Grimsby Town <> Fenny Stratford/Bletchley/Milton Keynes

[DeeGee]

Travelling Fri 8th Nov, Returning Sat 9th Nov. 1 pax adult, Std class, no railcard

Fastest route departing after 16:00 on Friday is via Stockport. There's a nice £39.00 single fare which I think is just a combination of Grimsby-Stockport then Stockport-Fenny Stratford.

Returning on Saturday after 15:00 there are no Advances available via any route. Now, I'm guessing that they aren't open yet, perhaps?

What I'm after is a cheap combination of tickets to allow me to do this journey. I'm not averse to taking any particular route, but I'm quite keen to be as quick as possible outward, ideally with an opportunity to buy some food at some point en route. Returning the following day is not so vital. I'd buy advance, but if it isn't much more expensive I'd rather have the flexibility of Off-Peak.

I'm happy splitting tickets if it's cheaper.

 

[Buttsy]

I would suggest looking into an East Midlands 3 in 7 rover (£78.50) as well (£39 doubled would make this viable). The boundaries are roughly: Grimsby - Doncaster - Sheffield - Tamworth - Bletchley - Bedford - Peterborough - Lincoln - Grimsby.

 

[Buttsy]

Also try using Blecthley or MKC as your departure station rather than Fenny Stratford.

 

[DeeGee]

Now, that's more intetresting. Down to 39 outward and 22 return. Now what sort of price can I get for a ticket with a bit of flexibility?
--- old post above --- --- new post below ---
Budget's increased, as I've just receives some RTVs from Transpennine. Now, I'm looking at travelling via Sheffield or Stockport. Are there any opportunities to split an off-peak fare?

I'd think about the rover, above, but it doesn't go via Birmingham, does it? Would that make it difficult for me to work out a route?

 

[button_boxer]

It doesn't cover Birmingham but you could go via Sheffield, Leicester, Bedford and the Marston Vale line, or Sheffield, Derby, Tamworth and then direct down the Trent Valley line to MK and Bletchley.

 

[Buttsy]

Bletchley - Nuneaton - Leicester - Nottingham - Lincoln - Grimsby?
Blecthley - Tamworth - Derby - Nottingam - Sleaford - Lincoln - Grimsby?
Bletchley - Stoke - Derby - Nottingham - Sleaford - Lincoln - Grimsby?
Bedford - Leicester - Peterborough - Doncaster - Grimsby?
Bedford - Leicester - Peterborough - Sleaford - Doncaster - Grimsby?
Bedford - Leicester - Sheffield - Grimsby?

Who needs Birmingham?????

 

[DeeGee]

How best would I request a timetable engine to route me appropriately? Avoid Birmingham and Avoid Stockport?

 

[Buttsy]

How best would I request a timetable engine to route me appropriately? Avoid Birmingham and Avoid Stockport?

If I were doing it, I'd use the GBTT I have at home

If I didn't have a timetable at home, I'd decide which way I wanted to go and use the online timetables from the TOCs (mainly EMT) to see if it were possible to go that way. There again, I enjoy doing that sort of planning.

The online booking engines don't like unusual routes, so the only way can really use them is by splitting your moves into legs and working out if the connections are viable, eg: Fenny Stratford - Nottingham, Nottingham - Grimsby.
--- old post above --- --- new post below ---

Using 'via Nottingham'

16:34 Grimsby Town [GMB] Sheffield [SHF] 18:08
18:46 Sheffield [SHF] Nottingham [NOT] 19:38
20:02 Nottingham [NOT] Bedford [BDM] 21:21
21:56 Bedford [BDM] Fenny Stratford [FEN] 22:34

 

[IanD]

If I were doing it, I'd use the GBTT I have at home

If I didn't have a timetable at home, I'd decide which way I wanted to go and use the online timetables from the TOCs (mainly EMT), but there again, that sort of planning I enjoy doing.

That's how I'd do it too! Or use the online NRT: Tables 27, 29, 30, 53, 56, 57, 64, 66 and 67 should just about cover any of the routes available on the Rover ticket. (Remember, this will also allow travel via Nuneaton and Coventry as well as the other routes already mentioned).

On the booking sites you could specify via Bedford.

Or specify avoid Birmingham Stations, this will probably route you via Kings Cross/Euston so (on the old RSH mixing deck interface http://tickets.redspottedhanky.com/rsh/en/controls/ticketsearchcontrol at least) you'd need to select 'Show Timetables' and then limit it to trains calling at Derby/Tamworth/Sheffield/Nottingham etc...

So for example leaving Grimsby at 1634 on a Friday could get you to MKC at 2147 changing at Sheffield, Derby, Tamworth and Rugby
or 2149 changing at Sheffield, Leicester, Bedford and Bletchley
or 2150 changing at Sheffielld, Derby and Stoke

Eg
Grimsby Town 16:34
Sheffield 18:08 dep 18:27
Leicester 19:23 dep 19:33
Bedford 20:18 dep 20:55
(Fenny Stratford 21:33
Bletchley 21:38 dep 21:43)
Milton Keynes Central 21:49

OR
Grimsby Town 16:34
Sheffield 18:08 18:35
Derby 19:14 19:36
Tamworth 20:01 20:15
Rugby 20:45 21:28
Milton Keynes Central 21:47

OR
Grimsby Town 16:34
Sheffield 18:08 18:35
Derby 19:14 19:42
Stoke On Trent 20:33 20:53
Milton Keynes Central 21:50

 

[DeeGee]

Or specify avoid Birmingham Stations, this will probably route you via Kings Cross/Euston so (on the old RSH mixing deck interface http://tickets.redspottedhanky.com/rsh/en/controls/ticketsearchcontrol at least) you'd need to select 'Show Timetables' and then limit it to trains calling at Derby/Tamworth/Sheffield/Nottingham etc...

First train given with "Avoid Birmingham Stations" routes me via Stockport! Assume that's because only one change is needed instead of three via London.

The timings via Leicester interest me. I'll have a look to see what else it throws up!
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Lets just say for the sake of argument that I fancy going via Stockport. I have to buy two tickets. Instead of splitting at Stockport is there a cheaper option?

 

[IanD]

First train given with "Avoid Birmingham Stations" routes me via Stockport! Assume that's because only one change is needed instead of three via London.

The timings via Leicester interest me. I'll have a look to see what else it throws up!
--- old post above --- --- new post below ---
Lets just say for the sake of argument that I fancy going via Stockport. I have to buy two tickets. Instead of splitting at Stockport is there a cheaper option?

Advances Grimsby-Stockport on the 1634 and 1734 are £11 arr Stockp 1853 and 1953. Advances from Stockport to MKC are £13 on the 2004 or £10.50 on the 2023 and 2123. The £10.50 tickets should allow you to get some food at Stockport.

Same the other way, £10.50 on the 1550/1650/1750 ex MK which connect nicely with the 1728/1828/1926 ex Stockport at £11.

Not sure if any other splits would be cheaper.

 

[DeeGee]

The £10.50 tickets should allow you to get some food at Stockport.

Anyone know Stockport Station. Are there any decent catering outlets either on station or nearby?

 

[IanD]

Depends what you call decent - there's a McDonalds at the end of the road.

 

[DeeGee]

I've gone for Stockport anyway. I've given myself an hour between legs to get some food in.

I suppose Pumpkin will be open if nothing else.