Edinburgh to Glasgow via North Queensferry advice please

[Leisurefirst]

Hi there,
I'm normally pretty good at sorting this kind of stuff out myself but I'd like some advice on this one please.
Next Friday 22/9/23 I am due to travel from Edinburgh Waverley (or Haymarket) to North Queensferry in the afternoon then onto Glasgow Queen Street (or High Street) after 17.30ish.
What would be the cheapest combo of tickets please perhaps using break of journey?
I have no Railcard suitable at the moment but likely I could renew my Club 50.
Thanks in advance.

 

[kkong]

An Off-Peak Return (not Day Return) from Glasgow to North Queensferry (£25.60) would cover the complete journey and has no time restrictions after 09:15.

This would also attract a 20% discount with Club 50.

I think this is the most cost-effective and flexible option for you.

https://www.brfares.com/!faredetail?orig=0433&dest=NQU&tkt=SVR

 

[glasgowniteowl]

An Off-Peak Return (not Day Return) from Glasgow to North Queensferry (£25.60) would cover the complete journey and has no time restrictions after 09:15.

Would that be allowed though? As you would be using part of the return portion prior to part of the outward?

 

[Leisurefirst]

Would that be allowed though? As you would be using part of the return portion prior to part of the outward?

I think as the journey takes you from Glasgow QS into Waverley first then changing to North Queensferry you can legitimately use this by starting short?
Thank you kkong btw.

 

[kkong]

Would that be allowed though? As you would be using part of the return portion prior to part of the outward?

No you wouldn't. As there are no longer any trains from Glasgow to Fife via the Winchburgh curve, Glasgow to North Queensferry requires going via Haymarket.

 

[glasgowniteowl]

No you wouldn't. As there are no longer any trains from Glasgow to Fife via the Winchburgh curve, Glasgow to North Queensferry requires going via Haymarket.

I was getting myself slightly confused if starting at waverley would count on either the outward or return not sure what it would have been classed as

Also seems cheaper getting off peak day return Waverley to North Queensferry then off peak single haymarket to glasgow Queen street £23.30 before discounts in total

 

[Watershed]

Unfortunately an Edinburgh (EDB) to Glasgow Central/Queen Street (GLW) ticket isn't valid via North Queensferry (NQU). Therefore, you'll either have to buy a combination of tickets, or buy a GLW-NQU return (which is valid via Haymarket, HYM) and 'start late' at HYM on your way from HYM to NQU.

Which of these options is cheaper largely depends on whether you're happy to wait until after 18:21 to depart HYM on your way from NQU to GLW. That's when Off-Peak Day tickets (CDS/CDR) between EDB/HYM/NQU and GLW, which have restriction code H1, become valid again after the restricted 16:42-18:11 evening period from EDB/HYM/GLW (which also specifically extends to the 18:21 from HYM to GLQ). The pricier Off-Peak Return (SVR, i.e. the 'period return') has restriction code 8F, which has no evening restrictions.

If you're happy to be subject to the evening restrictions of the CDR, you could either buy a GLW-NQU CDR (£19.10 with your Club 50 discount) or a combination of an EDB-NQU CDR (£5.10) and an EDB-GLW CDS (£11.75) for a total of £16.85.

If you want to be able to depart HYM between 16:42 and 18:11, or on the 18:21 to GLQ, you'd be best off buying a GLQ-NQU SVR (£20.45). It's not worthwhile splitting if you do this, as the Club 50 discount isn't offered on Anytime fares, and there's no Off-Peak Single (SVS, i.e. the 'period single' without the evening restrictions) between EDB & GLW.

From 2 October, ticketing for this journey would be rather simpler, without the worry of the evening peak restriction - as this is when the ScotRail "off-peak all day" trial begins. The above also assumes that you're not undertaking any other train travel within the vicinity of GLW/EDB the same day or within a month.

Would that be allowed though? As you would be using part of the return portion prior to part of the outward?

It's fine - you'd be 'starting late' on the outward portion at EDB/HYM, and then using the return portion in full.

 

[kkong]

Also seems cheaper getting off peak day return Waverley to North Queensferry then off peak single haymarket to glasgow Queen street £23.30 before discounts in total

Yes, but the Off-Peak Day tickets have evening peak restrictions ex-HYM/EDB which the Off-Peak (SVR) doesn't.

This may be a factor depending when the OP wishes to leave HYM/EDB to head to Glasgow.

 

[Leisurefirst]

Thanks everybody.
I'm looking at the 17.40 from North Queensferry then 18.05 from Haymarket to GLQ.
The next train at 18.21 is feasible (18.50 from HYM) but cutting it very fine for an event in Glasgow so I'd rather not.
(Although the reason for the journey is a Forth Bridge Tour which is supposed to finish at 17.00 but if the day is badly running late I might not have a choice!)