Wolv/Birm - Aberdeen

[Bee15_16]

Hi there!

Travelling up to Aberdeen on Sun 2nd Dec returning on Thurs 6th Dec

Would love some help in finding some tickets for this route if possible please.
Open to anything! Quicker would be better but if slower is much cheaper then slow is the way to go

Thank you!

 

[telstarbox]

Do you have any railcards, and what tickets have you found so far?

 

[Bee15_16]

Rail card ran out, I'm 25, and I've not found much as I've only only just started looking at the trains.
Was thinking going on the coach but it takes 10/11 hours and would much prefer to get there sooner.

 

[Butts]

Cheapest I could find was £137.20 for an off-peak return.(East Coast Website)

Some of the "splitters" may be able to find you a cheaper ticket.

Personally for that amount I'd rather Fly which takes an hour from Birmingham to Aberdeen - unfortunately as you've left it so late your looking at £200 return for that option on the dates quoted.

The train will take 8 hours plus each way :cry:

 

[SickyNicky]

Some of the "splitters" may be able to find you a cheaper ticket.

Unlikely on that route. There won't be any splits available on the obvious trains. It's possible to get it down to £127.30 by using slower, more obscure routes, but you'd never make the trip in a day.

 

[horizonflame]

Was it a 16-25 railcard that ran out? You can get another full year one up until the day before your 26th birthday.

Considering the journey you're taking, the saving likely exceeds £28! Try SAVE10 for 10% off, might still work if you apply online.

What times of day are you travelling?

 

[Bee15_16]

Ohh I didn't think I could still get a railcard, I may do that then. Can the railcards overlap? Say I get one now, then get another one on July 31st, the day before my 26th birthday? I doubt I'd be able to get a 3year one now


On topic, It was last minute to go up I may just get a single up and get my Coach offer back. Can get back for £10 it just takes about 11 hours. Although coming back isn't so bad as I'm not eating into time up there, It's just eating into my time off from work The times of day I travel doesnt really matter, I'd like to be in Aberdeen before 8pm/9pm, But can only leave after 9am going and returning.

I could possibly come back on 7th but I'll have a gander at prices again. Thanks for the help everyone's offered. I really do appreciate it.

 

[John @ home]

Ohh I didn't think I could still get a railcard, I may do that then. Can the railcards overlap?

Yes. You can buy as many as you want until the day before your 26th birthday. Given the short notice, I would buy a £28 Railcard at a station rather than try to save £2.80 by buying online and risk the card not being delivered on time.

Say I get one now, then get another one on July 31st, the day before my 26th birthday?

That's OK.

I doubt I'd be able to get a 3year one now

Sorry, no.

I may just get a single up and get my Coach offer back.

Be careful. The difference in fare between Single and Return can be less than £10. Taking Wolverhampton - Aberdeen as an example, a Railcard Off-Peak Return costs £90.05 (valid by any train via Lancaster after 0415 Mon-Fri!) while a Railcard Single costs £81.50.

I could possibly come back on 7th but I'll have a gander at prices again.

The £90.05 ticket allows you to return by any train (after 0415 Mon-Fri) within a month. You don't need to specify your return journey.

Finally, you ask for Birmingham or Wolverhampton to Aberdeen. What is your most convenient local station? A ticket from there may be better value.

 

[maniacmartin]

The website will not let you buy overlapping railcards apparently, unless you enter a phoney passport/driving license number, but there should be no problem with getting one of them from a station ticket office instead

 

[dvboy]

Megabus isn't that bad really. If you are the kind of person that can sleep on it, you don't lose any time you would getting the train in daylight hours.

Certainly I came to the conclusion it was the best option for me when I went earlier this year.

 

[Bee15_16]

The difference in fare between Single and Return can be less than £10. Taking Wolverhampton - Aberdeen as an example, a Railcard Off-Peak Return costs £90.05 (valid by any train via Lancaster after 0415 Mon-Fri!) while a Railcard Single costs £81.50. The £90.05 ticket allows you to return by any train (after 0415 Mon-Fri) within a month. You don't need to specify your return journey.

