Milton Keynes - Wigan; have to change?

[Howardh]

Next month instead of MKC to Piccadilly and having to faff about with changing platforms, waiting for a connection at Piccadilly, and then getting a bus when I get back to Bolton - thought I'd try Wigan, and walk for the 615 which takes me directly home (45-50 mins). Surprised on a Thursday there are no direct rains (Avanti) and I would have to change somewhere.

So I bought a ticket to Piccadilly instead and have to go through all the above again, including trying to get home by bus in school rush-hour! I found that you can go back to London and then pick up a direct Avanti to Wigan (see screenshot) - must be one of the furthest journeys you are "allowed" to double-back?

1329 MKC - Euston followed by 1430 Euston to Wigan North western; and further screenshot with the advance fare with r/c £14.36 - a bargain it has to be said!!

 

[jfollows]

It’s two separate tickets; there is no single ticket Milton Keynes-Wigan via London, although there is a Watford Junction-Wigan fare via London. There is no “double-back” with the combination of tickets you have bought. You could have bought two tickets MIlton Keynes-Bristol and Bristol-Wigan and been given an itinerary in a similar way, although of course you wouldn’t have done.

The Web site you used simply found a good deal with a combination of tickets involving a change in London, for which you are presumably grateful.

 

[Starmill]

There are quite a few through ones on Sunday, including several express ones, but otherwise there's only one at 0617, and two via Birmingham shortly after. There are several southbound ones in the evening too. You may also spot some cheap tickets available on Lumo trains between Milton Keynes Central and Preston, with another ticket from there to either Bolton or Wigan, for variety of departure times.

 

[Howardh]

It’s two separate tickets; there is no single ticket Milton Keynes-Wigan via London, although there is a Watford Junction-Wigan fare via London. There is no “double-back” with the combination of tickets you have bought. You could have bought two tickets MIlton Keynes-Bristol and Bristol-Wigan and been given an itinerary in a similar way, although of course you wouldn’t have done.

The Web site you used simply found a good deal with a combination of tickets involving a change in London, for which you are presumably grateful.

Yeah, split ticketing does confuse me sometimes. On a smaller scale I'm used to Kearsley - Manchester directing you to Kearsley>Bolton>Manchester as one ticket (no more cost than the 1tph Kearsley>Manchester)

 

[Jamesrob637]

That's a lot of miles for fifteen pounds! At least 300

 

[Mcr Warrior]

That's a lot of miles for fifteen pounds! At least 300

Milton Keynes Central to London Euston and then London Euston to Wigan North Western is more like 240/250 miles, I'd have said.

 

[A S Leib]

must be one of the furthest journeys you are "allowed" to double-back?

There is no “double-back” with the combination of tickets you have bought.

Some rather long permitted double-backs which I think I've found are Bedford to Sheffield via St. Pancras (50 miles; Brfares.com shows the ticket with a Maltese cross, so I'm assuming via London's allowed for those ones), and Carstairs to Preston via Edinburgh (29 miles). There are also Haddenham & Thame Parkway to Birmingham via London fares (42 miles) which are priced by Avanti; I think that should, at least in theory, be valid going to Marylebone and back out via High Wycombe.

 

[Jamesrob637]

Milton Keynes Central to London Euston and then London Euston to Wigan North Western is more like 240/250 miles, I'd have said.

Milton Keynes to London and back is 100 in itself, so maybe 270-280. But still great value

 

[Mcr Warrior]

Milton Keynes to London and back is 100 in itself, so maybe 270-280. But still great value

Which way are you going once you've passed back through Milton Keynes Central?

 

[A S Leib]

I make it 244 miles (±2, converting from km).

 

[Howardh]

I make it 244 miles (±2, converting from km).

How much difference via Crewe or Stoke?

 

[A S Leib]

How much difference via Crewe or Stoke?

Euston – Wigan North Western
Via Weedon, Trent Valley and Crewe: 312 km (194 miles)
Via Northampton: +4 km (2 miles)
Via Birmingham New Street, Sandwell & Dudley and Wolverhampton: +12 km (7 miles)
Via Bescot: +9 km (6 miles)
Via New Street and Bescot: +16 km (10 miles)
Via Hanslope, Stoke and Crewe: +5 km (3 miles)
Via Stafford, Stoke and Crewe: +11 km (7 miles)

 

[Howardh]

Euston – Wigan North Western
Via Weedon, Trent Valley and Crewe: 312 km (194 miles)
Via Northampton: +4 km (2 miles)
Via Birmingham New Street, Sandwell & Dudley and Wolverhampton: +12 km (7 miles)
Via Bescot: +9 km (6 miles)
Via New Street and Bescot: +16 km (10 miles)
Via Hanslope, Stoke and Crewe: +5 km (3 miles)
Via Stafford, Stoke and Crewe: +11 km (7 miles)

Thanks!