Megatrain Advice

[Vicky23]

I'm going to London from Sheffield on December 9th-11th and I've been told that if I plan way ahead of time, there's a chance I could get a £1 train ticket using Megatrain.

'Please be aware bookings can be made up to 45 days before the day of travel and will need to be purchased before 0300 hours.' - www.cheaptraintickets.info/mega-trains-mega-1-train-tickets/

Question 1 - Is the above statement true? If so, does this mean I would need to search for the tickets on Wednesday 25th October at 03:00?

Question 2 - How many £1 tickets do they generally release? I need 2 tickets. Is there a next best price after £1? Should I search for '2' or '1' when doing the initial search?

Question 3 - Would I be able to get the same deal London - Sheffield for my return journey?

Thanks in advance! (:

 

[Joe Paxton]

Megatrain tickets generally go on sale at midnight. The 3am thing is I think in reference to the last opportunity you have to buy a Megatrain ticket (i.e. before 3am on the day of travel, obviously subject to availability on that day).

I think it's likely there will only be one £1 ticket available, after which the next price level may be £3 or £5 (or more). If you search for two tickets you'll only be offered tickets at a price level where two or more are available, i.e. if there's a single £1 ticket available and three £3 tickets, searching for two tickets will result in you being offered 2 tickets for £6 (£3+£3), not £4 (£1+£3). This is the same with most ticket booking systems in travel and elsewhere.

 

[MikeWh]

I think it's likely there will only be one £1 ticket available, after which the next price level may be £3 or £5 (or more). If you search for two tickets you'll only be offered tickets at a price level where two or more are available, i.e. if there's a single £1 ticket available and three £3 tickets, searching for two tickets will result in you being offered 2 tickets for £6 (£3+£3), not £4 (£1+£3). This is the same with most ticket booking systems in travel and elsewhere.

I obviously don't know the exact details on that route, but I did manage to buy 5 £1 tickets for a London to Southampton Megatrain and likewise for the return in the evening. I just happened to look after midnight having found out about the event 45 days later. I believe I sampled further and worked out that there were 8 in total, but that part of my memory might be fading.

 

[gray1404]

Which routes is Megatrain still offered on these days?

 

[gazthomas]

Which routes is Megatrain still offered on these days?

Due to the loss of the South West Trains franchise just East Midland Trains - as far as I can work out from London to East Midlands Parkway, Derby and Nottingham

 

[Joe Paxton]

I obviously don't know the exact details on that route, but I did manage to buy 5 £1 tickets for a London to Southampton Megatrain and likewise for the return in the evening. I just happened to look after midnight having found out about the event 45 days later. I believe I sampled further and worked out that there were 8 in total, but that part of my memory might be fading.

Fair enough... I have looked a few times at midnight for Megatrain tickets and my recollection is that there was often only the one £1 fare for many journeys, but that doesn't make it a rule! The OP should have a quick search for two tickets, and then one ticket, and see what is offered.

 

[BlueFox]

www.cheaptraintickets.info/mega-trains-mega-1-train-tickets/

That's not the official Megatrain website, you'll need to book at
https://uk.megabus.com/products/megatrain

When you put your journey in you'll see the available tickets for coaches and trains, so make sure you don't book a coach by mistake.

Megatrain tickets are available only on a handful of trains a day - and typically are later in the day for Sheffield to London, earlier in the day for London to Sheffield (so not good for people making a day trip, for example)

 

[Rover]

If you select "sort by duration of travel" as trains are normally faster than coaches the trains should show up first.

 

[bb21]

I think it's likely there will only be one £1 ticket available, after which the next price level may be £3 or £5 (or more). If you search for two tickets you'll only be offered tickets at a price level where two or more are available, i.e. if there's a single £1 ticket available and three £3 tickets, searching for two tickets will result in you being offered 2 tickets for £6 (£3+£3), not £4 (£1+£3). This is the same with most ticket booking systems in travel and elsewhere.

That is incorrect. You will be offered the lowest two fares, even if from different price tiers.

 

[extendedpaul]

The £1 ticket on most Megatrain services sells VERY quickly. There is only one on most Megatrains these days and the price then usually jumps to £9. Twice I've been at the computer just after midnight but failed to secure it from Sheffield. Thursday 7 December is the latest day available and there are currently £1 tickets from Leicester to London including five on the 04.43 to London and one from London to Sheffield at 07.24.

 

[Vicky23]

The £1 ticket on most Megatrain services sells VERY quickly. There is only one on most Megatrains these days and the price then usually jumps to £9. Twice I've been at the computer just after midnight but failed to secure it from Sheffield. Thursday 7 December is the latest day available and there are currently £1 tickets from Leicester to London including five on the 04.43 to London and one from London to Sheffield at 07.24.

I did a trial run last night and looked just after midnight for tickets on 07/10 and I didn't see any Megatrain tickets at all, never mind £1 ones! I refresh the page for a while, give up and sleep and then when I give it another search while I'm at work - there they are! Maybe it's not always midnight?

 

[Vicky23]

That is incorrect. You will be offered the lowest two fares, even if from different price tiers.

So you reckon I should just search for 2 from the get go?

 

[Vicky23]

Megatrain tickets generally go on sale at midnight. The 3am thing is I think in reference to the last opportunity you have to buy a Megatrain ticket (i.e. before 3am on the day of travel, obviously subject to availability on that day).

I think it's likely there will only be one £1 ticket available, after which the next price level may be £3 or £5 (or more). If you search for two tickets you'll only be offered tickets at a price level where two or more are available, i.e. if there's a single £1 ticket available and three £3 tickets, searching for two tickets will result in you being offered 2 tickets for £6 (£3+£3), not £4 (£1+£3). This is the same with most ticket booking systems in travel and elsewhere.

I did a trial run last night and looked just after midnight for tickets on 07/10 and I didn't see any Megatrain tickets at all, never mind £1 ones! I refresh the page for a while, give up and sleep and then when I give it another search while I'm at work - there they are! Maybe it's not always midnight? Will give it another go tonight!

 

[Vicky23]

Thanks all for the advice so far

I actually rang their customer service today for help but the guy who answered was useless, just kept on saying "We don't have a release date for the 9th yet"

 

[extendedpaul]

I did a trial run last night and looked just after midnight for tickets on 07/10 and I didn't see any Megatrain tickets at all, never mind £1 ones! I refresh the page for a while, give up and sleep and then when I give it another search while I'm at work - there they are! Maybe it's not always midnight?

Could be that, it was last year when I tried and failed to get £1 tickets and was definitely midnight then. It may have changed to 3am in keeping with the latest time for booking on that day's Megatrains or possibly when somebody somewhere pushes a particular button! Presumably you weren't actually looking for "07/10" which has been and gone. Good luck anyway.

 

[Vicky23]

Could be that, it was last year when I tried and failed to get £1 tickets and was definitely midnight then. It may have changed to 3am in keeping with the latest time for booking on that day's Megatrains or possibly when somebody somewhere pushes a particular button! Presumably you weren't actually looking for "07/10" which has been and gone. Good luck anyway.

Sorry I mean't 07/12! Thank you.

 

[TheManOnThe172]

... and don't forget to obey the instructions on the Megatrain ticket. Last time I used one, there was a requirement that "The reservation number ... must be presented to our driver when you board the vehicle."

 

[Vicky23]

... and don't forget to obey the instructions on the Megatrain ticket. Last time I used one, there was a requirement that "The reservation number ... must be presented to our driver when you board the vehicle."

Thanks for the heads up!