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Advanced cheaper UK train tickets
Topic Started: Dec 27 2008, 11:24 AM (395 Views)
Beatlesluver
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I was wondering if anyone knew the best time and way to get cheaper train tickets. I try First Great Western and Trainline.co.uk but I want to get to Glasgow in early March and wondered if anyone knew the best way to get Virgin Train deals....I'm asking as I know there are at least 2 train drivers on this board. :)
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Mark Stephen Baker
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Well I have very little to do with tickets nowadays but I do read the colomn in Rail magazine by a chap called Barry Doe he seems to be about the biggest expert of rail tickets in the country. He advises to use the train opperators individual web sites for ticket purchase. Also be careful with companies like the trainline advertising cheaper tickets than from ticket offices, they are often the same disconts for advance tickets you can get over the counter without paying a comition. What's the journey you hope to undertake?
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Beatlesluver
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Thanks Mark I want to go from Bristol to Glasgow on Thursday March 5th. Its really expensive at the moment on Virgin Trains, any ideas when or where best to get them.
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DCBeatle64
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keep waiting. Normally a month or 2 months prior work quite well for me.
I'm a BIGGER Beatles fan than you and I'm an even BIGGER Wings fan than that...
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ohnotjimagain
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Daniella, Do you know that Virgin no longer run cross country and through trains from Bristol to Glasgow have ceased? You will have to change at Birmingham New Street. Cross Country's now run by Arriva.

The cheapest tickets normally go on sale 12 weeks in advance and go quickly.
With every mistake we must surely be learning.
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JeffLynnesBeard
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Good info, Jim & Dani.

The trouble with train drivers is that we don't deal with tickets and we get reduced rate travel, so we hardly ever have to look for ticketing bargains. People who work in ticket offices are a lot more knowledgable than us, although I can only speak for myself because I know Mark used to do booking office duties whereas I didn't.

There's a website/forum called http://www.railchat.co.uk and a sub-forum called 'Passengers Chat'. Lots of people in there share their money-saving ticket ideas and there are also links to different websites dedicated to getting the best possible deals.

I think you have to register to view the board, but there is plenty of interesting stuff on there. :)
...and in the end, the love you take is equal to the love you make.
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Mark Stephen Baker
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I was once a ticket man but sadly much has changed in the short time since I moved to driving. Jim is refering to Appex tickets that used to be the cheapest and 'officially' released for sale twelve weeks in advance but all tickets have been rebranded since then and I've no idea of the new name. Jim is also spot on with Cross Country's change of opperator which has resulted in a sad reduction in the variety of services they offer. In fact Jim really seems to know his stuff, ever think of getting into ticket office work Jim lad?
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JeffLynnesBeard
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I think your local rail company would probably snap you up, Jim!
...and in the end, the love you take is equal to the love you make.
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Mark Stephen Baker
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JeffLynnesBeard
Dec 28 2008, 08:21 AM
I think your local rail company would probably snap you up, Jim!
Who's his local TOC?
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JeffLynnesBeard
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Your lovely company, I believe.
...and in the end, the love you take is equal to the love you make.
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Mark Stephen Baker
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JeffLynnesBeard
Dec 28 2008, 08:24 AM
Your lovely company, I believe.
Oh year, now I wonder what his closest station could be?
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JeffLynnesBeard
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I think he could, if he wanted, be working in Woking.
...and in the end, the love you take is equal to the love you make.
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Mark Stephen Baker
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JeffLynnesBeard
Dec 28 2008, 09:48 AM
I think he could, if he wanted, be working in Woking.
There's a station in Woking!!!!!!!!!! :o
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Beatlesluver
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Thanks everyone....I will look into booking a ticket next month then. :clap:
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ohnotjimagain
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Thanks for your kind compliments Andy and Mark. As an enthusiast I tend to read Railway magazines and learn a lot from them. As for fares, is there anyone who really understands them? From what I've read in Barry Doe's column, which Mark mentioned, at certain times of the day if one wants to go to London it's actually cheaper to book to a station 20 miles beyond London!

As for Daniella's query. Assuming you are returning on the following Sunday the cheapest I could find was £138. :cry:Maybe it's too early for bargain tickets. Oh and their is one through train a day from Bristol to Glasgow. Only problem is that it goes via York, East Coast and Edinburgh! Takes 8 hours.
With every mistake we must surely be learning.
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DCBeatle64
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well when I recently had to get a train down from Stirling to London (to see Paul) I got it the day before. On the national rail website it was gonna cost me £55 however when I went to one of the train companies websites it ended up costing me £30 (bare in mind I have a young persons card so its a tad cheaper anyway) but yeah u have to time it well to get the cheap deals
I'm a BIGGER Beatles fan than you and I'm an even BIGGER Wings fan than that...
'You're a Paul McCartney fan? No you're a Wings fan'. 'Thankyou Scotland' Ho Hey Ho...
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Mark Stephen Baker
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I've been to Sheffield and Machynellth by train this year and it didn't cost me anything if that's any help?
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DCBeatle64
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I've got it Daniella. All you need to do is get a job in the trains, then you are sorted :rofl:
I'm a BIGGER Beatles fan than you and I'm an even BIGGER Wings fan than that...
'You're a Paul McCartney fan? No you're a Wings fan'. 'Thankyou Scotland' Ho Hey Ho...
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maccascruff
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I know this doesn't help, but I found it was cheaper for me to fly from London to Edinburgh last summer. Way cheaper by booking in advance. I think I paid 39 pounds.
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Mark Stephen Baker
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NOOOOOOOOOOO! Don't fly! :o :nono:
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