Above all else, I want one operator. It’s ludicrous that trains from Sussex to London are run by four companies or brands. What is the actual point? It’s not created a marketplace where they strive and do beat the competition on price and service. Instead ticket buying in England and Wales can be complex, including a raft of ticket types and prices.
From Darlington, I can catch trains operated by Northern, LNER and TransPennine.Above all else, I want one operator. It’s ludicrous that trains from Sussex to London are run by four companies or brands. What is the actual point? It’s not created a marketplace where they strive and do beat the competition on price and service. Instead ticket buying in England and Wales can be complex, including a raft of ticket types and prices.