Milton Keynes > Walthamstow central

[Howardh]

Day return off-peak; I've put this journey into a booking engine and it's come up with £14.90 "Super off-peak Day Travelcard". How does this work, do I buy it from the station (MK) on the day as a physical ticket, can I buy it in advance as a mobile ticket; and if so how does that work on the tube?

I'm minded to book it through Northern and collect from my local station (Bolton) but that means buying it before I travel to Milton Keynes. Thanks!

 

[James H]

it won’t be available as an E-ticket as London stations mostly don’t have bar code readers.

 

[Howardh]

it won’t be available as an E-ticket as London stations mostly don’t have bar code readers.

Thanks, I feared that may be the case. Are there ATM's that will give me this ticket at Milton Keynes (should the office be closed)?

 

[Haywain]

Are there ATM's that will give me this ticket at Milton Keynes (should the office be closed)?

Yes, there are.

 

[CyrusWuff]

For the sake of completeness, the Ticket Office at Bolton should also be able to sell you the ticket (and provide a receipt if you need one.)

I say should, as I doubt they sell many, so it may take them a while to find it!

 

[Howardh]

For the sake of completeness, the Ticket Office at Bolton should also be able to sell you the ticket (and provide a receipt if you need one.)

I say should, as I doubt they sell many, so it may take them a while to find it!

I'll try that!
What's the difference between a super off-peak TC and an ordinary off-peak one?

 

[jfollows]

I'll try that!
What's the difference between a super off-peak TC and an ordinary off-peak one?

Valid on LNWR only, versus any train, see https://www.brfares.com/!expert?orig=MKC&dest=WHC&rlc=SRN&period=20230703 with restriction code MK for time validity.
(I assumed a type of railcard to give the right fare you quoted above.)

Outward Travel​
Not valid on trains timed to arrive at London Euston after 04:29 and before 13:00.

The link will give all the possible tickets for your journey, with their restrictions. If you know which trains you will use, then your booking engine will give you valid options for those trains.

£19.05 for an off-peak travelcard valid on all trains, restriction LW

Outward Travel​
Not valid on trains timed to arrive at London Terminals or Kensington Olympia after 04:29 and before 10:00.

There are restrictions on return travel times which I have not quoted here.

 

[gnolife]

Valid on LNWR only, versus any train, see https://www.brfares.com/!expert?orig=MKC&dest=WHC&rlc=SRN&period=20230703 with restriction code MK for time validity.

Although this restriction only apply to the zone 6 boundary (Hatch End) - you can take any train within zones 1-6 after that (except Heathrow Express and Southeastern services from St Pancras)

 

[Mcr Warrior]

Obviously, you also need to have a valid, in date, accompanying railcard to avail yourself of the £14.90 discounted fare.

 

[Bletchleyite]

This is the most commonly sold off peak ticket from MKC and will be on the front screen of the TVM. Tap it, tap Railcards, tap your Railcard and pay.

 

[Howardh]

So to cover any service out and back, the ordinary travelcard + MK to Euston all in one will have to do?
Notice that LWM have an £8.50 Ret to Euston with r/c, so I just tap in and out for the tube, ties me to specific services though.

 

[Bletchleyite]

So to cover any service out and back, the ordinary travelcard + MK to Euston all in one will have to do?

Yes. There are actually point to point fares but the prices are silly.

Be warned that the Super Off Peak restrictions apply on Saturdays too.

Notice that LWM have an £8.50 Ret to Euston with r/c, so I just tap in and out for the tube, ties me to specific services though.

That with a Railcard will be more expensive when the Tube fares are added on.

 

[Hadders]

A Milton Keynes Central to London Zones 1-6 Super Off Peak Day Travelcard costing £14.90 route LNR only with a railcard is what you want.

