I regularly make a return journey from Liverpool Lime St to Bristol Temple Meads - typically travelling out on a Thursday early evening and returning Monday morning - and have done for a few years. With just a little organisation I always used to find that the journey could be made for around £40 return by purchasing two advance singles. Recently though - and seemingly coinciding with the fare restructuring (which seems far from simplified in my view!) - I've found it nigh on impossible to achieve this, even when searching for fares almost 8 weeks ahead. So I'd like some advice on whether I'm doing anything wrong or whether these fares are just no longer easy to come by.
I've used National Rail, The Trainline (when it works) and Cross Country websites; what I tend to find is that the 'Off peak' £60 return is always offered (am i correct this is the same as the old Saver return, and that it can still be purchased as a 'walk-up'?), but when searching for two singles, there is never any option for anything other than a £49 single; by way of example, this is what has just come up for a return journey on 4 Dec, returning on 8 Dec. Often, there isn't even any evidence that advance singles are even *available*, let alone that they're all sold out. And yet.... sometimes they *do* weirdly appear and at incredibly short notice. last week, I searched for a single from liverpool to Bristol, travelling last Thursday; Monday - nothing under £49; after a random search again on Tuesday or Wednesday, using the same website, I got a fair for £16.50!
So I couldn't be more confused really. Cross Country have told me that they're releasing as many single fares as they used to, but that they're just selling out quicker. Is this really true? I might be sceptical but the utter unpredictability of all this and the uselessness of so many of the websites makes me wonder. Any thoughts?
Thankyou!
I've used National Rail, The Trainline (when it works) and Cross Country websites; what I tend to find is that the 'Off peak' £60 return is always offered (am i correct this is the same as the old Saver return, and that it can still be purchased as a 'walk-up'?), but when searching for two singles, there is never any option for anything other than a £49 single; by way of example, this is what has just come up for a return journey on 4 Dec, returning on 8 Dec. Often, there isn't even any evidence that advance singles are even *available*, let alone that they're all sold out. And yet.... sometimes they *do* weirdly appear and at incredibly short notice. last week, I searched for a single from liverpool to Bristol, travelling last Thursday; Monday - nothing under £49; after a random search again on Tuesday or Wednesday, using the same website, I got a fair for £16.50!
So I couldn't be more confused really. Cross Country have told me that they're releasing as many single fares as they used to, but that they're just selling out quicker. Is this really true? I might be sceptical but the utter unpredictability of all this and the uselessness of so many of the websites makes me wonder. Any thoughts?
Thankyou!
