Confusion about rail tickets: (1) Bletchley, (2) Oxford

John,
I probably can't do much to answer your questions other than to say that there is ample bus service between London and Oxford that is more practical than what you have to do to make the trip by rail.

I went to a reunion in Oxford a few years ago and the bus was suggested way of getting there from London.

Just something to consider (if you have not already done so) and it fits into your plans/ travel arrangements.

Sean,

Thank you. What bus service are you referring to? We have looked at the "Oxford Tube" and though frequent it is often more expensive than than train -- sometimes considerably so.

Thanks,
John

We went out to Bletchley a couple weeks ago. We did the off peak in both directions. No need to lock into a specific train.

If there are more than three of you traveling together, you can get group tickets that are 1/3 off. I fiddled with the ticket machine and never got the group tickets to show up, but the ticket desk at Euston station got them set up for us.

Have a look at his page for an explanation of the different ticket types.

http://www.nationalrail.co.uk/times_fares/ticket_types.aspx

In summary -

Off-peak tickets you can buy on the day - the price doesn't change. Tickets do not sell out.

Advance tickets are sold in limited numbers, only valid for specific trains and do sell out.

John, on the National rail site, once you put in your travel details you'll get a list of trains. Tap on the small icon that to me looks like a bus but is actually a train, and the notation other services your ticket allows you to travel on. For off-peak return Euston to/from Milton Keyes you'll see that you're ticket is good on quite a few trains both coming and going as long as they are off-peak.

Although there is nothing particularly wrong in using the Virgin Trains site, neither route you want is served by Virgin Trains. Bletchley is on London Midland, and Oxford on First Great Western (FGW), shortly to rebrand as GWR.

Bletchley - there are no "advance" type tickets sold between London and Bletchley. Therefore the cheapest for a day return is as you say £15.90, outward journey valid after 9:15 with no restriction on the return. You can buy this before the day of your trip if you like but there is no cost benefit.

Oxford - 'Advance' type tickets are sold because of the competition with the coach service. These are available at various price ranges from £6 upwards - you book each way separately. As the cheaper ones sell out the next set are available for purchase. You are tied to particular trains, although for some of the trains on this route you do not get a reserved seat. If you want flexibility, the ticket you need is the off-peak return at £27.30. This is valid on any train to Oxford after 9:20 and you can return any day within a calendar month.

If you go ahead with purchasing an advance single to OXF @ £7 and want a flexible single to come back (NOT a return) this would be £24.70, so the cost of your return trip then would be greater than the option above (£31.70 versus £27.30). With most National Rail journeys you are best off in general either buying two advance singles or an off-peak return.

Thank you.

Regarding using the Virgin Trains website to purchase tickets: I was under the impression from something I read -- perhaps on this forum -- that the best strategy is to search for service on National Rail, but then simply to go to Virgin to buy the tickets, no matter who the operator. This is said to work especially well if the journey uses two or more train operators (not true in these cases).

Is this not correct?

Just trying to understand the British rail ticketing and fare system.

Thanks,
John

it rarely matters which operator's website you buy tickets from (and you can skip searching national rail it's only a portal in effect).

I prefer https://www.virgintrainseastcoast.com/

I find it easier to use then the other virgin site - same tickets will be available

Although not in this case, buying from the train operator can sometimes secure discounts not available elsewhere.

Some have loyalty schemes to encourage people to buy all their tickets from a single source, but these are aimed at UK purchasers and may be of little interest elsewhere.

What is to be avoided are third party sites charging booking and /or delivery fees.

It is worth keeping an eye on the webpages of the actual operators. London Midland, for example, usually run promotions at school half term time at something like £10 or £15 for an unlimited day rover throughout their network. Heavily advertised on train and in the stations, and most easily accessed online, unfortunately - the kids just now returning to school - not available for mid September.

It is worth knowing that Groupsave - on those flows where it is available - starts at groups of 3 or more.