Two days a week Wigan - London

[Ldntraveller]

Hi, I’m looking for advice on travelling between Wigan North Western and London Euston 2 days per week following a newly introduced hybrid working policy at work.

Up to now I’m struggling with how I’m going to afford this, so have just been looking at flexi season tickets. However, it doesn’t look like they are applicable to my route.

Can anyone offer advice on the cheapest way I can do this please?

Many thanks in advance!

 

[telstarbox]

What times do you need to be there?
Are the two days fixed or your choice?

 

[Ldntraveller]

What times do you need to be there?
Are the two days fixed or your choice?

Core hours are 10am to 4pm. Days aren’t fixed at the moment, but our team generally try to all be in on Mondays, plus any other of our choice..

 

[Bletchleyite]

Using the West Midlands Trains (London Northwestern Railway branded) service from Crewe to Euston rather than using Avanti is likely to be your cheapest option, and it's not even that slow these days. Use a split ticketing site (such as the Forum's) to buy your tickets as a split will almost certainly be cheaper (though if money really is of the essence you can buy the two parts separately and that doesn't affect your rights). You will need to use Avanti as far as Crewe unless you go via Manchester or Liverpool which would add a lot of time to your journey, though that won't be as expensive as using them to go to Euston.

If the days are fixed in advance, then the further in advance you book the cheaper it will be likely to be, though the Anytime walk up fares on those trains are not swingeing compared to Avanti where they are beyond ridiculous. If able to hang around in London a bit in the evening and get back later, you might find it's cheaper to return off peak even if going down peak is the only option; this, depending on your budget, may even make the direct Avanti service affordable on the way home.

 

[Fawkes Cat]

Using the West Midlands Trains (London Northwestern Railway branded) service from Crewe to Euston rather than using Avanti is likely to be your cheapest option, and it's not even that slow these days. Use a split ticketing site (such as the Forum's) to buy your tickets as a split will almost certainly be cheaper (though if money really is of the essence you can buy the two parts separately and that doesn't affect your rights). You will need to use Avanti as far as Crewe unless you go via Manchester or Liverpool which would add a lot of time to your journey, though that won't be as expensive as using them to go to Euston.

If the days are fixed in advance, then the further in advance you book the cheaper it will be likely to be, though the Anytime walk up fares on those trains are not swingeing compared to Avanti where they are beyond ridiculous. If able to hang around in London a bit in the evening and get back later, you might find it's cheaper to return off peak even if going down peak is the only option; this, depending on your budget, may even make the direct Avanti service affordable on the way home.

Depending on how the train fares come out, it may be worth looking at the price of a Travelodge or similar in London for Monday nights - so you would travel down on Monday, stay overnight and travel home on Tuesday.

So cutting your train journeys by half - but at the expense of adding an overnight hotel stay.

 

[Bletchleyite]

Depending on how the train fares come out, it may be worth looking at the price of a Travelodge or similar in London for Monday nights - so you would travel down on Monday, stay overnight and travel home on Tuesday.

So cutting your train journeys by half - but at the expense of adding an overnight hotel stay.

Yes, true. Also take into account that central London hotels are usually expensive, but those just outside are sometimes not - Croydon in particular is worth a look for relatively low prices on budget hotels, as is (a bit further out) Milton Keynes provided it's not Silverstone weekend.

 

[higthomas]

Yes, true. Also take into account that central London hotels are usually expensive, but those just outside are sometimes not - Croydon in particular is worth a look for relatively low prices on budget hotels, as is (a bit further out) Milton Keynes provided it's not Silverstone weekend.

Also Wembley Park has quite a few which are pretty good value when there isn't football/a concert on and is easy to get to.


A hotel will likely both save you money, and just be a nicer experience, and allow you to do things like post-work drinks. We have a fair few people at work who do something like that. Including at least one guy who fly's in from Ireland for 4 days a week! Madness to me, but each to their own.

 

[Mcr Warrior]

Flexi seasons might be possible for the OP by splitting at Crewe. Wigan NW to Crewe (8 days in 28) is £153.60. Crewe to Euston (8 days in 28) is £1,190.00. Works out as £167.95 per round trip.

 

[Tetchytyke]

Sunday nights tend to be the cheapest for hotels, so it may work best by going down Sunday evening, do Monday and Tuesday in the office, then home Tuesday evening. Would mean you’d only need one return and that would be at off peak times.

And yes, hotels slightly out of town are often much better value. Depends where your office is as to which area is better. Unless there’s an event on at Excel I generally find Canning Town to be very good value.

 

[Rail Ranger]

Friday is Off Peak all day on Avanti so Off Peak Return tickets are valid on any train on a Friday.

 

[Bletchleyite]

Friday is Off Peak all day on Avanti so Off Peak Return tickets are valid on any train on a Friday.

Good point, that does generally make Avanti cheaper than WMT on a Friday, as WMT's dedicated fares do not have that concession. If it works the original poster may thus want to consider, if not wanting to stay over, one of the two days being Friday. Nice and quiet too!

With regard to WMT, though, if travelling out Sunday that is Super Off Peak which is even cheaper. WMT's dedicated fares have peak time restrictions on Saturdays as well as weekdays. This no longer applies in the Project Oval area (south of Bletchley inclusive) but does still apply on the long distance fares.

 

[Ldntraveller]

Thankyou for all of your help and suggestions, It has given me much food for thought!