Finally, you ask for Birmingham or Wolverhampton to Aberdeen. What is your most convenient local station? A ticket from there may be better value.

Thank you very much for your reply, I'm between Telford and Wolv, But as you say some tickets may have better value at a different station close by so I listed both.

Also thank you for the tip on single/return tickets, Will absolutely check out which is the better value.

I had thought about Megabus, Never travelled overnight other than on a ferry before.

 

[John @ home]

I'm between Telford and Wolv,

From: Wellington or Oakengates or Telford Central
To: Portlethen or Aberdeen or Dyce
a Railcard Off-Peak Return costs £98.15 (valid by any train not before 0930 Monday - Friday, by any train weekends) while a Railcard Off-Peak Single costs £97.50 (also valid by any train not before 0930 Monday - Friday, by any train weekends). Travel is by "Any Permitted Route", which allows you to choose via York or via Lancaster.

From: Shifnal or Cosford or Albrighton or Codsall or Bilbrook or Wolverhampton or Coseley
To: Portlethen or Aberdeen or Dyce
a Railcard Off-Peak Return costs £90.05 (valid by any train not before 0415 Monday - Friday, by any train weekends) while a Railcard Off-Peak Single costs £81.50 (also valid by any train not before 0415 Monday - Friday, by any train weekends). Travel must be via Lancaster.

 

[dvboy]

Megabus would mean you have to hang around in Birmingham for a bit before departure having come in from Telford on the train, and possibly after arrival too . This wasn't a problem for me as I work close to Snow Hill and the building is 24 hours so I went in and had a hot drink and listened to the radio, but not everyone has that option and there is only a small bus shelter at the Megabus stop.

 

[bb21]

If you are happy to travel back by coach, then the following might help you save a bit on the Sunday to Aberdeen one-way.

Wolverhampton (1019) - Manchester Piccadilly (1131): £8.90 Advance
Manchester Piccadilly (1221) - York (1404): £16.35 Anytime Day Single
York (1532) - Newcastle (1628): £7.90 Advance
Newcastle (1653) - Aberdeen (2120): £30.05 Advance

Total: £63.20 (with Railcard)

All checked with www.eastcoast.co.uk and correct as of now.

 

[Bee15_16]

From: Shifnal or Cosford or Albrighton or Codsall or Bilbrook or Wolverhampton or Coseley
To: Portlethen or Aberdeen or Dyce
a Railcard Off-Peak Return costs £90.05 (valid by any train not before 0415 Monday - Friday, by any train weekends) while a Railcard Off-Peak Single costs £81.50 (also valid by any train not before 0415 Monday - Friday, by any train weekends). Travel must be via Lancaster.

Thank you very much for finding this. Mean's I can go from my local station and it not cost any more than going from Wolverhampton!

Megabus would mean you have to hang around in Birmingham for a bit before departure having come in from Telford on the train, and possibly after arrival too . This wasn't a problem for me as I work close to Snow Hill and the building is 24 hours so I went in and had a hot drink and listened to the radio, but not everyone has that option and there is only a small bus shelter at the Megabus stop.

Yeah, I had a look at mega bus, my only problem would be getting there on time for departure as I'm working until late saturday night, and would miss a whole day sunday to travel the next night, but it is something to keep in mind for next time, thank you

If you are happy to travel back by coach, then the following might help you save a bit on the Sunday to Aberdeen one-way.

Wolverhampton (1019) - Manchester Piccadilly (1131): £8.90 Advance
Manchester Piccadilly (1221) - York (1404): £16.35 Anytime Day Single
York (1532) - Newcastle (1628): £7.90 Advance
Newcastle (1653) - Aberdeen (2120): £30.05 Advance

Total: £63.20 (with Railcard)

All checked with www.eastcoast.co.uk and correct as of now.

This is what I need to figure out how to do, splitting at the right stations. For the single train and my coach on top would work out at £73.20, I think It's worth the extra £17 to get there quicker and get a return ticket, but I very much appreciate your time in looking. I'll get more chance to fiddle about next trip as I'll have more notice and you've shown me some ways to split my journey for next time thank you