FOAK: Cheap rail fares

From lurking a while, it appears that some people here know some stuff. So I
have a question. I need to get from London to Manchester by about midday on
Saturday (12:45 kick off you see). Can't be arsed to take the cage or bike,
so thought about a train. I have a lift back.

Cheapest fare according to www.nationalrail.co.uk is 61.40. And they want
people to use public transport... Is there anything I can do to get it
cheaper? Some sort of secret beardy trainspotter promotion? Sadly I'm not
old enough to qualify for any old-git discount.

I have ruled out flying as flying from Heathrow (nearish) is twice the price
of flying from Gatwick (farish). Coach takes too long and is shite (but
admittedly cheap).

 

You could try picking a station somewhere between the two and pricing
singles from London to there and there to Manchester.

 

should have booked it earlier. Ive got singles for £12 before now
--
Adie
(replace spam with nickname to reply)

UKRM FAQ: http://www.ukrm.net/faq/
keeper of the ukrm faq for my sins

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MRO#11 BOTAFOF#7 BOTAFOT#130 DIAABTCOD#17 MIB#24 YTC#16 BOB#15 ex-UKRMMA#22 BOMB#11

 

Try your local station first, I've given up using the web site to buy
tickets, you can never get the cheaper ones online.

My Mum was travelling up for Christmas here - Stevenage to York.
Cheapest online £40, in the station, £10.52.

 

<adds to the list>

still reckon I deserve a dfv.
--
Adie
(replace spam with nickname to reply)

UKRM FAQ: http://www.ukrm.net/faq/
keeper of the ukrm faq for my sins

YZF-R1 : ZX9R E1 : GPz 750 turbo

MRO#11 BOTAFOF#7 BOTAFOT#130 DIAABTCOD#17 MIB#24 YTC#16 BOB#15 ex-UKRMMA#22 BOMB#11

 

There are many things you deserve a dfv for...

 

marrying Bonwick's got to be near the top of the list.

 

Using the patented Mavis Beacon "Hunt&Peck" Technique, antonye

DFW, surely?

--
Wicked Uncle Nigel - "He's hopeless, but he's honest"

WS* GHPOTHUF#24 APOSTLE#14 DLC#1 COFF#20 BOTAFOT#150 HYPO#0(KoTL) IbW#41
SBS#39 OMF#6 Enfield 500 Curry House Racer "The Basmati Rice Burner",
Honda GL1000K2 (Fallen apart) Suzuki TS250 "The Africa Single"
Norton 850 Commando Kawasaki GTR1400

 

And I thought I was sailing close to the wind!

 

I'll just ignore this thread from now on.

Web fingered ****.

 

Your summary above is pretty much spot on for "I didn't book far enough
in advance".

If you check virgin trains website in advance of a journey then you can
get ridiculous prices if you hit lucky. Manchester to Euston return for
less than a fiver was the best I saw[1].

61.40 is probably the best you'll get. An open return (what you have to
buy if you have to go "on the day") is now well over ?200 for standard
class.

[1] that was at crap times, but even at semi-useful times it was less
than 20 quid

 

<thick>

I don't get it...

 

Or a return trip somewhere sunny with Ryanair/EasyJet.

 

Oh, right. I was (stupidly) expecting something funny. And in any
case, as women go, Adie's less dumb than average.

 

Using the patented Mavis Beacon "Hunt&Peck" Technique, Champ

I was shooting for "Wife", but I'm dead anyway, so it doesn't really
matter.

--
Wicked Uncle Nigel - "He's hopeless, but he's honest"

WS* GHPOTHUF#24 APOSTLE#14 DLC#1 COFF#20 BOTAFOT#150 HYPO#0(KoTL) IbW#41
SBS#39 OMF#6 Enfield 500 Curry House Racer "The Basmati Rice Burner",
Honda GL1000K2 (Fallen apart) Suzuki TS250 "The Africa Single"
Norton 850 Commando Kawasaki GTR1400

 

Though TBF she has made the odd questionable decision.

 

<grins>
--
Adie
(replace spam with nickname to reply)

UKRM FAQ: http://www.ukrm.net/faq/
keeper of the ukrm faq for my sins

YZF-R1 : ZX9R E1 : GPz 750 turbo

MRO#11 BOTAFOF#7 BOTAFOT#130 DIAABTCOD#17 MIB#24 YTC#16 BOB#15 ex-UKRMMA#22 BOMB#11

 

You think that's bad? I've got a meeting in York on Wednesday, so I just
booked a hotel for Tuesday night and checked out ticket prices.

£199 return. £297 first class, or £317 if I fancy a bite to eat as well.

Jesus Harold Christ. I think I'll be driving - the mileage claim will
work out about the same as the train ticket, and at least I get to
pocket that.