Derby to Inverness out 7th Jun return 8th Jun

[37078xotTE]

Hi All

Just after a little ticket advice for a journey I am making next month.
Am looking for the cheapest fare for myself and Mrs 37078 from DBY to INV.
outward on the morning of 7th of Jun, don't mind really early if savings are good, return afternoon of 8th Jun.

No railcards at the moment but can buy one if savings justify it (two together?)

Thanks in advance

37078

 

[Romilly]

Without railcards, the following may be the best available (all prices are for 2 people):

Derby - Glasgow Central £56 Advances can be booked for 0640 arriving 1116 (change at Crewe) or 0750 arriving 1317 (change at Tamworth and Crewe)

Glasgow Queen Street - Inverness £108.80 Super Offpeak return valid on any train via Aviemore either day (e.g. depart on 1209 or 1341 journey time 3hrs 13 mins including a change at Perth on the 1341, return on the 1050 arriving Glasgow QS at 1411 after changing at Perth)

Glasgow Central - Derby £56 Advance on the 1557 arriving 2028 and changing at Crewe

Total: £200.80

A Two Together Railcard would reduce this by about £68 and would therefore more than pay for itself. Although there are cheap Glasgow-Inverness Advances on the Saturday, there are none for Inverness-Glasgow at sensible times on the Sunday.

Actually, I have just spotted that for the Derby-Glasgow/Glasgow-Derby journeys mentioned, it would be cheaper to buy £39 Derby-Crewe Offpeak Returns, £26 Crewe-Glasgow Advances and £26 Glasgow-Crewe Advances. That reduces the total from £200.80 to £179.80 (or about £120 with a Two Together Railcard).

To leave Inverness later on the Sunday (e.g. the 1245 arriving Glasgow QS at 1558, or the 1330 changing at Perth and arriving Glasgow QS at 1711) would mean booking a later train out of Glasgow (on the 1640 or 1736) resulting in Glasgow-Crewe Advances at £77 instead of £26. And arriving Glasgow QS at 1711 would leave only 25 minutes to get to Glasgow Central for the 1736 which is the last train out of Glasgow with a connection to Derby.

 

[bangor-toad]

Hi there,
I can't think of a cheaper option than Romilly has come up with but maybe an easier one...

The Glasgow Central - Glasgow Queen Street transfer is a drag if you've got luggage. How about:

Drive to Nottingham
Nottingham - Edinburgh (Advance) £45 per person
Edinburgh - Inverness (Advance) £11 per person

Inverness - Edinburgh (Advance) £22 per person
Edinburgh - Nottingham (Advance) £35 per person

Outwards you can leave at either 6.41am or 9.34am, arriving at either 3.2pm or 6.21pm respectively. On the way back you can leave at 3.22pm and arrive at 11.28pm.

That's a total of £121 each. Is the extra to avoid the Glasgow transfer and I think a bit of extra time in Inverness worth it? Or is the £151 each for a more flexible ticket better than being tied to certain train?

Or can you drive to Grantham or Newark where the flexible off peak ticket is £133 per person return?


To be fair though, it's a long way for a short trip. By comparison Flybe are currently showing a Saturday lunchtime Birmingham - Inverness flight and Sunday late afternoon return flight for £142 return (per person).

Good luck with your trip planning,
Mr Toad

 

[Romilly]

On bangor-toad's suggestion, please note that there is only one £22 Inverness-Edinburgh Advance left on the 1522 on the Sunday. I hadn't found even that Advance because I had been looking for tickets for two people. The second passenger will have to pay £40.90 for a day single. There are several £22 Advances on the 1624 but the journey planners are not offering a same-day connection to Nottingham out of that train. Also, I am not sure whether it is possible to manipulate the on-line booking systems so as to get a Two Together discount where the two passengers, although travelling together on the same train, are seeking to book different ticket types. In other words, the total Two Together price for the 1522 might be £54 (i.e. two discounted day singles).