Coventry to Edinburgh, March 2–4

[Eagle]

I realize I should have enough nous by now to work this out for myself, but I don't (and I'm busy this weekend) so I'm going to ask anyway how to do the following as cheap as possible with a railcard:

Return journey from Coventry to Edinburgh (either Waverley or Haymarket):

• Outbound on Friday March 2, can't get to Coventry station before 08.40 but want to arrive early as possible.
• Return on Sunday March 4, need to be back in Coventry by 23.00 but otherwise fairly flexible on the time (as long as I can leave Edinburgh after lunchtime). This leg ONLY requires a bicycle reservation.

Standard class, advances are fine, not fussed about the route (although obviously the WCML is preferable due to being quicker)...

 

[First class]

For starters, Northampton-Edinburgh SVR is cheaper than Coventry to Edinburgh and I'd assume valid via COV?

Up to you, (due to BoJ reasons) but:

London-Liverpool OPR @ £16.15
Liverpool-Edinburgh SVR @ £45.95
Total: £62.10

Which beats the £77.50 COV-EDB fare by £15 but much slower journey, and potentially a bit dodgy with BoJ restrictions.

This is obviously walk-up, Advances may be available. Don't forget Megatrain.

 

[Eagle]

London-Liverpool OPR @ £16.15
Liverpool-Edinburgh SVR @ £45.95
Total: £62.10

I assume the first leg of that is a LM-only fare (so I can't claim it's valid via Warrington or anything).

That would probably involve two 350s, a Pacer or Sprinter, and then a 221/390/185. Not very bike-friendly...

 

[sonic2009]

Eagle being a Student I assume. Do you have an NUS Extra Card?

 

[Eagle]

.


Got it down to £72.10 with two off-peak singles RUG–EDB (which pretty much forces you to change in BHM, given that services north from Rugby are relatively slow).
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Eagle being a Student I assume. Do you have an NUS Extra Card?

No, could I get one in time?


EDIT: Buying one will add £11 to the total, of course.


EDIT 2: Actually it might be a bit complicated, because I'm not currently a student, although I am still a member of the Students' Union (and by extension the NUS).

 

[sonic2009]

Outward 2nd March via Manchester Piccadilly

0850 Coventry to Birmingham New Street 0917 LM
0931 Birmingham to Manchester Piccadilly 1059 XC

Advance Single STD £11.90 (if you have NUS Extra. CrossCountry offer 10% by signing up here)

1216 Manchester Piccadilly to Edinburgh 1539 FTPE

£14.35 STD Advance (book here) to gain £4.80 discount with FTPE's Student Promotion with 16-25 railcards) usuall price would be £19.15

Return 4th March via Manchester Piccadilly

1210 Edinburgh to Manchester 1527 FTPE STD Advance £12.85 (again with the Discount) Usual price £17.15.

1627 Manchester to Coventry 1824 XC Direct £11.20 Advance.

You can book the reservation for you bike on the day up to 30mins before departure from Manchester, but you can do it in Advance if you wish, by popping to any Station.

Total cost £48.65

The XC advance could be 10% cheaper if you hold an NUS Extra Card.

 

[Eagle]

NUS Extra takes 7 working days to process, which from now wouldn't be until February 28, by which time those advances could well be gone. And of course the application could get refused (the T&Cs do explicitly state I need to be a full-time student, which I'm not de jure at the moment). What will the price be without one?


Also that return time on the Sunday looks rather early, and I'm not sure what the bike arrangements will be like on a 185 for three hours.

At the moment I am leaning towards the £72.10 RUG–EDB (outbound dep BHM 10.20 arr EDB 14.21; return dep EDB 18.01 arr BHM 2255; getting from BHM to COV will be easy, and I don't mind taking a bike on a deserted 350 for the last leg).

 

[sonic2009]

the advance fares i quoted are without the 10% discount. 185 have bike spaces, and i gave you an earlier time because you mention 'Cheapest' and this is the cheapest fare. Although later departures were only around £14.50 for the FTPE leg.