Booking a Train Ticket?

Vita · 6 Jul 2009 at 13:43

I'm looking to book a train ticket to Birmingham from Leeds. It's £84 return, if I went and bought the ticket on the day would it be more expensive?

Yas786 · 6 Jul 2009 at 13:45

Vita said:
I'm looking to book a train ticket to Birmingham from Leeds. It's £84 return, if I went and bought the ticket on the day would it be more expensive?

Yes most probably.

[TW]Fox · 6 Jul 2009 at 13:55

Depends entirely on the ticket type. If its a walk on fare, which at that sort of money it may well be, then it will be the same price on the day.

jakeke · 6 Jul 2009 at 14:03

Yeah, prices go up at 6pm the day before departure to ridiculous amounts. (From Sheffield - London it goes from £25ish to £60ish one way)

meghatronic · 6 Jul 2009 at 14:05

That seems very expensive....

Beansprout · 6 Jul 2009 at 14:08

Quick look on nationalrail.co.uk shows £84 is the Anytime return rate...try and buy either two Advance tickets or an off-peak return if possible as that'll be much cheaper.

ikillbears · 6 Jul 2009 at 14:23

if you know exactly when your going etc buy in advance. Example: Going home from Epsom to bradford-on-avon when turning up to the station costs me about £55. If i buy about 3/4 days ahead then it goes to £9 single. I was thinking about this the other day and i really can't see how they can justify the difference?? any one got any ideas ?

ordinaryjoe · 6 Jul 2009 at 15:41

If you are under 25, if you are spending over £72 on your train ticket, it would be cheaper to get a Young persons rail card (1/3 off and it costs £24).

If you book a few days ahead, you can usually get it quite a bit cheaper. You can book and pay for it online then when you go to train station, just give them the code to get your tickets (booking at a train company website like first great western will not add any booking fee and you can book train tickets for any company from any one (booking at somewhere like thetrainline will cost more)).

Vita · 6 Jul 2009 at 16:25

I've booked now for tommorow. Something urgents come up and need to be there. Ain't got any mode of transport so it's all good I guess. I'll remember in the future though, £84 is a lot of money.

Mr Jack · 6 Jul 2009 at 16:32

Vita said:
I'm looking to book a train ticket to Birmingham from Leeds. It's £84 return, if I went and bought the ticket on the day would it be more expensive?

Yes it would be more expensive. Have you looked to see if you can get cheaper by buying tickets to intervening stations?

Vita · 6 Jul 2009 at 16:33

Mr Jack said:
Yes it would be more expensive. Have you looked to see if you can get cheaper by buying tickets to intervening stations?

No I didn't really check as I have to be there for 9am. Wanted a direct route no stops.

Mr Jack · 6 Jul 2009 at 16:40

Vita said:
No I didn't really check as I have to be there for 9am. Wanted a direct route no stops.

Doesn't make any difference. You just book two tickets for same train, completely legal.

In a ten minute check, if you'd "split" at Burton you would have saved yourself at least £20 - maybe more, depending on exactly when you need to travel.

(edit) Splitting at Derby you could have done it for £49.20