Advice, please: split tickets + "open jaw" journey

[Wandering Pom]

I'd like to seek the forum's advice on the best ticket combination for the following journeys:

Day 1 (Thursday 20th)
Cambridge - London - Crewe - Liverpool - Crewe

Day 2 (Friday 21st)
Watford Junction - Cambridge
(I'm making my own way from Crewe to Watford Junction this day)

I have a Network Railcard. I'm happy to be limited to West Midlands / London Northwestern services only on the London - Crewe leg, but I don't want to have Advance tickets because I don't know when I'll be able to start either journey.

The best combination I've come up with so far is:
- Cambridge - Watford Junction Off-Peak Return (SVR) with railcard: 34.65
- Watford Junction - Crewe Super Off-Peak Single (OPS): 36.40 - WMR/LNwR only
- Crewe - Liverpool Off-Peak Day Return (CDR): 14.60
Total: 85.65

If there's a way to do this more cheaply that doesn't involve Advances or similar restrictions, I'd be very interested to hear it.

 

[Adam Williams]

The forum ticketing site can help a little bit with planning these sorts of journeys, though it won't exploit the break-of-journey possibilities that walk-up tickets provide.

Results | RailUK Tickets

TrainSplit is a free service that makes it easy to find the cheapest train tickets for your journey.

tickets-beta.railforums.co.uk

 

[Wandering Pom]

The forum ticketing site can help a little bit with planning these sorts of journeys, though it won't exploit the break-of-journey possibilities that walk-up tickets provide.

Thanks for responding. I've used the forum site for planning and ticket purchases several times, but unfortunately in this case I couldn't see how to set up a complex journey like this.

 

[Adam Williams]

The link I provided is to an example search in line with your requirements (well, I guessed at the departure times!)

You should be able to see how I configured it if you hit the cog icon

 

[Wandering Pom]

Ah, I see; many thanks. I shall experiment...

 

[Hadders]

I’d buy:

Cambridge to London Terminals Off Peak Return £31.35 with your railcard discount.

Walk from Kings Cross to Euston

London Euston to Liverpool Lime Street Super Off Peak Return £44.10 (WMR/LNR only)

Total £76.45

There might be cheaper combinations.

If you’re breaking your journey at Crewe on your way to Liverpool then this won’t work as break of journey is barred on the outward portion of this ticket.

There’s no break of journey restriction on the return portion so you cannot just purchase break it at Crewe and resume it again at Watford Junction.

 

[mangyiscute]

I'd like to seek the forum's advice on the best ticket combination for the following journeys:

Day 1 (Thursday 20th)
Cambridge - London - Crewe - Liverpool - Crewe

Day 2 (Friday 21st)
Watford Junction - Cambridge
(I'm making my own way from Crewe to Watford Junction this day)

I have a Network Railcard. I'm happy to be limited to West Midlands / London Northwestern services only on the London - Crewe leg, but I don't want to have Advance tickets because I don't know when I'll be able to start either journey.

The best combination I've come up with so far is:
- Cambridge - Watford Junction Off-Peak Return (SVR) with railcard: 34.65
- Watford Junction - Crewe Super Off-Peak Single (OPS): 36.40 - WMR/LNwR only
- Crewe - Liverpool Off-Peak Day Return (CDR): 14.60
Total: 85.65

If there's a way to do this more cheaply that doesn't involve Advances or similar restrictions, I'd be very interested to hear it.

If you are breaking your journey in Crewe on the outbound this is the best option I can see - note that you'll have to get a train calling at Watford Junction from Euston to Milton Keynes then change onto the LNWR service that runs to Crewe as they don't stop at Watford Junction - this involves taking a train at xx:23 from Euston rather than at xx:46 and changing onto the xx:46 at Milton Keynes

 

[Hadders]

If leaving the station at Crewe on the way to Liverpool then you could buy:

Euston to Crewe Super Off Peak Return £41.80
Crewe to Liverpool Lime Street Off Peak Day Return £14.60

Total with the ticket from Cambridge £87.75

More expensive to be fair but avoids having to step back a train at Milton Keynes.

 

[Wandering Pom]

Many thanks for all the responses.

If leaving the station at Crewe on the way to Liverpool then you could buy:

Euston to Crewe Super Off Peak Return £41.80
Crewe to Liverpool Lime Street Off Peak Day Return £14.60

Total with the ticket from Cambridge £87.75

More expensive to be fair but avoids having to step back a train at Milton Keynes.

I hadn't spotted this one: probably too focussed on the Watford - Crewe section being a single journey
I do want to leave the station at Crewe if I can, for a hotel check-in, and avoiding the step-back at Milton Keynes is also good: more time to walk along Euston Road, and less chance of the connection being missed. I think this might be the winner!

 

[Hadders]

No need to walk along the Euston Road. Come out of the side entrance at Kings Cross, through St Pancras and exit the station onto Midland Road next to the Thameslink barriers and keep going.

I can do Kings Cross to Euston platform to platform in 8 minutes without running.

https://maps.app.goo.gl/XBzumihRbTg88hWt7?g_st=ic