Southwick/Brighton to Crewe?

[tanyalbeck]

I live in Southwick (W Sussex) and am going to a friend's wedding in crewe for may 14th 2011. I would like to get there on the 13th and leave either on the sunday (14th) or Monday (15th). Searches have given me a fare of about £80 open return off peak, and includes getting the tube from london Victoria to euston... something i want to avoid with a suitcase!!!
The national express coach is half the price but takes 11 hours...
HELP!! can I get there quicker/ easier/ cheaper? I'm sure Virgin used to go direct from brighton?

Tanya

 

[MikeWh]

Yes, XC used to run to Brighton but they only get as far as Guildford now. They also used to be run by Virgin but transfered to Arriva a while back.

If you add in that you want to go via Kensington Olympia then you get itineries that change at Brighton, Clapham Junction and either Watford Junction or Milton Keynes Central. The journey seems to take about half an hour longer (4hr 22m) than the via London time (3hr 52m). The fare (off-peak return £80.20) is the same. Hopefully someone with splitting expertise will suggest ways to get that cost down a bit more.

One final point, I assume you are saying return on either Sun 15th or Mon 16th?

 

[dzug2]

You can probably reduce the cost by splitting in London - London/Crewe tickets seem readily available at £8 to £11 each way. Check London Midland as well as Virgin.

And Southern usually have cheap advance tickets between Brighton and Victoria - don't know about Southwick

The direct service from Brighton to Manchester was withdrawn about 15 months ago

Another route to check out would be Brighton - East Croydon (or Clapham Junction) - Milton Keynes - Crewe. A Southern Daysave would get you to MK for £12 and advance singles to/from Crewe should be marginally cheaper than from Euston

 

[richardderby]

£10 each way advance tickets available if you book at southernrailway.com and use their and london midland trains only. this means going via kensington olympia, and changing at clapham junction and milton keynes.

 

[tanyalbeck]

thanks!! after a lot of puting in various details I got a split journey from southwick to victoria, then Euston to crewe, both return, for a total of £26!!! I was about to pay over £70 when I remembered I'd asked you guys a while ago... thanks so much!! I'll use my Oyster card from victoria to euston.
Thanks so much again... you guys rock!
Tanya