Southampton-Penrith

[Oracle]

Looks as though I have to go to my HQ in Cumbria once a month. I have had enough of driving 6 hours there, and 8 hours back so it's train time! I have given up trying to work out how you can find out availability of the cheap offer tickets for a return..out say a Thursday and back the next day, up to say again a month in advance! I have a Disabled RC now, and the cheapest I have found on the National Rail site is £67 Standard and something like £158 First. I just could not get my reasonably literate brain around how you find out whether the cheapo tickets (compulsory reservation) are available for a particular day! In my case it's out first through train, then back last through train next day and so I am not going to need to change plans.

The VT site does not seem to offer any cheapo tickets so far as I could see. This all contrasts with Southern's excellent site with the offers clearly understandable and findable!

 

[Tom]

Look at www.firstscotrail.trainsfares.co.uk - put in your journey while selecting 'Return' - when on the ticket display page click "Show singles".

 

[Jord]

I came up with £58.40

My example:

Outward Thursday 1st Novermber : dep 11.15 arr 16:33
Value Advance - Standard £24.75

Return Friday 2nd November: dep 14:29 arr 19.40
Fully Flexible - Standard £33.65

= £58.40

Which is approx a month before travel, out on a Thursday and back the next day (Friday) on a through train.

 

[Oracle]

£67.30 Standard; £165.65 First is the best that I can come up with, with no really cheapo offer tickets available it seems, even trying different days. Ho hum! By the way that was for 17/18 October, and trying a day or so earlier, and a week earlier.

Cheers Tom for the suggestion and as usual being so darn quick, and thanks also Jordan.

 

[rail-britain]

Outward 01 November
Return 02 November
Disabled Adult Railcard
Southampton - Crewe £35.00 return
Crewe - Penrith £18.45 return
Total £53.45

Outward 18 October
Return 18 October
Disabled Adult Railcard
Southampton - Crewe £21.80 return
Crewe - Penrith £10.60 return
Total £32.40

Ironic, book 4 weeks in advance and its more expensive!

 

[yorkie]

I have to say, the Saver is fairly reasonable being valid "by any train" at £67.30

m8internet - I think you are quoting singles and adding up the price, rather than quoting returns.

Automotivehistorian - to get the cheap advance fares, you need to purchase singles.

I'd use APs if you can get the price as low as £32, but if the price creeps up to the £58 quoted, then £9 more for fully flexible (and refundable) tickets seems a better deal. If you're ill, or you decide not to travel, you can't get a refund on advance purchase fares! With a Saver you can purchase on the day (and even on the train if the ticket office isn't open), and if you miss that first train for any reason (or need to travel back earlier) you are covered.

The "Not London" fare is also valid via London by virtue of being more expensive. Guards may question it, but it is valid.

 

[rail-britain]

m8internet - I think you are quoting singles and adding up the price, rather than quoting returns

No, those are return fares for Southampton to Penrith, for the dates specified
Yes, the are singles, and the return would be four singles, each one is about £5 to £9
Simply splitting the tickets as singles :
Southampton - Crewe
Crewe - Penrith
Penrith - Crewe
Crewe - Southampton

There is also a slight saving splitting at Birmingham or Stafford

 

[Oracle]

Thanks guys. However I just found I couldn't get any evidence of availability of cheapo APs or whatever bargain bucket Virgin call them these days, just the SVR as mentioned. No matter how I tried! Must be doing something wrong, or I'll get you lot to book for me and give you a free book that I authored as commission!

 

[rail-britain]

I used both of these :
https://www.buytickets.virgintrains.co.uk/
http://ojp2.nationalrail.co.uk/en/pj/jp

It is important to set the railcard settings BEFORE clicking on Check Fares!

I reran this one
Outward 01 November
Return 02 November
Disabled Adult Railcard
It's now down to £48
Amazing what difference a day makes!

 

[Ascot]

VT have got CDRs along the route now so split um up from Crewe up the WCML.

 

[rail-britain]

There have always been CDRs on the route, you just need to know they are there!
However, if you purchase separate tickets and suffer any delays then you cannot claim subsequent compensation for any missed connections!

 

[Oracle]

I have just tried the Virginal site again to see what the current offerings are and all I get offered for an overnight return is the £33 + few pence x 2. No baragin bucket offerings, though this was for 17/18 October. I tried Soton-Crewe singles but I really must be doing something wrong as it was quoting very high prices.

Thanks for the advice guys, and I'll just get the best deal that I can nearer the time.

 

[rail-britain]

If you are on MSN Messenger I can talk you through how to book the "hidden" fares...

 

[Daniel]

I'm sure the Bargin Berths are only shown on the FSR BB site thingy?

 

[rail-britain]

I'm sure the Bargin Berths are only shown on the FSR BB site thingy?

Think you will find he means Value Advance fares
FSR don't serve Southampton nor Penrith - Crewe

 

[paul1609]

Automotivehistorian,
I obviously dont know details of your mobility etc., but have you considered flying to Manchester from Southampton and completing the journey by rail?
If you can book a month in advance the fares would be similar.
Whilst I expect screams of disapproval the fact is that from the South Coast Rail is not really competitive once you have to travel as far as Manchester on the WCML and becomes less so the further north you travel.
I have fairly regularly had to travel to Glasgow for business meetings over the last couple of years my connection from Southampton to Southampton Airport is a XC service to Edinburgh.
When Im taking off from Southampton the train has just left Oxford, when I land at Glasgow the train is waiting at Birmingham new Street. As i take off from Glasgow going home the train is just approaching Edinburgh.

 

[Oracle]

Yes, thanks Paul. I went from Soton to Manchester about two years ago, and it cost me £280. The scheduled time was 45 minues, and we did it in 35! Then it was a taxi to Trafford Park. On option is fly to Manchester, then take the direct train to Oxenholme and the on by train tp Penrith or get a lift. It's just the cost + hassle really. One day Carlisle airport will be opened to flights from Stansted...can't come too soon. The other option is to fly to Newcastle, then take a Metro to Central, and a train on, or hire a car for the 75 miles to Appleby. The proposed Southampton-Blackpool service never started..that would have been handy, with a 1 hour drive required.

Just a general word about the DPRC...you can get one oif you get DLA, Disability Living Allowance, if you are long-term sick, and for other reasons other than a physical handicap. Handy!

 

[paul1609]

i think youll find that nowadays £280 is what youll pay if you want to travel this week.
If your booking a month in advance youd be looking at somewhere in the region of £60 to £90 return especially if you avoid the beginning of the week. The train leg is often a same platform interchange at Manchester Piccadilly or Preston. Its probably a lot less hassle than some of the all rail options.

 

[Oracle]

Cheers. The best option is probably plane to Newcastle then hire car the 75 miles/ 1 1/2hours to Appleby. Soton-Leeds/Bradford, bus to the station then train to Appleby is a heck of an effort. Yes, the journey planner quotes Manchester Airport-Preston, then change to get to Penrith.