Can you help me find the cheapest train tickets

[boxfullofjunk]

I have a family and friends railcard and I need to buy 2 adult tickets and 1 child ticket so can someone help me find the cheapest way to buy tickets.
I will be travelling from Cwmbran to Blackpool north on the 15/08/2026 using the 04.59 but when I return on the 22/08/2026 I not sure what time I will be leaving so Is there a ticket I can buy that allows me to travel at any time of the day so I can see if I can get two singles instead of buying a off peak return.

 

[Mcr Warrior]

@boxfullofjunk. An Off Peak Return, Cwmbran to Blackpool North, route via Hereford, is £76.55 per adult with Family and Friends Railcard discount and then £21.85 on top for the child, depending on their age. Think that's an overall total of £174.95. That's reasonably flexible, given that you're travelling both ways on a Saturday. On that particular ticket, travel is permitted either way after 04:15. Take it that the 04:59 train mentioned is the TfW service from Cwmbran to Manchester Piccadilly, via Hereford, which starts at Cardiff Central, and arrives Manchester at 08:14?

 

[Sealink]

It would save a small fortune if you did pick times to come back.
I've just found this on RailForums ticketing page: (all Advance tickets so not as much flexibility)

SATURDAY 15 AUGUST
Cwmbran to Manchester Piccadilly 04.59/08.14
Manchester Piccadilly to Blackpool North 08.33/09.53

SATURDAY 22 AUGUST
Blackpool North to Manchester Piccadilly 12.55/14.15
Manchester Piccadilly to Cwmbran 14.30/17.15

OR

Blackpool North to Manchester Piccadilly 16.22/17.45
Manchester Piccadilly to Cwmbran 18.30/21.26


£85.97
Two adults, one child, Family & Friends Railcard

 

[boxfullofjunk]

It would save a small fortune if you did pick times to come back.
I've just found this on RailForums ticketing page: (all Advance tickets so not as much flexibility)

SATURDAY 15 AUGUST
Cwmbran to Manchester Piccadilly 04.59/08.14
Manchester Piccadilly to Blackpool North 08.33/09.53

SATURDAY 22 AUGUST
Blackpool North to Manchester Piccadilly 12.55/14.15
Manchester Piccadilly to Cwmbran 14.30/17.15

OR

Blackpool North to Manchester Piccadilly 16.22/17.45
Manchester Piccadilly to Cwmbran 18.30/21.26


£85.97
Two adults, one child, Family & Friends Railcard

Would you know if there's a way of changing the waiting time on one journey.
I want to catch the 04:59 from Cwmbran then the 08:33 from Manchester Piccadilly to Blackpool North then on the return journey I want a waiting time but adding a waiting time changes the Manchester Piccadilly to Blackpool North from 08:33 to 09:02

These are the times I'm thinking.

SATURDAY 15 AUGUST
Cwmbran to Manchester Piccadilly 04:59
Manchester Piccadilly to Blackpool North 08:33

SATURDAY 22 AUGUST
Blackpool North to Manchester Piccadilly 07:21
Manchester Piccadilly to Cwmbran 09:30

 

[Haywain]

Trainsplit allows different settings for out and return journeys.

 

[Sealink]

Would you know if there's a way of changing the waiting time on one journey.
I want to catch the 04:59 from Cwmbran then the 08:33 from Manchester Piccadilly to Blackpool North then on the return journey I want a waiting time but adding a waiting time changes the Manchester Piccadilly to Blackpool North from 08:33 to 09:02

These are the times I'm thinking.

SATURDAY 15 AUGUST
Cwmbran to Manchester Piccadilly 04:59
Manchester Piccadilly to Blackpool North 08:33

SATURDAY 22 AUGUST
Blackpool North to Manchester Piccadilly 07:21
Manchester Piccadilly to Cwmbran 09:30

The RailForums page allows you to increase connection times too.