Crazy train fares!

[JoM]

I'm just looking to book our trains for London and wondered if we'd be better getting into Wolverhampton rather than Stafford ie if we could get a train at a better time.
What I came up with was a direct train from Euston - Stafford, leaving at 5.27am and arriving at 7.03am. The Wolverhampton train leaves at the same time and arrives at 7.28am, with one change which is Stafford. So basically it's the same train to Stafford and then if you want to go onto Wolverhampton you then get a train between the two stations which are probably 10-12 miles apart.

Just look at the prices though for two adult tickets, with "Cheapest standard single" fares.
£33 from Euston-Stafford
£197 from Euston-Stafford-Wolverhampton

Sorry these are a little large but there it is for all to see

[Kaz]

Jo they are crazy, aren't they???? I spent most of Friday evening sourcing and booking the cheapest train fares up and down the country that we could find, also through Trainline, helping my cousin Z et al to get from A to B visiting other rellies...............the difference with some of the fares was mindblowing

[Aggers]

I just don't understand why rail ticket prices vary in so many ways.

They used to be so much simpler before the railways were privatized.

So-called progress.

[debih]

One of our neighbours regularly travels all over the country by train and he can save ££££'s by breaking his journey up.

He doesn't actually get off the train, he just pays to get from A to B and B to C. It works out much cheaper - even though it is the same train, he is sat in the same seat all the way and never gets off.

Completely bonkers!!!!

[TheOstrich]

Jo, the Euston - Stafford £16.50/adult ticket is an Advance Single.

The £98.50 Euston - Stafford - Wolverhampton ticket is an Anytime Single. Advance is not offered for that route at that time.

If you booked Advance to Stafford and then booked from there to Wolverhampton, a single ticket on the LM 07:12 service Stafford to Wolverhampton is £5.50 Anytime, which makes £22.00 for the total journey.

However, the 6:03 Euston to Wolverhampton (changing at B'ham International) is £11:50 Advance, and takes the same time as travelling via Stafford and it's just on the one ticket.

Check it out on National Rail Enquiries
http://www.nationalrail.co.uk/

As you'll know, advance tickets you have to travel on that stated particular train or combination of trains. Anytime tickets are more flexible.

Indeed it's a nightmare

[TheOstrich]

One of our neighbours regularly travels all over the country by train and he can save ££££'s by breaking his journey up.
He doesn't actually get off the train, he just pays to get from A to B and B to C. It works out much cheaper - even though it is the same train, he is sat in the same seat all the way and never gets off.
Completely bonkers!!!!

As long as the train stops at B, of course. If it goes straight through B without stopping, the tickets are invalid. It's a common error!

I make similar trips, in a way.
Birmingham New Street - Stourbridge Junction: free (on Centro OAP pass) ...... Stourbridge Junction - Kidderminster: £2.90 return
As long as it stops at Stourbridge Junction, both ways ....

[saundra]

and its on the news today
that they go up again in january