Bury Interchange to Blackpool

[Talent]

Dear all,

I'm in need of some fare optimization hints again *sigh*.

I'd like to go from Bury Interchange to Blackpool on Saturday and arrive there at about 9:30am.

I thought I go from Bury Interchange to Manchester via Metrolink (£4.10) and then to Blackpool (£7.00 Advance). Traveline suggests an other (shorter) journey: Bury Interchange to Bolton via Bus (£ ?) and then Bolton to Blackpool (£13.30 Anytime single; same train as first option).

May I buy an advance ticket Manchester -> Blackpool and board the train in Bolton (ticket barriers?).

Thanks in advance.

 

[Romilly]

You ask whether, if you have a Manchester to Blackpool "Advance" for a particular booked train, you can join that train not at Manchester but at its subsequent stop at Bolton. The short answer is: No. No break of journey is permitted on an "Advance" (i.e. booked-train only) ticket, so it not valid for starting at a later station than the origin (or for finishing at an earlier station than the destination).

 

[kieron]

Sadly, this is one of the problems rail often have. Single fares are often priced at slightly less than the cheapest equivalent return fare and are provided for almost any route. Advance fares are usually less than half the cost of the equivalent return, but are only provided at the TOCs' discretion and are only valid to and from the stations on the ticket.

 

[34D]

Are you returning?

 

[Talent]

Sort of.

Bury Interchange -> Blackpool on Saturday
Blackpool -> Manchester on the following Monday