It is only available as a paper ticket and is issued as one coupon. The ticket allows you to:

Make a return journey from Milton Keynes to Euston using London Northwestern Trains only
Unlimited rail, underground and buses in London (except Heathrow Express and High Speed train from St Pancras to Stratford International)

London Northwestern operate many services from Milton Keynes to Euston. The fastest ones take just 35 minutes and are non-stop. Other faster trains typically take around 45 minutes and make 3 or4 stops en-route. I advise against getting the 'all shacks Cheddington Chugger' which calls at all stations as these take over an hour to reach Euston.

This particular ticket is very popular from Milton Keynes due to its price and flexibility. As mentioned above it will be more expensive if you buy a separate ticket to Euston and use contactless (which is why everyone is kicking off about TfL's proposal to withdraw one day travelcards!)

 

[jfollows]

Be warned that the Super Off Peak restrictions apply on Saturdays too.

The MK restriction code applicable to the super off-peak day travelcard (LNW only) only has restrictions Monday-Friday I think. Although this may or may not be relevant to the original poster!

 

[Hadders]

The MK restriction code applicable to the super off-peak day travelcard (LNW only) only has restrictions Monday-Friday I think. Although this may or may not be relevant to the original poster!

That's right!

Some LNR tickets do have Saturday restrictions but this one doesn't.

 

[fandroid]

So to cover any service out and back, the ordinary travelcard + MK to Euston all in one will have to do?
Notice that LWM have an £8.50 Ret to Euston with r/c, so I just tap in and out for the tube, ties me to specific services though.

"LWM" ?

 

[Bletchleyite]

That's right!

Some LNR tickets do have Saturday restrictions but this one doesn't.

Thanks. Pretty much all except that one, indeed! (All the other ones I've come across are restriction LK).

Can't help but think the Avanti competition might be relevant to that

 

[Howardh]

"LWM" ?

London something-or-other! Either West Midlands or North West but not Avanti (yes, at this point I give up....)

 

[Bletchleyite]

London something-or-other! Either West Midlands or North West but not Avanti (yes, at this point I give up....)

LNR - London Northwestern Railway (W is not capitalised) is the brand (like Southern)
WMR - West Midlands Railway is the other brand for West Midlands local services
WMT - West Midlands Trains (like GTR, the actual TOC)
LM - London Midland - was the former TOC and still is the code in journey planners and timetables because changing it is too much faff

 

[Howardh]

LNR - London Northwestern Railway (W is not capitalised) is the brand (like Southern)
WMR - West Midlands Railway is the other brand for West Midlands local services
WMT - West Midlands Trains (like GTR, the actual TOC)
LM - London Midland - was the former TOC and still is the code in journey planners and timetables because changing it is too much faff

Used to call it "British Rail" when I were a lad.

Any chance....????

 

[Hadders]

Used to call it "British Rail" when I were a lad.

Any chance....????

No!

And if there was a single fares structure, a Milton Keynes to London Zones 1-6 Travelcard would cost more than £14.90.

 

[Bletchleyite]

No!

And if there was a single fares structure, a Milton Keynes to London Zones 1-6 Travelcard would cost more than £14.90.

It'd be £28.90, I suspect, as that's the interavailable one. Minus your Railcard discount so about £19.

Having said that there are Super Off Peak interavailable versions from Bletchley (which has no competition*) at a similar price to MKC so maybe not. Though those have Saturday restrictions.

* Because of the cost of parking almost nobody would drive to MKC because it was cheaper. Though some do for the better service (i.e. so they can use Avanti), most people just use their nearest station of the three. Public transport (bus) in MK is dire so most wouldn't consider that, it's walk if very local, cycle if fairly local, or otherwise taxi or car.

 

[Howardh]

It'd be £28.90, I suspect, as that's the interavailable one. Minus your Railcard discount so about £19.

Having said that there are Super Off Peak interavailable versions from Bletchley (which has no competition*) at a similar price to MKC so maybe not. Though those have Saturday restrictions.

* Because of the cost of parking almost nobody would drive to MKC because it was cheaper. Though some do for the better service (i.e. so they can use Avanti), most people just use their nearest station of the three. Public transport (bus) in MK is dire so most wouldn't consider that, it's walk if very local, cycle if fairly local, or otherwise taxi or car.

