Kings Cross - Dundee

[puffinscot]

Hi folks - referred here by Railtalk Magazine. I wondered if anyone on here can explain this?

My brother is trying to travel back from Kings Cross to Dundee on Sunday 7th November. I'm trying to get to Glasgow from Kings Cross on the same day and we're aiming to get the 10am service from Kings X to Edinburgh and then continue on separately.

When I search on the various websites (e.g. eastcoast.co.uk) it will offer me a fair from Kings X to Glasgow but not one on that 10am train from Kings X to Dundee - the first service to Dundee is 10.30am.

Why would it not offer all services? I can only think it is assuming we'll pay more so we don't have to wait for a connecting train to Dundee (the 10.30am connects with the same service as the 10am - but is £15 more)

thanks in advance for any other suggestions!

Kevin

 

[Dewedin]

Split the ticket?

 

[ainsworth74]

The only direct service to Dundee on Sunday morning is at 11:00. The only 10:00 service off Kings Cross goes to Leeds. So I'm not entirely sure what trains your talking about. But if you get the 11:00 that will get your brother to Dundee direct and you can change at Edinburgh for Glasgow.

 

[yorkie]

Just singles? Any railcards? What time do you have to be in Dundee/Glasgow by?

 

[MCR247]

The only direct service to Dundee on Sunday morning is at 11:00. The only 10:00 service off Kings Cross goes to Leeds. So I'm not entirely sure what trains your talking about. But if you get the 11:00 that will get your brother to Dundee direct and you can change at Edinburgh for Glasgow.

No, it isn't. I think you are looking at the wrong timetable

 

[ainsworth74]

No, it isn't. I think you are looking at the wrong timetable

I don't think I am . There is one that leaves Edinburgh at 09:10 and calls at Dundee. But the first train off the Cross is at 11:00.

Anyhoo this is the timetable I'm looking at.

 

[yorkie]

ainsworth74 appears to be correct, as far as I can determine.

That's going to be a busy train, and is therefore priced accordingly

I don't think splitting will help.

 

[Dewedin]

I don't think I am . There is one that leaves Edinburgh at 09:10 and calls at Dundee. But the first train off the Cross is at 11:00.

Anyhoo this is the timetable I'm looking at.

He doesn't mean direct Kings Cross to Dundee. He wants to get the 10am and then wait for the same onward service to Dundee from Edinburgh that the 10.30 connects with.

 

[ainsworth74]

ainsworth74 appears to be correct, as far as I can determine.

Ahh good, I was starting to second guess myself

 

[puffinscot]

thanks everyone so far.

The 10.00 (1S11) does go to Edinburgh.
The 10.10 (1D28) goes to Leeds
The 10.30 (1S12) goes to Glasgow Central
The 11.00 (1S13) goes to Aberdeen, calling at Dundee

I agree splitting doesn't seem to help. At one point fares from KX to Newcastle and then KX to Dundee looked good & we could have parted there - but they've gone up by £12 or so in the last hour.

There are Scotrail trains from Edinburgh to Dundee that aren't shown on that East Coast timetable that my brother can connect with. However, a single is £20.20. Even a split there at Kirkcaldy (cheap day returns valid if you do that) doesn't really save much.

My choice seems to be - if I travel on the 10.30 from Kings Cross with my brother, it costs me more than the 10.00. If he comes with me on the 10.00 it costs him more than the 10.30. A good old moral dilemma! Or just be anti-social and we each get the cheapest trains

Our preference is to get back to Scotland reasonably early (due to young families).

cheers, Kevin

 

[Donny Dave]

Having just looked at the East Coast website quickly, I can see there is AP singles available for £48.10 (0900 Kings Cross - Edinburgh) and £61.40 (0930 and 1000 KX - Edin) (prices based on 2 adults, with no railcards). Prices after that start from £89.

For the 1511 EDB - GLC, you can then get a Standard Day Single for £14.20. However, the cost of a single ticket from Edinburgh - Dundee is £40.40 (valid any train) which is more than the cost of the KX - EDB leg hock:

I'll let the other experts on the forum debate the merits of splitting tickets in the way I've suggested, and see if they can find a cheaper way.

 

[yorkie]

have you already booked the southbound journeys, or are you going by alternative means e.g. road transport?
--- old post above --- --- new post below ---
London - Glasgow is showing as £30.70 on the 10.00 (arr Queen St 1606), or £44.50 on the 10.30 (direct to Central 1615). I suggest booking that.

Then book London - Dundee via Heworth, for £46.50, this gives an hour in Newcastle (1308 - 1414) during which you are not allowed to leave station premises (but you are allowed to use station facilities, either side of the barrier) and can have a bite to eat before boarding the Aberdeen train that gets to Dundee at 1724.

 

[puffinscot]

Tickets purchased

both booked on 10am - I've got an Advance EC Single KX-Glasgow, £30.70
my brother has the same KX - Edinburgh, £30.70 (so my Glasgow bit is free?)
then Anytime single Edinburgh-Inverkeithing (£4.10) and Inverkeithing to Dundee (£11.90) - so total for my brother is £46.70

Thanks for all the ideas - still no idea why no through ticket to Dundee is offered on that 10am train.

cheers, Kevin
--- old post above --- --- new post below ---
I like the Heworth trick - will remember that one - that would let me book a through ticket as you suggested too.

We've got Advance singles south, we'll be on the same train from Edinburgh. They were £24 something for me and £25 something for my brother.

thanks everyone. Kevin