Southwick to Loughborough?

[tanyalbeck]

A friend moved to Loughborough a few months ago and has invited us to stay the weekend of the 14th-15th August for 2 nights (we can leave or return anytime from friday to monday... the preference is to leave early saturday and return monday)

What's the quickest route to take? Budget is a major issue too... but we want as much time with them as possible!

It will be for one adult, a 6 year old and a 4 year old.

please give me some ideas... it's all quite confusing! my current railcard (network card?) is worn out and the dates are unreadable so I cant use it (I didnt keep the receipt... even though I know it expires Sept 12 I'm not able to use it!) but I am willing to get another one if it make a big difference. I dont usually travel with children.

Thanks for your help!
Tanya

 

[bangor-toad]

A friend moved to Loughborough a few months ago and has invited us to stay the weekend of the 14th-15th August for 2 nights (we can leave or return anytime from friday to monday... the preference is to leave early saturday and return monday)

What's the quickest route to take? Budget is a major issue too... but we want as much time with them as possible!

It will be for one adult, a 6 year old and a 4 year old.

please give me some ideas... it's all quite confusing! my current railcard (network card?) is worn out and the dates are unreadable so I cant use it (I didnt keep the receipt... even though I know it expires Sept 12 I'm not able to use it!) but I am willing to get another one if it make a big difference. I dont usually travel with children.

Thanks for your help!
Tanya

Hi there,
Ah, similar to my old trips from Portslade to Loughborough...

Firstly get a Friends and Family railcard. That gives both you and the 6 year old discounts. (The 4 year old travels free). The total disocunted price is less than what you'd pay alone.

As for the tickets, there are reasonably priced ones out there. There's a Southwick / Brighton / St Pancras / Loughborough ticket on Friday evening available at 6.38pm (arr 10.37pm) for GBP20.80.
If that's too late for the children you'll need to go much earlier in the afternoon - there are very few, if any, discounted seats on the MML to Loughborough or anywhere else on Friday afternoons or in the evening peak.

Coming back on the Monday there are a range of tickets and times from GBP13 upwards.

Cheers,
Jason

 

[sonic2009]

Super Off Peak Rtn with no railcard 1 adult and 1 child, 4 year old is free Southwick - Loughborough

£105.75 valid anytime Saturday and After 1042 Monday Morning

Super Off Peak Rtn with Family + Friends Railcard Southwick - Loughborough

£59.95 with Price Of Railcard £26 valid for one year £85.95

Advances are available if you want to be tied to a specfic train

 

[yorkie]

The £59.95 tickets are broken down as follows:-

SSR - SUPER OFFPEAK R EMT
00000 - +ANY PERMITTED

1 Adult @£ 46.55 = £ 46.55
1 Child @£ 13.40 = £ 13.40

Both with FAMILY & FRIENDS RCD

I would consider purchasing a ticket for the 4 year old, at an additional £13.40, if you want them to have a seat and not sit on your lap for the journey.

You can get a railcard half price at http://www.familyandfriends-railcard.co.uk/dailymailcard by entering the promotional code MAIL50 Note this may end at midnight unfortunately, but worth a try...

Alternatively if you can use the Network Railcard (not sure if you can still use it in the circumstances you describe, it may be possible for it to be re-issued, for example I know you can get this done with Season tickets for, I believe, no charge)


Southwick - Bedford Stns (with network railcard) SVR (Any train after 0900 M-F)
1 Adult @ £28.30
1 Child @ £8.15
TOTAL £36.45


Bedford Stns - Lougborough (undiscounted) SVR (Any train after 0900 M-F)
1 Adult @ £25.90
1 Child @ £12.95
Total £38.85

Grand total £75.30

 

[mallard]

I would consider purchasing a ticket for the 4 year old, at an additional £13.40, if you want them to have a seat and not sit on your lap for the journey.

Note, that if a seat is available (i.e. the train is not full), the 4 year old may occupy a seat even without a ticket. It is not possible to reserve a seat for them and it must be given up if required by a fare-paying passenger. See clause I.A.5 of the NRCoC.

 

[yorkie]

true, but it's a risk you take, the train i'm on now is totally wedged and almost completely reserved, for example

 

[tanyalbeck]

thanks everyone! looks like I need to get myself a railcard... sadly the discount code no longer works!!
Thanks for all the advice...
Tanya
--- old post above --- --- new post below ---
also Jason... where do you look up the routes/ prices? I couldn't find the ones you quoted on the trainline or nationalrail website. Thanks!
I can't beleive it's so expensive.... i've never travelled that far by train before!
tanya

 

[sonic2009]

try southern website for those prices.

also your prices may have changed, as the quota for advance fares may have been booked up.