CrossCountry Trains - how do you save money with them?

[Perns1972]

This will be my final request for ideas about how passengers can save money when buying tickets with a TOC - I'm interested in learning of any good ways to save a few pounds when buying CrossCountry tickets.

I'm keen to hear about ticket splits, alternative routes, loop holes or anything else that might help CrossCountry passengers save some money.

I'm very happy to receive private messages about this rather than forum responses.

Perns1972

 

[yorkie]

• By using a combination of tickets (aka "Split ticketing") rather than one through ticket. This is especially the case for day trips.
• If travelling before 0930 it's often cheaper to at least "split" at the first station the train calls at which an Off Peak ticket becomes valid (if set by XC, this will be 0930, but other operators will set different restrictions e.g. EMT are generally 0900)
• The website trainsplit.com (created by SickyNicky) helps with split tickets
• Avoid using fares that are priced by XC where possible. There are other ways to do this than split ticketing, for example a longer journey which is valid via XC may be priced by another operator, and may be cheaper
• XC are one of the most expensive Train Companies to travel with, and one of the easiest to save money using techniques like "split ticketing"
• Sometimes a Rover or Day Ranger can be cheaper e.g. Sheffield to Burton costs more than a Derbyshire Wayfarer!

XC are keen to close down "loopholes" if they find out about them.

 

[185143]

If travelling to or from Manchester, splitting at Stafford usually saves you a few quid. Used to use the Rugeley Trent Valley loophole but that has been closed up now

 

[Jordeh]

I tend to save 10% on their Advances by using my NUS card on their website; http://www.crosscountrytrains.co.uk/special-offers/treats-and-discounts/nus