London to birmingham fri evening peak

[tannedfrog]

I'd like to go from london to birmingham tomorrow to arrive by 9pm and i think i'm too late for any decent advances

I've got network railcard and monthly z1-6 travelcard

The best single fare i can find is 25.90 on london midland or 32 on chiltern

Any way of doing it cheaper? Will the 6pm chiltern / midland services be very crowded? Thanks

 

[north]

I'd like to go from london to birmingham tomorrow to arrive by 9pm and i think i'm too late for any decent advances

I've got network railcard and monthly z1-6 travelcard

The best single fare i can find is 25.90 on london midland or 32 on chiltern

Any way of doing it cheaper? Will the 6pm chiltern / midland services be very crowded? Thanks

I did previously reply to this but the post appears to have been deleted.

You can save £1 if you combine your 1-6 season and a single from Hatch End to Birmingham for £24.90 (London Midland only)

 

[yorkie]

I did previously reply to this but the post appears to have been deleted.

You can save £1 if you combine your 1-6 season and a single from Hatch End to Birmingham for £24.90

But is this advice useful?

He has a network railcard, he can't use it on that ticket....

I can't check the fares right now, but some Birmingham fast services call at Milton Keynes; splitting there is likely to be cheaper as he can use his Railcard to get there.

It can be done cheaper by splitting at somewhere like Long Buckby (from memory, that's the last station in the Network Area) but of course with a significant increase in journey time. But that may well be cheaper.

Also a ticket from Boundary Zone 6 is likely to be cheaper than Hatch End.

On the Chiltern route, I am unsure off the top of my head which the last station in the Network area is, but splitting there is, again likely to be cheaper, with a ticket from Boundary Zone 6 again likely to be cheaper than specifying the boundary station.

 

[north]

But is this advice useful?

He has a network railcard, he can't use it on that ticket....

I can't check the fares right now, but some Birmingham fast services call at Milton Keynes; splitting there is likely to be cheaper as he can use his Railcard to get there.

It can be done cheaper by splitting at somewhere like Long Buckby (from memory, that's the last station in the Network Area) but of course with a significant increase in journey time.

Also a ticket from Boundary Zone 6 is likely to be cheaper than Hatch End.

OP has a 1-6 season. I never mentioned the network railcard.

There is no BZ6 - Birmingham ticket.

You're right - you can save a further 50p by splitting at Milton Keynes.

London to Milton Keynes single with Railcard min £13
Milton Keynes to Birmingham Super Off Peak single £1140

You can then catch the 1849 to Birmngham from Euston as it leaves Milton Keyes after 1930.

Arrives in birmingham at 2101

 

[yorkie]

OP has a 1-6 season. I never mentioned the network railcard.

There is no BZ6 - Birmingham ticket.

So yes

So, you're saying that it's good advice to recommend not using the Network Railcard?

 

[north]

So, you're saying that it's good advice to recommend not using the Network Railcard?

Erm I never said that. I merely suggested one way to save a (small) amount.

I'm sure there are other ways.

 

[LexyBoy]

Question 1: Are you definitely not coming back? A return would be valid for a month and only cost pennies more.


Splitting at Banbury allows you to use your Network Railcard, but even so works out more expensive (£33.70) than the normal Chiltern fare on walk-up tickets. There are some Advances around for Banbury-Birmingham, bringing it down to £27-£30 depending on the times.

According to National Rail, and therefore to be taken with a big pinch of salt, an Off Peak Day Single (£14.15) to Oxford is valid via Banbury from Marylebone during the evening peak and therefore cheaper than the fare to Banbury (£18.40).

So you could get the 1800 Marylebone-Kidderminster service with a London-Oxford Off Peak Single (use to Banbury) and then swap to an Advance (currently available, £12.50) from Banbury to Birmingham Moor St. All on the same train.

Total: £26.65 - not really much help as LM is still cheaper - but the journey will be a lot nicer than on LM! This doesn't take into account buying from Boundary Zone 6 for the London-Oxford ticket so that should save a couple of quid.

Can't find any worthwhile splits on LM - using Long Buckby (edge of Network Railcard zone) from Hatch End makes it £24.70...

 

[tannedfrog]

Many thanks

Yes i am coming back but have free chiltern weekend travel thru buyin my travelcard at marylebone!!!

 

[OwlMan]

If you get the 1849 LM Euston - Northampton and then the 2056 Northampton to birmingham New Street (due 2101)
You can use
Euston - Milton Keynes Off peak day single..........£13
Milton Keynes - Birminghm Super Off Peak single ..£11-40
Total ...........................................................£24-40

The only cheaper way is to go by NE coach Dep London 1700 arr Birmingham 1950 £12-50
If you depart 1 hour later the fare is £18-30

Peter

 

[tannedfrog]

Thanks again. Actually the chiltern line is not running this weekend but it says valid chiltern tickets accepted on FGW from oxford to paddington

I've got no chance of turning my free Chiltern weekend travel into a ticket which works on FGW have i ?!?!

 

[wibble]

Any way of doing it cheaper? Will the 6pm chiltern / midland services be very crowded? Thanks

If you do use London Midland, get to Euston 20-30min before the train is due to leave and head to the front carriage - it's one of the last to fill up. LM trains around this time are very busy...

 

[SS4]

If you do use London Midland, get to Euston 20-30min before the train is due to leave and head to the front carriage - it's one of the last to fill up. LM trains around this time are very busy...

I agree, in addition only the front four coaches go beyond Northampton IIRC

 

[Flying Snail]

If you don't need to be in Birmingham until 9pm then you could get either the 19.03 or 19.23 Virgin which are off-peak and will get you to New Street before 9.

Cheapest single for that would be a SVH at £22.15, to get this ticket you need to buy a seperate return as well so either the cheapest possible Advance you can find for any train (£7.50 seems to be the lowest) and not use it or get one to use on your return if your free Chiltern tickets are not available.

At just under £30 not the cheapest option but not a big surcharge for a much faster journey than the alternatives.