I’m looking at purchasing tickets for some routes and thought it was best to book in advance to secure cheaper tickets. For example we want to travel from Ludlow to Hathersage. I’m a bit too far out to book, but when I look at a selection of Thursdays between March and May, all I see is anytime single fares, which all seem to be much the same price. So, just wondering if advance fares do exist on these routes, or is there no point in looking for them?
I’ve looked at Transport for Wales and Trainline.
Thanks.
Posted by
Cornwall
332 posts
Shorter routes and commuter routes aren’t going to have advance ticket savings. Prices are showing £32 ish for this and you’re not going to save a lot. Are you making other journeys?
Posted by
Stratford upon Avon
470 posts
I am seeing Advance Singles in March as follows
Ludlow 9.20 to Manchester Pic 11.15 £18.50
Manchester Pic 11.48 to Hathersage 12.44 £5.70
Posted by
Lake District, England
8136 posts
This is a case whwee there will never be a through advance fare for this journey as Ludlow to Manchester is TfL, and it is Northern for Manchester to Hathersage. Those two companies don't really co-operate with each other.
Northern have a lot of advance fares for really quite short journeys- much shorter than the norm in the industry,
Roger's fares are as good as you are going to get. Book them now before they sell out.
Sometimes you can save a pound or two by doing a split at Crewe, but not on a sample booking on 30 March. Literally it's £2 or less saving, not worth change of train and extra time.
Posted by
Yorkshire
1359 posts
When I am travelling longer journeys always look at the Train Split APP.
Sometimes it throw out much cheaper fares than the main national rail site.
Posted by
OP
Australia
95 posts
Thank you for your replies, very helpful. I will looks for those fares via Manchester and try the trainsplit app.
We are also travelling Hathersage to Whitby, Whitby to Edinburgh and Edinburgh to Connel in June.
Posted by
Lake District, England
8136 posts
Hathersage to Whitby is £75 full fare- Booking it as 3 advance tickets- Hathersage to Sheffield, Sheffield to Leeds and Leeds to Middlesbrough brings that down to just under £20.
Then book a 'Anytime Short Distance Return' Middlesbrough to Whitby for £12.90- the cheapest return option on any train within a month.
{it is interesting that the train split app sells this journey on a 2 way split- the 2nd part on a ticket which does not exist on any of the three train operator's websites, ringing real alarm bells- and charge you £4.71 commission for a journey costing under £20- to do a job you can so easily do on your own- they are not charities]. Whitby to Berwick their incorrect split costs you £14 more than mine + their commission
Whitby to Edinburgh- Whitby to Middlesbrough- use the return half of your ticket. Then Middlesbrough to Newcastle and Newcastle to Edinburgh tickets should get you there for around £18.
Edinburgh to Connel Ferry is easy- advance single for £24.80. That fare is actually cheaper than Glasgow to Connel Ferry, even though you change at Glasgow Queen Street.
There is also one through coach a day from Edinburgh- at 1700, taking a totally different route from the train, arrives at 2050- £27.60, Service 978- this is a new service only recently started
Posted by
OP
Australia
95 posts
Thank you very much isn31c, I’ll look into purchasing these individual tickets