I would like to travel from Ashford International to Edinburgh on 18 Feb 2012, departing after 0900. I want to go via St Pancras and King's Cross and the ECML, but Trainline and the National Rail Enquiry site want to route me via Euston and Preston on the north-bound journey.
I want to return on 20 Feb from Edinburgh to Preston and break my journey there overnight. On 21 Feb I want to travel from Preston to Euston on the WCML and then back to Ashford via St Pancras.
None of the on-line services seem up to the task of working out the cheapest fare for me
No, they are not good at showing an outward leg by one route and the return leg by another route.
The cheapest flexible ticket is the £140.30 (assuming you're not eligible for any Railcard) Super Off-Peak Return route + Any Permitted. It has
validity code 9F, which for you can be summarised:
- Valid by any train Ashford - St Pancras and Kings X - Edinburgh on 18 February because there are no time restrictions on Saturdays.
- Valid by any train Edinburgh - Preston on 20 February because the restriction excludes trains due to arrive Euston before 1005 and there are no Edinburgh - Preston - Euston trains which do this.
- Valid by any train Preston - Euston on 21 February except those trains due to arrive Euston before 1005.
- Valid by any train St Pancras - Ashford.
If you are content to sacrifice flexibility for price, the following are currently available (again, assuming not eligible for any Railcard).
- £56 Advance Ashford - Edinburgh at 1043, 1243 or 1443 on 18 February, reduced to £50.95 if you book through East Coast.
- £13.50 Advance Edinburgh - Preston at 1812 on 20 February, reduced to £10.10 if you book through the TPE January Sale which ends on 31 January.
- £49 Advance Preston - Ashford at 1158 on 21 February.
Total £118.50, which can be reduced to £110.05 using both online booking offers.
EDIT: A less expensive £26 Advance Preston - Ashford fare is currently available at 1359 on 21 February if you are willing to avoid HS1. Search for "Preston - Ashford Int'l via Tonbridge". The £26 fare includes rail Preston - Euston, tube Euston - Charing X and rail Charing X - Ashford.
