Winchester to Inverness/ Aberdeen

[wintonian]

Does anyone have any ideas where I could look for splits Winchester to Inverness/ Aberdeen on a disabled railcard; I’m interested in standard and 1st fares, SOR, SVR, FSR etc?

I really wouldn’t know where to start with a route of this length so any tips gratefully received.

 

[John @ home]

Does anyone have any ideas where I could look for splits Winchester to Inverness/ Aberdeen on a disabled railcard

Very long journeys like this are seldom suitable for splitting walk-on fares. The reason is that long-distance fares have a taper and, on a pence per mile basis, become cheaper after about 200 miles.

Few people make unplanned journeys of this length, so Advance fares tend to be more suitable. For First Class travel, the £335.95 Winchester - Inverness Railcard FOR is not competitive compared with First Class Advance singles at £55 - £97 available at two weeks' notice for every day except Fridays.

At walk-on prices with a Railcard, the £95.10 SSR Winchester - Inverness is valid on all sleepers and Virgin trains to and from Euston, and from Kings X Mon-Fri 0929-1457 and after 1858 Mon-Thu, 1814 Fri, on the return leg arriving Kings X after 1116. This is very good value compared with the £246.20 SOR valid via London.

The £232.20 Railcard FSR is available (Mon-Fri after 0929) only by the slower route via Banbury.

The position is similar for Winchester - Aberdeen.

 

[rail-britain]

As above
However, if you can book before 18:00 the previous day you should be able to save considerably
Personally, book before 15:00, as often the staff struggle in processing a ticket so near to 18:00 (hmm)

Therefore compare fares :
Winchester - Birmingham New Street
Birmingham New Street - Glasgow C
Glasgow QS - Aberdeen
or
Birmingham New Street - Edinburgh (this is an easier change for a disabled person, no need to get across Glasgow)
Edinburgh - Aberdeen

Finally, what sort of time are you looking at travelling, ie first available train from Winchester 07:30, between 08:00 and 10:00, or arriving into Aberdeen before 19:00, etc

 

[wintonian]

Having looked at the through fare I suspected tat the 1st class fares were going to out of the question with the £95.10 SSR look exceedingly good value in comparison, which looks like it’s valid XC Oxford, Birmingham etc. after 08:31.

I always like to go 1st on a long journey but didn’t particularly wish to be tied down on such a journey, though it looks like I may have to look at the advance fares if I did want to go 1st.

I would rather go via London and avoid XC on a journey of such length and use EC or maybe the sleeper- am I correct in thinking the supplement is £40?

Time wise it looks like the 11:00 or 12:00 (being direct) from Kings Cross, 1st train of the day would be ideal but we get into peak time fares then and for the price difference I don’t think I’ll bother, unless I go at the weekend.

 

[yorkie]

Having looked at the through fare I suspected tat the 1st class fares were going to out of the question with the £95.10 SSR look exceedingly good value in comparison, which looks like it’s valid XC Oxford, Birmingham etc. after 08:31.

The £95.10 +Any Permitted takes restriction 2V if going via BHM (I think this must be a mistake!) which means you can't leave until 0930 via BHM. (But you could get any train to London, and any train from Euston!)

If you want to go on CrossCountry's awful trains, you can pay £94.60 for a Route Banbury ticket, this is valid at any time from 0500.

I always like to go 1st on a long journey but didn’t particularly wish to be tied down on such a journey, though it looks like I may have to look at the advance fares if I did want to go 1st.

I would rather go via London and avoid XC on a journey of such length and use EC or maybe the sleeper- am I correct in thinking the supplement is £40?

I believe a berth supplement for a shared cabin is around £40, yes. For an individual cabin (Solo) it's around £57. I can't find current prices on their website.

Time wise it looks like the 11:00 or 12:00 (being direct) from Kings Cross, 1st train of the day would be ideal but we get into peak time fares then and for the price difference I don’t think I’ll bother, unless I go at the weekend.

You can use any train from Winchester to London to connect with services from London.

NETWORK AREA:
Off-Peak tickets for journeys
starting within the Network
Area to destinations outside
the Network Area with travel
via London are valid by any
train to London, to connect
with trains from London.

You can then use any train from Euston. The first train you can use from King's Cross is at 0930.

If you want to leave London very early but don't want to go via the WCML you could consider the 0804 GC service for £15 (book here) then the 1031 XC service to Edinburgh.

If going to Inverness, I'd recommend getting the Highland Chieftain 1200 from King's Cross, although at this time of year it will be dark in the Highlands. It's a great train to get during the Summer months though.

 

[route:oxford]

If going to Inverness, I'd recommend getting the Highland Chieftain 1200 from King's Cross, although at this time of year it will be dark in the Highlands. It's a great train to get during the Summer months though.

