Glasgow - Preston for 4 Adults

[Train Pilchard]

4 adults (no railcards) travelling from Glasgow - Preston and back on the same day (25 April), off peak day return is £33 per person.

I've tried a few sites and different combos but can't seem to get it cheaper by splitting anywhere and can't seem to get any 4 person groupsaver discounts.

Is there anything that can be done or is it simply going to be £33 each?

We need to be in Preston by the latest 1pm and need to leave Preston at the earliest 7pm if this will make any difference.

Thanks for any tips.

 

[me123]

You won't get a split there AFAIK. Actually, I'd say that that's a pretty good deal! I've taken advantage of the really good CDRs down that way a number of times, and I think it's really good value.

You can get a discount on any Advance fares for your journey with Virgin Group-e (10% off advance fares for all bar 2 passengers), presumably only if you book on their site. However, there don't seem to be any Advance tickets for your journey that would make it any cheaper, so the £33 each is going to be your best option, and allows you a good bit more flexibility.

 

[Train Pilchard]

That's what I thought, £33 is not bad and being able to get a cheap day return is good seen as you can;t do that on some shorter journeys with Scotrail like Glasgow-Dundee (I know about splitting at Perth).

By the way what is CDR?

 

[bb21]

By the way what is CDR?

Ticket code for Off Peak Day Return

 

[All Line Rover]

I know the timings can be a bit awkward, but have you tried Megatrain?

Currently, tickets are available for the 25th April on the 04:28 Glasgow to Preston (arriving 06:56) for just £3 per person, so only £12 in total!

On the return, again it's just £12 for 4 people on the 21:41 Preston to Glasgow (arriving 00:09).

If you don't mind taking these trains, that's just £24 return. A significant saving compared to £132!

If 04:28 is too early, you can also take the 10:40 (arriving Preston 12:58) for £28. If the 21:41 is too late to return, the 18:30 (arriving Glasgow 20:38) is also available for £28. So that'd be £56 return - still significantly cheaper than £132.

I would also point out that all of the trains mentioned are Pendolinos!

Website is here: http://uk.megabus.com/Default.aspx.

 

[Train Pilchard]

Last question then, if I buy these online it asks me to specify what train I'm on, I assume this will then allow me to make seat reservations for these trains. But in theory the tickets are valid on any train?

EDIT - this question relates to the cheap day returns, I'll go investigate megatrain just now.
--- old post above --- --- new post below ---

I know the timings can be a bit awkward, but have you tried Megatrain?

Currently, tickets are available for the 25th April on the 04:28 Glasgow to Preston (arriving 06:56) for just £3 per person, so only £12 in total!

On the return, again it's just £12 for 4 people on the 21:41 Preston to Glasgow (arriving 00:09).

If you don't mind taking these trains, that's just £24 return. A significant saving compared to £132!

If 04:28 is too early, you can also take the 10:40 (arriving Preston 12:58) for £28. If the 21:41 is too late to return, the 18:30 (arriving Glasgow 20:38) is also available for £28. So that'd be £56 return - still significantly cheaper than £132.

I would also point out that all of the trains mentioned are Pendolinos!

Website is here: http://uk.megabus.com/Default.aspx.

Nice one, I didnt even know Megatrain had arrived in Glasgow yet, am I right in thinking basically 1 carriage of a pendo is for Megatrain customers?

Also do these come with specific seat reservations? I'm now up to the payment part of the website and I haven't been given any reservation choices. I want a table for the 4 of us.

 

[dzug2]

Last question then, if I buy these online it asks me to specify what train I'm on, I assume this will then allow me to make seat reservations for these trains. But in theory the tickets are valid on any train?

EDIT - this question relates to the cheap day returns, I'll go investigate megatrain just now.
--- old post above --- --- new post below ---


Nice one, I didnt even know Megatrain had arrived in Glasgow yet, am I right in thinking basically 1 carriage of a pendo is for Megatrain customers?

Also do these come with specific seat reservations? I'm now up to the payment part of the website and I haven't been given any reservation choices. I want a table for the 4 of us.

No seat reservations with megatrain - and not sure if there's a coach set aside or if it's free for all - I suspect the latter

 

[All Line Rover]

Last question then, if I buy these online it asks me to specify what train I'm on, I assume this will then allow me to make seat reservations for these trains. But in theory the tickets are valid on any train?

EDIT - this question relates to the cheap day returns, I'll go investigate megatrain just now.
--- old post above --- --- new post below ---


Nice one, I didnt even know Megatrain had arrived in Glasgow yet, am I right in thinking basically 1 carriage of a pendo is for Megatrain customers?

Also do these come with specific seat reservations? I'm now up to the payment part of the website and I haven't been given any reservation choices. I want a table for the 4 of us.

There are no seat reservations. There is no specific "Megatrain" coach with Virgin Trains - you can sit in any coach you like, such as the quiet coach. You don't need to worry at all about getting a seat! The trains which have Megatrain tickets are very quiet. The one I travelled on (the 20:10 Glasgow to Crewe) had just 30 people maximum, and after Preston, about 5 people were left, plus the Train Manager and driver! All the other staff left at Preston!

 

[route101]

There are no seat reservations. There is no specific "Megatrain" coach with Virgin Trains - you can sit in any coach you like, such as the quiet coach. You don't need to worry at all about getting a seat! The trains which have Megatrain tickets are very quiet. The one I travelled on (the 20:10 Glasgow to Crewe) had just 30 people maximum, and after Preston, about 5 people were left, plus the Train Manager and driver! All the other staff left at Preston!

Yeah no seat reservations and cheap ticket thats great .
--- old post above --- --- new post below ---

You won't get a split there AFAIK. Actually, I'd say that that's a pretty good deal! I've taken advantage of the really good CDRs down that way a number of times, and I think it's really good value.

You can get a discount on any Advance fares for your journey with Virgin Group-e (10% off advance fares for all bar 2 passengers), presumably only if you book on their site. However, there don't seem to be any Advance tickets for your journey that would make it any cheaper, so the £33 each is going to be your best option, and allows you a good bit more flexibility.

Yeah with a railcard its good ! Good for a day out to Liverpool or Manchester.

 

[Dewedin]

For Manchester I believe it can be beneficial to split at Chorley instead.

 

[Train Pilchard]

Cheers for the help folks, saved a tidy packet by going with Megatrain simply a case of printng off the booking confirmation with the bookking numbers on it and show it to the TE yeah?

 

[bb21]

Cheers for the help folks, saved a tidy packet by going with Megatrain simply a case of printng off the booking confirmation with the bookking numbers on it and show it to the TE yeah?

Yes. It should start with one/two digits, then a four-digit security code, followed by the information of the train service.

 

[All Line Rover]

Cheers for the help folks, saved a tidy packet by going with Megatrain simply a case of printng off the booking confirmation with the bookking numbers on it and show it to the TE yeah?

You don't have to print it off - all you need is the booking confirmation number (on a sticky note, mobile phone, etc.). I always print the e-mail off just to be safe, though!