Bolton-Man Vic help

[Trackman]

I'm in Bolton next week and have to go to Man Vic early one morning and return off-peak.
Anytime return is £7.50, single peak £4.90, single off-peak £2.90, there are some peak advances but I guess they wont be available on the day (or are they?).
I thought a return would be under a fiver - admittedly I have not done this journey for a long time. It could just be me not knowing the prices these days.

Any advice on the best ticket, if there is one?

 

[Mcr Warrior]

When exactly are you planning on returning? If between 1601 and 1829 (Mon-Fri), that's not Off Peak and you'll then need the £7.50 Anytime Day Return.

P.S. £2.90 isn't the Single Off Peak fare for this journey, as there isn't one.

£2.90 will be for a train specific Advance single using Northern only. If you were considering buying an Anytime Day Single to get you into Manchester early in the morning, you may as well get the Anytime Day Return to give you the most flexibility coming back later the same day. Also, £7.50 is cheaper than £4.90 + £2.90.

 

[Starmill]

The Advance tickets are very likely to be available on the day of travel. If you use a smartphone you can book them while you're on your way to the station. If you don't you can still get them from the ticket office or machine, just ensure you have enough time to.

Normally the way it works is Northern set two Advance prices on short journeys such as this, and the upper price is available very widely on the day. In this case £3.

 

[Trackman]

When exactly are you planning on returning? If between 1601 and 1829 (Mon-Fri), that's not Off Peak and you'll then need the £7.50 Anytime Day Return.

P.S. £2.90 isn't the Single Off Peak fare for this journey, as there isn't one.

£2.90 will be for a train specific Advance single using Northern only. If you were considering buying an Anytime Day Single to get you into Manchester early in the morning, you may as well get the Anytime Day Return to give you the most flexibility coming back later the same day. Also, £7.50 is cheaper than £4.90 + £2.90.

Return before Lunchtime after peak.
You are correct about the single off peak ticket, it's the journey planner that threw me.

The Advance tickets are very likely to be available on the day of travel. If you use a smartphone you can book them while you're on your way to the station. If you don't you can still get them from the ticket office or machine, just ensure you have enough time to.

Normally the way it works is Northern set two Advance prices on short journeys such as this, and the upper price is available very widely on the day. In this case £3.

I've been thinking about this.
Is there a cut off time, say if one is available?

 

[Starmill]

Return before Lunchtime after peak.
You are correct about the single off peak ticket, it's the journey planner that threw me.


I've been thinking about this.
Is there a cut off time, say if one is available?

Not really. In theory a cut off of 5 minutes applies, but it's generally possible to get them even after this. So in reality the cut off is pretty much the same as with a flexible ticket i.e. 30 seconds before departure time, or whenever the train is ready to depart.

 

[Trackman]

Just an update if anyone is interested:
Found out the app will not store my bank card details until I have bought at least one ticket, so ended up buying an open return as I was on minutes.

Those m-ticket scanners at Man Vic are completely hopeless.
First off all it's flush vertical on the gate column about knee high to me, then it doesn't work without faffing about. It's not just me, someone next to me was cursing it too!

 

[Mcr Warrior]

...so ended up buying an open return as I was on minutes.

The Anytime Day Return? Would need two singles if not returning the same day.

 

[Trackman]

The Anytime Day Return? Would need two singles if not returning the same day.

That's the one, haven't a clue why I said open return.