Seek your knowledgement about train to oxford and cambridge

Great Northern operates trains from London King's Cross to Cambridge.

Greater Anglia operates trains from London Liverpool Street to Cambridge.

Thameslink operate trains from London St Pancras to Cambridge.

Different routes, different journey times, and different ticket types can all mean different prices.

National Rail will direct you to one of the train operating companies to buy tickets - it may not be the company that operates the train. That doesn't matter; companies sell each other's tickets.

You do not need to buy tickets in advance, but you may save money if you do.

I'm surprised to find out that GWR train ticket from London to Oxford is quite cheaper - £6 for standard train per way. Am I seeing things? Genuine or not?

Yes, it will be genuine - depends on what you're comparing it to - is it a more restrictive ticket than other tickets, or a different time?

It would help to know where you are traveling to and from (specifics). For example, there is the GWR train from London to Oxford, which works if you're traveling from the city center. But if you're coming from Heathrow, there is an express bus that takes you directly from Heathrow to Oxford.

You do not need to buy tickets in advance, but you may save money if you do.

I agree, but again, it depends on the destination and train. Generally you will save money, especially if you look for the Advance tickets. But as noted above, some tickets can have restrictions; especially the cheaper ones.

Here is a good resource for someone looking to find out more information about British trains: https://www.seat61.com/train-travel-in-britain.htm

£6 for standard train per way. Am I seeing things? Genuine or not?

yes, could well be genuine. For that specific train, on that date, if you bought it at the moment you checked. But it's not a fixed fare for all trains.You've used british trains enough to know that the advance purchase system has airline style dynamic pricing which adjusts those fares as demand grows.

GWR are usually more comfortable trains and about 25 minutes faster than Chiltern - but much of the 25 minutes could be lost if Marylebone station was more convenient than Paddington.

Thameslink and Great Nothern are actualy two lines of the same company, historically they were different companies for a while and the marketing hasn't changed a lot, but matching prices makes sense. The company has already been renationalised prior to being part of Great British Railways which hasn't been legally created yet.

No idea about a yellow Stop icon, I would have expected red for stop.

Hello, how to tell whether the tickets are restrictive?

I intend to travel from Liverpool Street to Cambridge. Very astonished to see the cheaper ticket price £8 per way. Too incredible. Limited availability ticket.

Chiltern Railways From Marylebone to Oxford? £15 per way.
I really hate GWR. Sorry, I travel from Paddington to Oxford if it is GWR. But GWR ticket price costs £6 per way.

Forgot to add one more thing: Is GWR always crowded on the return trip at 6pm to 7pm?

Liverpool Street has for a long time been the cheapest of the three routes to Cambridge, and £8 does not hugely surprise me. For my money the new trains on that route are among the best of the new train fleets, but of course the journey time is longer.
And you are tied to that train.
For my liking, easily the best train fleet of the three operators.

The down side is that you have a fixed return journey time, so are clock watching all day, and can't make impulse decisions in the afternoon because you have to be on a certain train on the way back.

There do suddenly seem to be a lot more cheap Advance Fares on the fast Great Northerns to Kings Cross than has been the case for a very long time.

The down side is that you have a fixed return journey time, so are
clock watching all day, and can't make impulse decisions in the
afternoon because you have to be on a certain train on the way back.

Huh? I thought it is usual to watch around the clock to be certain to be there for that particular train to depart from London or arrive at London. I'm puzzled reading your comment here. Please enlighten me. Thanks.

how to tell whether the tickets are restrictive?

read the small print with the price. If it says Advance it's restricted to that specific itinery. Any mentionedof Off Peak means only valid outside the main commuter rush (which never happens at weekends), Anytime means valid even in the commuter rush. Since covid commuting patterns have changed. Some routes don't have a commuter rush, so label the cheaper fare as Anytime, some still callit Off Peak but with almost no restrictions. Some no longer bother with evening restrictions, I know of some which have even dropped Friday from the "working" week!!!! All are waiting for the launch of Great British Railways, there would be too much confusion for comaponies to have theri own tidy up of prices when one national company is supposed to be a matter of months away.

Thanks everyone.

Yes, i read that both tickets are advance. :(
I can wait for the specific train and exact time.

Oh yes, may i enquire how to avoid that experience - no seat or overcrowded train. As a result, i ended up standing on the passageway although i make seat reservation. Please advise. Can you please tell me which particular time to avoid for booking the ticket? thanks.

Hello folks, care to share your experience on which particular time indicate overcrowded train as usual? Thanks so much.

I recalled from my experience that weekends usually indicate overcrowded train in the evening. What about peak hours and off-peak hours? Thanks.

How about Chiltern Railways? Less overcrowded?

Will you buy ridiculously cheap tickets like £6 - £8?

crowding is around football, going to work at rush hours, going home from work, bank holidays, holiday get away days (and returning)

Which days and dates, specifically?

I would certainly use Advance tickets unless my schedule made them dubious. Money or flexibility and convenience? Your choice.

Has anyone taken the Oxford–London train in September/October? I'm trying to avoid standing on a crowded train. Are the evening services on weekdays usually manageable? Last year, i noticed that the train was very overcrowded on weekend evening. Thanks.