Cheap Train Tickets

[TonyGribben]

Hi, does anybody know a good web site for booking cheap train tickets approx. a month in advance. Thanks.

[Buenchico]

>>>does anyone else think that's shockingly expensive?

It's about 135 miles in total, costing around £27 if you use the cheapest options in my post, so that's about 20p per mile (or perhaps 25p per mile if you use one of the slightly dearer options). That's a great deal cheaper than many bus fares and roughly comparable with the cost of driving and parking.

[bednobs]

hmm perhaps i'll drive and park then as i'll need a taxi the other end too. It is for an interview, and i don't want to be stressed about getting there

[boxtops]

IMO train and taxi is far less stressful than driving, then trying to find somewhere to park!

[bednobs]

i suppose so, i just get stressed travelling, and as far as i recall BTM has lots of steps? also last time i was there there was a long wait for a taxi

[boxtops]

can you get assistance, bednobs? most stations will help if they know you need it, and most stations have lifts these days - I'd be surprised if BTM doesn't.

[boxtops]

Here you go, loads of lifts http://www.disabledgo.com/en/access-guide/bristol-temple-meads-station/city-of-bristol-college scroll down to Train Station and it tells you about getting assistance

[Buenchico]

Tony:
We've not forgotten you!
(We're just waiting for more details).

Bednobs:
Temple Meads station has lifts to all platforms. Assistance can be booked by phoning First Great Western on 0800 197 1329

[TonyGribben]

Thanks everyone. Christine ( my neighbour) is hoping to travel from Manchester Piccadilly on the 29th November at approx. 4pm and return on Sunday 1st December at approx 5-30.

[boxtops]

£34.20 http://ojp.nationalrail.co.uk/service/timesandfares/MAN/BHM/291113/1600/dep/011213/1730/dep

However - as duzg on here pointed out to me some weeks back, the cheap weekend tickets are often issued later than the midweek tickets, I got mine (for a weekend trip to Birmingham) about a month beforehand.

[Yorky Lass]

http://ojp.nationalrail.co.uk/service/timesandfares/MAN/BHI/291113/1600/dep/011213/1830/dep

Using her railcard it's £25.30 return.

[boxtops]

I've put the senior railcard on my link already - it's still coming up at £34.20 - why the difference, I wonder?

[boxtops]

whoops, no I didn't - mine now says £26.30, I can't see the discrepancy!

[boxtops]

My mistake - I've done it from Bham New Street, not International at the Airport. YorkyLass is right.

[Yorky Lass]

You have a different Birmingham station. It's Birmingham International the neighbour is wishing to travel to according to Tony's post. They must be some distance apart for the price difference.

[boxtops]

Yes - you are right - they are about 10 minutes apart.

[dzug2]

There's quite a few more trains on which that £27 fare (an anytime day return so totally flexible) is valid - it has to be used via Westbury though. You can't go through Swindon but you can double back from Reading

To find them go to the First Great Western site and put in the normal search

When you have the results there will be a slower routes option - click this and then click via Westbury. Resubmit and valid trains show up

Other sites may have a similar option

[boxtops]

dzug, glad to see you - you were so helpful to us about those weekend advance tickets a while back - we got there for £12 in the end!

[mushroom25]

cheapest way of doing Manchester picc to international is to break journey at crewe.
manch picc-crewe is £9.40 advance single.
crewe-international £7.00 advance single.
you'll need to play around with the times a bit, but available from Manchester at 1555, and crewe at 1822. not the fastest journey possible, granted; nevertheless.....