Would it not be less hassle to get the 'Chieftan from York?

08.31 Winchester to Oxford, arrive 09.34
(Same platform change with not unpleasant waiting room and facilities)
10.07 Oxford to York, arrive 13:46
(Usually same platform)
14.04 York to Inverness arrive 20:08

Alternatively, if you can cope with the Voyagers for a little bit longer, you can get the train an hour later, change at Wolverhampton and still pick up the 'Chieftan at Edinburgh

 

[wintonian]

The £95.10 +Any Permitted takes restriction 2V if going via BHM (I think this must be a mistake!) which means you can't leave until 0930 via BHM. (But you could get any train to London, and any train from Euston!).

Ok they must of changed that then as 2V in NFM98 is 08:31.

If you want to go on Cross Country's awful trains, you can pay £94.60 for a Route Banbury ticket, this is valid at any time from 0500.

Not if I am going any further then Oxford/ Banbury!

I believe a berth supplement for a shared cabin is around £40, yes. For an individual cabin (Solo) it's around £57. I can't find current prices on their website.

Just had a play with scotrail and it's £38 and £54

You can use any train from Winchester to London to connect with services from London.

NETWORK AREA:
Off-Peak tickets for journeys
starting within the Network
Area to destinations outside
the Network Area with travel
via London are valid by any
train to London, to connect
with trains from London.

You can then use any train from Euston. The first train you can use from King's Cross is at 0930.

It would be a right pain for long journeys if you couldn't.

If going to Inverness, I'd recommend getting the Highland Chieftain 1200 from King's Cross, although at this time of year it will be dark in the Highlands. It's a great train to get during the Summer months though.

That’s a good idea was thinking about a day train one way and the sleeper the other.

 

[yorkie]

Ok they must of changed that then as 2V in NFM98 is 08:31.

Oh yes, XC are far more draconian than Virgin ever was!

Not if I am going any further then Oxford/ Banbury!

The restriction code quoted is for a ticket to Scotland. The restriction codes do vary depending on destination. If you are asking me for Winchester to Oxford/Banbury, in both cases it is 0930.

It's also 0930 if going to Wolves (£42.70 after 0930; £81.20 before that) but go one stop further to Stafford and it's £44.55 from 0500. To Preston it's £60.65 from 0415. Going northeast from Brum, it's 0930 going to Tamworth (£41.60 after 0930; £78.55 before that) but go one stop further to Burton-on-Trent and it's £42.90 from 0500.

Therefore it can be cheaper to buy further and finish 'short'.

ATOC say that the ticket name Off Peak describes when you can use the ticket, making it " easier for you to buy the best value ticket for your journey" and that the name Off Peak simplifies the choice, "allowing you to choose your rail ticket with confidence" and also that "Ticket terms and conditions are now the same across all train companies nationwide, so you know exactly where you stand." and if you believe that, you'll also believe that the world is flat!

Just had a play with scotrail and it's £38 and £54

Ah good, it's not increased much, if at all, in about 5 years then!

It would be a right pain for long journeys if you couldn't.

True.

That’s a good idea was thinking about a day train one way and the sleeper the other.

Yeah. If you are able to return from Inverness on a Sunday, the Chieftain is at a good time (0940), you will get to London not too late (1814) and be able to upgrade to First Class for £25 (which I think is worth it for a journey of this length). It will be daylight throughout your trip until you get to the less interesting bits south of Darlington at least.

 

[wintonian]

The restriction code quoted is for a ticket to Scotland. The restriction codes do vary depending on destination. If you are asking me for Winchester to Oxford/Banbury, in both cases it is 0930.

Sorry I obviously made a bad quote and meant to shorten it to "If you want to go on Cross Country's awful trains"

Yeah. If you are able to return from Inverness on a Sunday, the Chieftain is at a good time (0940), you will get to London not too late (1814) and be able to upgrade to First Class for £25 (which I think is worth it for a journey of this length). It will be daylight throughout your trip until you get to the less interesting bits south of Darlington at least.

Sounds good

 

[yorkie]

Sorry I obviously made a bad quote and meant to shorten it to "If you want to go on Cross Country's awful trains"

Oh, I see, you mean you can't avoid XC if going to somewhere like Banbury or Oxford. Actually, you could, using SWT/FGW, but I accept that the journey time penalty would make that less attractive!

 

[wintonian]

Oh, I see, you mean you can't avoid XC if going to somewhere like Banbury or Oxford. Actually, you could, using SWT/FGW, but I accept that the journey time penalty would make that less attractive!

I realise you can and if going to Leamington Spa or Banbury you can go via London, but for that distance it's just easier to grin and bear it