I'm staying in Milton Keynes (3 nts) and will be doing a trip MK > London and MK >Walthsmstowe on the Weds and Thurs. Find that cheaper than staying in London even with the add-on rail fares. Also got a cheap advance Manchester > MK ret, so happy days!

Only thing is on the Tuesday evening I'll have to find something to do in MK....maybe get a return to London....

 

[Bletchleyite]

I'm staying in Milton Keynes (3 nts) and will be doing a trip MK > London and MK >Walthsmstowe on the Weds and Thurs. Find that cheaper than staying in London even with the add-on rail fares. Also got a cheap advance Manchester > MK ret, so happy days!

Yep, except when it's Silverstone or a Bowl gig MK has a massive surplus of hotel rooms so they can be very cheap. Croydon is another place where this tends to work, or around Heathrow out of peak holiday times.

Only thing is on the Tuesday evening I'll have to find something to do in MK....maybe get a return to London....

Depends what you like doing. You could go and see a film, perhaps (there's a Cineworld in the Xscape and an Odeon at the MK1 development near the stadium), or go for a walk around Campbell Park and Willen Lake and perhaps a meal at one of the pubs by the lake, as two ideas? It is quite a nice place despite the reputation it seems to have in some circles.

Or if you do want to get out of it, Birmingham is almost as accessible and quite cheap on LNR.

I'd recommend Oxford as another option but an hour and a half on a rattly city bus is purgatory, the X5 isn't what it was sadly.

 

[Howardh]

Yep, except when it's Silverstone or a Bowl gig MK has a massive surplus of hotel rooms so they can be very cheap. Croydon is another place where this tends to work, or around Heathrow out of peak holiday times.



Depends what you like doing. You could go and see a film, perhaps (there's a Cineworld in the Xscape and an Odeon at the MK1 development near the stadium), or go for a walk around Campbell Park and Willen Lake and perhaps a meal at one of the pubs by the lake, as two ideas? It is quite a nice place despite the reputation it seems to have in some circles.

Or if you do want to get out of it, Birmingham is almost as accessible and quite cheap on LNR.

I'd recommend Oxford as another option but an hour and a half on a rattly city bus is purgatory, the X5 isn't what it was sadly.

I'm doing Birmingham later this week! Near my hotel in MK there looks to be a nice enclosed square with bars and restaurants, all close to the station, so if it's decent that should be a pleasant place to sit outside with some red. If it's wet then I might get the train to Berkhamsted and have a wander round there that evening.

Anyhow, yes, much cheaper to stay and ride outside London, especially now my Ibis on Lea Bridge Road appears to be closed (permanently??) but in any case, the way prices in London are going, I'm sure more will be tempted to stay around MK, and find those cheap day tickets!

It's even fairly painless to get to Brighton for the day from MK and stay quite late if everything's on time. Brighton is very expensive right now, and will be in September if there's a conference there.

 

[Bletchleyite]

It's even fairly painless to get to Brighton for the day from MK and stay quite late if everything's on time. Brighton is very expensive right now, and will be in September if there's a conference there.

It is (I've evening tripped Brighton before) but you may find Bedford offers similarly cheap hotels and that's a bit easier due to the direct Thameslink. Or Croydon, as I mentioned - that can be very cheap too.

Having said that, the Ibis at Brighton near the station is not that expensive if booked well in advance, even when there's stuff on.

 

[Howardh]

It is (I've evening tripped Brighton before) but you may find Bedford offers similarly cheap hotels and that's a bit easier due to the direct Thameslink. Or Croydon, as I mentioned - that can be very cheap too.

Having said that, the Ibis at Brighton near the station is not that expensive if booked well in advance, even when there's stuff on.

Stayed there but it's a bit uncomfortable (plastic chair!) and not much room in the shower, but hey, for a couple of nights fits the bill!