London to Gainsborough

[VauxhallandI]

One of my fellow London Alty fans has been bemoaning the "£70 odd" fare he is being quoted to Gainsborough on Sat 30th November.

Match KO at 3pm, so arriving anytime between 12 and 2, returning 5.30 onwards.

Is he missing a trick?

 

[DeeGee]

Only if he fancies a late arrival home.

11.03 Kings Cross - 13:30 Gainsborough Lea Road: £22.50
Only advance home is 20:05 Lea Road - 22:27 KGX, but is the bargain price of £17.00

Otherwise, yes, it's 70 odd quid for an Off-Peak return.

 

[bb21]

The fare quoted is a Super Off-Peak Return so flexible and available to buy at any time.

eastcoast.co.uk gives me £22.05 on the 1103 from the cross arriving 1330, and the return at 2005 arriving 2227 for £16.65. These are Advance fares.
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Alternatively for flexible tickets, split at Peterborough. A London Terminals - Peterborough Route FCC Only Super Off-Peak Day Return is £18.00 (10% off from FCC's website), and a Peterborough - Gainsborough Route Any Permitted Off-Peak Day Return is £18.70.

The second ticket is valid either via Spalding or via Newark, but there is no train via Spalding on the way back. You could faff around with excesses by buying the cheaper Route Via Spalding fare, but the saving is less than £1 so easier to not bother.

Sample itinerary on the way back:

Gainsborough Lea Road 1738 - Lincoln Central 1803
Lincoln Central 1834 - Newark Castle 1858
Newark North Gate 1917 - Peterborough 1947
Peterborough 2016 - King's Cross 2147

The connection at Newark is a little on the tight side but perfectly doable for a normal person without mobility issues. Later itineraries are possible, including those that avoid the walk across Newark by taking a direct train from Lincoln to Newark North Gate.

Beware that as it is an FCC Only ticket between Peterborough and King's Cross, your friend must change at Peterborough if on an East Coast service.

 

[VauxhallandI]

Thanks folks, that seems far more palatable.

 

[Romilly]

The £18.70 Peterborough to Gainsborough Day Return ticket would, according to the East Coast website, also be valid on the following:

Peterborough d.1215
Retford a.1253

Retford d.1323
Gainsboro Lea Road a.1336

Gainsboro LR d.1744
Retford a.1758

Retford d.1808
Peterboro a.1847

The trains between Peterboro and Retford are East Coast services: to use the same trains between Peterboro and KX would appear to need an Any Permitted Day Return at £31 rather than the cheaper FCC Only Day Return already suggested. (Or from the EC website advances at £11.05 on the two East Coast trains suggested)

 

[bb21]

The £18.70 Peterborough to Gainsborough Day Return ticket would, according to the East Coast website, also be valid on the following:

Retford fails fares check with current fares, however it may be the case that it passes if using NFM64 data, which I don't have access to.

 

[maniacmartin]

It's valid via Retford under the 3 mile rule, and doesn't qualify for any of Retford's many negative easements.

 

[bb21]

Good point. Didn't think of that as I was under the impression that going via Lincoln is much shorter.

In fact, it would appear that according to National Rail Timetable mileages, going via Retford is the shortest route, at 148 miles. Amazing!