Trains And Maybe a Bus in Scotland & England

It has been a few years since our trip, but I am sure my sister and I used the two together rail card on the portion in Scotland as well.

National Rail is a planning website. Tickets are bought from any of the train operating companies. You can buy all your tickets from Scotrail.

Understand the different types of tickets. Off Peak and Anytime are walk-up prices. Buy on the day at the station or pre-book - same price; they never sell out. Advance tickets must be pre-booked – limited availability and can sell out. Only valid for the booked train. On sale about 12 weeks before your travel date.

You can buy tickets online indicating you have a railcard, then buy a railcard at the station before you travel. The Two Together card will be valid on tickets booked via Scotrail etc.

If it’s a rail replacement bus for Oxford to Bath, I’d buy tickets on the day at the station.

ramblin’ on, thanks for the explanation. Is there a benefit to buying the tickets all through Scotrail besides keeping all the tickets in one place? I noticed some of the trains I was looking at said Off Peak. Are you saying that there’s no financial benefit to buying those tickets ahead of time? I’m not sure how to determine if I need advance tickets or not. We plan to get our rail cards when we arrive in Glasgow.

when you look some time out ahead if there is an offer on National Rail showing a low fare called "Advance" which is substantially lower than the Off-Peak or Anytime offers then it makes sense to buy those when they are cheap. Otherwise there is no advantage.

Off-Peak Returns (out and back) whether you do Off-Peak Day Returns (out and back same day, be careful of evening Peak periods interfering - some you can and some you can't) or Off-Peak Period Returns (out and back, usually up to 30 days to make the return) can be really cheap. The Return is often as little as 10 pence more than a comparable Single.

No need to stick with Scotrail... I'd suggest using the provider of the service's website if it works for you. Sometimes (not often) they have special deals for their line (and only their line) which don't make it into National Rail. All providers sell each others' tickets (except those specials) so use whichever is most comfortable to you. Just don't use a reseller - they often have hidden or not hidden fees, are much harder to amend or cancel, and don't run real time running/disruption banners that the actual operators do - all of them that I know of, both on their websites and apps.

I expect that the coach between Oxford and Bath is National Express - although the train is very handy on that route with just one easy change in Bristol Parkway. If it is National Rail saying bus, then for that time and date it would be a Rail Replacement Bus - something I wouldn't wish on anybody. Is it for the entire trip or just a segment? On a weekend or Bank Holiday?

No financial benefit to buying off peak tickets ahead of time.

Using one website means you sign up with one provider. Personally, I use LNER. Sometimes operators have special offers only on their website but it’s an infrequent occurrence.

For all the journeys you list bar Oxford > Bath, Advance tickets would offer savings if you are prepared to commit to a particular train

Thanks Nigel and thanks again ramblin’ on. I’ll figure out each leg and see what needs to be booked in advance.

Thanks, I already bought my train tickets but that’s good information to have.