Save on train fares any tips ?

GothicGhost · 10 Apr 2013 at 19:33

Hello all.

I am not sure what's the best way to get good prices for over 25 on train fares.

I need to get from Leagrave to Bedford main station leaving at 7pm and returning the same night after 10ish, and upto 4 times a month if I can get good price.

At the moment I only seen prices for £8 return so it's not bad but adds up.

Anyone in the know on how get good deals ?
Thanks for any help and tips you can give me

Cheers.

[TW]Fox · 10 Apr 2013 at 19:43

It's a 20 mile journey so £8 return doesn't seem so bad? Thats as cheap as its going to get really.

wire-screw · 10 Apr 2013 at 19:45

Season ticket?

SpaghettiOs · 10 Apr 2013 at 19:47

Season ticket only has any value if you're travelling more than 3/4 times a week. Advance tickets are released up to 12 weeks ahead of the date of travel, and that will be your cheapest option.

Yaayuh! · 10 Apr 2013 at 19:48

Go back in time and stop Maggie and John?

Yeah, i went there.

On a serious note, £8 doesn't actually sounds all that bad tbh.

[TW]Fox · 10 Apr 2013 at 19:52

SpaghettiOs said:
Advance tickets are released up to 12 weeks ahead of the date of travel, and that will be your cheapest option.

No it won't, there are no advance tickets offered on that route.

His cheapest option is the Cheap Day Return at £8.10.

Housey · 10 Apr 2013 at 19:55

£11K for an annual ticket to That London when I used to do it, you are not getting my sympathy, suck it up!!!

lemzip · 10 Apr 2013 at 19:58

Housey said:
£11K for an annual ticket to That London when I used to do it, you are not getting my sympathy, suck it up!!!

aye, 100 quid a week for my commute, no sympathy here.

If you cant do advanced tickets and no point in a season ticket the 8 quid is pocket change

cjgardens · 10 Apr 2013 at 19:58

Hide it toilet?

Guest2 · 10 Apr 2013 at 20:01

Get an under 25 ticket and say you forgot your pass (presuming you dont look 40!)
Get a bus? Megabus is cheap

One · 10 Apr 2013 at 20:02

There's no barriers at Flitwick so if the barriers at Leagrave are open just get the train to flitwick and buy a ticket to Bedford from there.

One · 10 Apr 2013 at 20:03

SpaghettiOs said:
Season ticket only has any value if you're travelling more than 3/4 times a week. Advance tickets are released up to 12 weeks ahead of the date of travel, and that will be your cheapest option.

AFAIA there are no cheap advance tickets for that line.

One · 10 Apr 2013 at 20:05

Rossi~ said:
On a serious note, £8 doesn't actually sounds all that bad tbh.

Taxis can be had for ~£15, those are door to door and on demand, the train he gets on will be doing the journey regardless of whether he buys his ticket so I'd say that actually it's not that good.

[TW]Fox · 10 Apr 2013 at 20:08

desires said:
There's no barriers at Flitwick so if the barriers at Leagrave are open just get the train to flitwick and buy a ticket to Bedford from there.

This is stupid advice and leaves you open to prosecution when you get caught. First Capital Connect regularly prosecute people for doing things like this and have on-train RPI's to catch people out.

desires said:
Taxis can be had for ~£15, those are door to door and on demand, the train he gets on will be doing the journey regardless of whether he buys his ticket so I'd say that actually it's not that good.

£30 for a taxi - the £8 is a return fare, so each way. The train is also 15 minutes quicker - so arguably depending on how far from the station you are offers a superior service.

One · 10 Apr 2013 at 20:11

[TW]Fox;24096182 said:
This is stupid advice and leaves you open to prosecution when you get caught. First Capital Connect regularly prosecute people for doing things like this and have on-train RPI's to catch people out.

£30 for a taxi - the £8 is a return fare, so each way. The train is also 15 minutes quicker - so arguably depending on how far from the station you are offers a superior service.

It's not stupid advice, it's brilliant advice seeing as I won't have to pay a fine ever.

Forgot about return, I suppose it isn't overly bad. It is an expensive line compared to others though.

[TW]Fox · 10 Apr 2013 at 20:13

desires said:
It's not stupid advice, it's brilliant advice seeing as I won't have to pay a fine ever.

Suggesting people commit a criminal offence in order to avoid payment for travel is nothing other than 'stupid advice'.

Forgot about return, I suppose it isn't overly bad. It is an expensive line compared to others though.

I said it wasn't bad not that it was bargain of the year which I agree it isn't - but its not expensive enough for there to be any credible and legitimate alternative options.

One · 10 Apr 2013 at 20:16

[TW]Fox;24096221 said:
Suggesting people commit a criminal offence in order to avoid payment for travel is nothing other than 'stupid advice'.

It's not stupid advice though because it would make his trip less expensive. It's up to him to do a bit of risk analysis and work out if my solution, of which it is, is the one for him.

[TW]Fox · 10 Apr 2013 at 20:19

Do you suggest people who ask about saving money on Alton Towers tickets simply climb the perimeter wall instead, also?

bitslice · 10 Apr 2013 at 20:22

[TW]Fox;24096265 said:
Do you suggest people who ask about saving money on Alton Towers tickets simply climb the perimeter wall instead, also?

Were you born an adult?

spoffle · 10 Apr 2013 at 20:37

[TW]Fox;24096265 said:
Do you suggest people who ask about saving money on Alton Towers tickets simply climb the perimeter wall instead, also?

If the question was "how do I get in to Alton towers for free or cheaper than the normal entry price" then yes, it'd be a valid suggestion, as that would be a method of achieving the desired outcome.