Leeds - Edinburgh

[phil35]

Hi, me and a friend are wanting to spend 3 nights in Edinburgh. We want to arrive either on the 1st October and return on the 4th, or depart on the 2nd and return on the 5th. We both have railcards.

My nearest stations are Leeds or Bradford Interchange, and my friend's nearest station is Barnsley. We need to meet en route (either at Leeds or at Bradford).

We're happy to commit to specific trains, the only criteria is that the trains don't depart or arrive stupidly early or late.

What's the cheapest way for us to do this via train? Thanks.

 

[bb21]

We both have railcards.

I assume you mean 16-25 Railcards by this?

What prices have you found so far?

 

[Butts]

Hi, me and a friend are wanting to spend 3 nights in Edinburgh. We want to arrive either on the 1st October and return on the 4th, or depart on the 2nd and return on the 5th. We both have railcards.

My nearest stations are Leeds or Bradford Interchange, and my friend's nearest station is Barnsley. We need to meet en route (either at Leeds or at Bradford).

We're happy to commit to specific trains, the only criteria is that the trains don't depart or arrive stupidly early or late.

What's the cheapest way for us to do this via train? Thanks.

Have you tried accessing East Coasts website inputting the dates and seeing which results emerge ?

 

[phil35]

Yes I should have clarified, 16-25 railcards. So far I have, for one person, £27.60 for the outward journey on the 1st, and £22.50 for the return journey on the 4th, totalling £50.15. Both legs include the EC website discount, and for ease, I'm currently using the journey Leeds - Edinburgh. I'm currently looking at going via the West Coast Mainline, but initially it's looking more expensive.

 

[mikeg]

I can get it down to £40.70. Would you mind going via the very scenic Settle and Carlisle line to Carlisle from Leeds and then catching a TPE service from Carlisle to Edinburgh?

There are some very good advances available from Carlisle to Edinburgh with your railcard , from £7.40 outward and £5.70 return. However to get this price you must book through the 'students' section of the TPE website (however you merely have to hold a 16-25 railcard to get this 'student' discount).

An anytime return from Leeds to Carlisle via Appleby then costs £27.90 with your railcard. It'll take longer though.
If you're thinking of going this route you could also try an anytime return from Leeds to Lockerbie (via Appleby) for £29 and then an off peak return from Lockerbie to Edinburgh for £18.70 - please note that you would then be restricted to trains that call at Lockerbie, but it's still more flexible than my above suggestion although is no good if you want to leave Edinburgh before 0915 or want to go through Lockerbie before that time on the way up.

 

[phil35]

That sounds like a very good suggestion, thanks. After a little more digging, I found if I come back on the 5th there is one incredibly cheap EC service which brings the total cost down dramatically. I'll hopefully get round to booking tomorrow, and assume that price hasn't disappeared by then then I'll probably go that way. If it has gone up in price, then I may well go via Carlisle as you suggested. Thanks.

 

[MCR247]

Bearing in mind the Carlise - Edinburgh TPE will most likely be rammed

 

[34D]

That sounds like a very good suggestion, thanks. After a little more digging, I found if I come back on the 5th there is one incredibly cheap EC service which brings the total cost down dramatically. I'll hopefully get round to booking tomorrow, and assume that price hasn't disappeared by then then I'll probably go that way. If it has gone up in price, then I may well go via Carlisle as you suggested. Thanks.

If its incredibly cheap it ought to have been snapped up. I'll be amazed if its still there.

 

[Dewedin]

Try splitting advances at Alnmouth, you can usually get 50%-off advances with 16-25 railcards for Leeds to Alnmouth on tpexpress.co.uk/students.

 

[Max]

Try splitting advances at Alnmouth, you can usually get 50%-off advances with 16-25 railcards for Leeds to Alnmouth on tpexpress.co.uk/students.

Since Alnmouth is north of Newcastle you wouldn't be able to get the 50% discount, as TPE don't serve there. You could try splitting at Newcastle to get this extra money off. Splitting at Morpeth, Alnmouth or Berwick can often save money too (even without an extra discount for railcard holders).

 

[yorkie]

What's the cheapest way for us to do this via train? Thanks.

I couldn't say what the cheapest way is (as that cannot really be calculated and even if it could, it could not be guaranteed to be the cheapest), but I could give some ideas on cheaper ways.

Subject to availability of Advance tickets, it can be cheaper to book to/from Manchester on TPE using the 'Student Promo' on the TPE website (you just need a 16-25 Railcard to qualify!), though that is a slower journey. It may not work out good value at this relatively short notice though as the cheapest Advance tickets will have sold out. Alternatively use the promo as far north on the ECML as it will let you.

Alternatively if you want some flexibility but are happy to use a slower route, would you consider going via Appleby?