My wife and I are planning to take a train from London to Portsmouth on 3/31/12 to see HMS Victory and all the other sights in Portsmouth before we catch the ferry to Cherbourg. On the British National Rail website, I found that we could get a special fare of only 10 GBP for the two of us, one way, London to Portsmouth. (The regular fare is about 35 GBP). Of course, when I tried to buy the tickets, I was unable to do so since the website is not set up to sell tickets to residents of the US.
So I went to RailEurope....and you guessed it....the 10 GBP fare was nowhere to be found. Neither is the 35 GBP fare. The cheapest fare on the same train was $88! Any suggestions as to how I might buy the tickets directly from the National Rail site and save a few bucks? The only other alternative I can think of is to wait until I get to London on the 29th, and hop over to Victoria Station and buy them at the ticket window. I'm concerned about that, however, as we're traveling on Saturday, and I'm afraid that the train will be sold out.
Posted by
Bainbridge Island
3098 posts
The National Rail site will link you to the Southern Rail site when you hit Buy. Or click on the Tim provided. The key, as we both stated, is to use the International Address option.
Posted by
Bainbridge Island
3098 posts
What do you mean you are unable to buy? Hit the "buy now" button and then keep using " continue.". the " Ticket on departure" (pick up at the station) option for delivery. On the next page, where they ask for address and credit card details, hit the " international address" option. The US is right there among the choices, and the format offered works for US addresses. This is probably a special Internet-only price, and seats may be limited, so you better buy soon.
Posted by
Minneapolis, MN, USA
8700 posts
Morris, You will be traveling on a Southern Railway train. If you book today on the Southern site, you can get a total fare of £9.00 for the two of you for the 08:02 train, £13.50 on the 09:02 train, and £9.00 on the 10:02 train on 31 March. Click on the "International address" link when asked to enter your address.
Posted by
OP
Loudoun County, Va., USA
211 posts
When I first tried to buy the tickets through the British National Rail site, I tried clicking on the "international address" block, but was unable to get anything but "this page cannot be displayed". I tried it several times, but no luck. I tried it again just a few minutes ago, and Bingo! I got my tickets.....for 9 Pounds. Thanks for the help!
Posted by
Northamptonshire, England
32747 posts
Can't beat those British railways ... (says he selfservingly)
Posted by
Boscombe, Dorset, UK
964 posts
Thought maybe that was said ironically, Nigel ;-)
Posted by
Freedonia
15000 posts
Can't beat those British railways ... That's not what Dr. Beeching said.
Posted by
Boscombe, Dorset, UK
964 posts
Oh Frank, don't get me started on Dr. B Beeching, lol.
Posted by
Northamptonshire, England
32747 posts
Beeching! Ha! Bah! You ain't seen nuthin' if the McNulty report gets adopted and acted on in anything like the hatchet job proposed.
Posted by
London
291 posts
Megabus do train tickets between London and Portsmouth for 1 GBP on-line in advance. The parent company of Megabus owns the train company South West that runs London - Portsnouth and also own Megabus in the US. They use Megabus to clear tickets oustode the peak hours at prices you won't get through the stations or normal 'railway channels' like Ntaional rail.
http://uk.megabus.com/default.aspx