Ilkley to Kings Cross Out 23rd/24th Rtn 25th

[Red Dragon]

I'd appreciate some fare advice please.

I have a pal - adult no railcards, who now needs to travel from ILK to KGX at relatively short notice.

He can travel out anytime on Saturday 23rd Feb or early on Sunday 24th and return on Monday 25th Feb between 09.35 and 14.35.

I've tried singles, splitting at DON and PBO, going on Grand Central, and also via MAN and I'm coming up with £61.70 using singles on early and late East Coast trains, and £100.30 for a Super OPR on East Coast by booking online.

Is there a cheaper way to do the trip ?

Any advice appreciated.

 

[BillyBoy]

I’ve been watching this thread in the hope that you get some good suggestions as I often travel to Kings Cross on similarly short notice.
I’m sorry that you haven’t had a response. Maybe there just isn’t a cheaper way to do this journey anymore?
I used to keep a spreadsheet with all the intermediate stations and work out the price of different combinations of split advance tickets. The last few times I’ve tried it the total of the split tickets has almost exactly equalled the price of one ticket for the whole journey.
I’m sorry to suggest this on a railway forum but if your pal can stand 4½ hours on a coach, National Express from Leeds is £12 each way.

 

[soil]

A Clitheroe - London SVR (£82.60) may be valid from Hellifield and down to London via Leeds.

You would need Ilkley - Leeds singles to complete this.

 

[Red Dragon]

Thanks for your suggestions, my pal can't do the coach bit as he's not up to it.

I too tried the various splits but to no avail. There was no advantage as we're too close to the travel date I guess.

 

[ainsworth74]

It's very hard to find useful splits on the ECML, which is why you've not got a very good response. It really has become a book in advance railway over the last few years.

 

[Red Dragon]

I think you're right, unfortunately he didn't get much notice so he'll have to grin and bear it this time, however as he's a Scot he might not grin !
As a Welshman I'll buy him some beer when we go to Murrayfield for the Scotland Wales game in a few weeks' time. I've booked us out over Settle Carlisle on the Friday and rtn down the ECML on the Sunday at very reasonable cost as I knew well in advance when we wanted to travel.
Shame the Scots are going to lose that particular game - might have to give him lots of anaesthetic !

 

[30907]

I haven't checked the fares for a week - my son wanted to travel Bradford-Wembley at relatively short notice - but for Leeds-London you have the option of paying Advance out and half the Super Offpeak return if you book online. You then have to pay Ilkley-Leeds both ways

If the return time with the Advance isn't convenient, it might be slightly cheaper than the Super OPR...

 

[Red Dragon]

for Leeds-London you have the option of paying Advance out and half the Super Offpeak return if you book online. You then have to pay Ilkley-Leeds both ways

.

Thanks I wasn't aware of that, will check it in future.