Carlisle to Dumfries

[severnplace]

I am travelling from Carlisle to Dumfries on Thursday afternoon. As time will be a bit tight when i arrive in Carlisle i decided to buy the ticket online and pick it up at my local station before i left.

After entering my journey details i am offered a £10.10 single on the 1617 service. i am confused as when i checked times on the national rail website earlier it stated cheapest fare for journey i wanted was £6.00. turns out this is a day return ticket and despite the fact that i dont need to return this is still my cheapest option.

I understand the need for peak and off-peak tickets but how can it be right that not a single booking site i tried would offer me the cheapest valid fare for my journey despite having all the required information.

 

[maniacmartin]

The Anytime Day Single costs £10.10. You are correct, there is a CDR Off peak day return costing £6.00, but no off-peak singles! Very odd.

I don't think the booking engines are smart enough to check for return tickets when a single journey is specified, probably because it's very rare that this would ever be cheaper! I don't believe that the booking websites are required to be impartial - in this case they've offered what you asked for, a single!

You can force the booking engines to sell this ticket, by searching for a return journey, returning on the same day.

 

[reb0118]

If you have time, and assuming your local station is staffed, just buy your ticket at the office there. Just ask for an Off peak day return i.e the old CDR. No point in stating that you are not coming back, (this is allowed on the ticket though), as this can confuse people. As a walk up fare it is available to purchase at anytime.

Check the through price to Dumfries from your local station - it may be cheaper - it may not - but it pays to check.