Buying Train Tickets online

[Booldawg]

I'm looking at Trainline.com to buy train tickets through. My journey will take me via 3 different rail operators but on the journey details it states 'This ticket is only valid for travel on Virgin Trains West Coast services and connections'

This confuses me - I was hoping the price quoted would cover the whole journey but reading this kind of suggests it doesnt?

[SeaJayPea]

'and connections' seems to suggest that it's a through ticket. Want to give a few more details of your journey?

[Booldawg]

its from liphook, hampshire to whitehaven in cumbria. thats 3 operators - South West, Virgin and Northern Rail

[mushroom25]

you'll probably get a better deal via the website of one of the train operators, or nationalrail.co.uk, rather than trainline.com.....

[gingejbee]

From the details you've supplied, the price quoted is for the whole journey from your home station to your destination via the West-coast mainline operated by Virgin.

[gingejbee]

...and I don't think mushroom is really correct....

[hippyhoppy]

You could try here.. just seen an advert for them and it looks quite straight forward... (however, looks can be decieving I suppose!)..

http://www.redspotted...red%20spotted%20hanky

[dzug2]

You will get the same deal on fares at a rail operator's site as you will at thetrainline - but you will avoid whatever booking fees, etc, the trainline is charging these days

Red Spotted Hanky is a decent site that charges no fees.

The 'and connections' bit allows you to travel on other trains to connect into and out of the Virgin one. It also includes the underground from Waterloo to Euston.

[Booldawg]

thanks all. didnt realise trainline charged a fee! will look into it further. As I'm taking a bike (its a cycling break) I will also need to pre-book my bike on the trains with the 5 separate train companies!

[sherrardk]

There was a bit on the super savers (or whatever the programme is called on CH4) last night about bargain train tickets (didn't pay much attention as I don't plan on catching any trains). Maybe you could have a look on your computer and see if it's any help?

[Booldawg]

I've had a look at National Rail, Red spotted hanky and Trainline. Theres nothing in the ticket price difference as a general rule. I've got the return journey for around £85 if i book well in advance.

[WyeDyed]

Are you near a local manned train station or booking office. The one near me is brilliant, they can be very helpful. I have also, when away from home, gone to the local booking office armed with details from the web and shown them to them, they can usually match prices and you don't have to worry about postage or surcharges.
They depend on the business to survive.

[Booldawg]

you'll be lucky to find any staff at our nearest station (5 miles away) much after the morning rush!

[annie0000]

Not sure if this helps, but i bought tickets through East Coast rail- for a trip going down the east coast line and back up the west coast with Virgin didn't seem to be any problem.

[annie0000]

linked through form nation rail website - paid £75 return (with a railcard) return Bridge of Allan to London for 2 adults and 2 kids :o)

[WyeDyed]

I did wonder if that may be so. So many stations are unstaffed these days.
Just a thought.
Re spotted hanky was recommended by a friend a year or so ago.

[Booldawg]

I wonder how it works? do they have to share some of the ticket price with all operators involved? Privatisation can be confusing at times!

[annie0000]

not sure how it works booldawg - east coast rail sent out our tickets and we were on the virgin service home. was easy peasy but not sure how it works. I use d the find the cheapest journey tool on the national rail website. you have to do each journey as a single, but you can compare all the operator and work out the cheapest train to get.

[WyeDyed]

I'm not sure how through tickets work. s you say, they must have a way of distributing the ticket price. I have often been on journeys involving 3 train companies and London underground. It must be calculated when you buy the ticket.

[dzug2]

For a lengthy explanation google ORCATS and then wish you hadn't

More simply, the outfit that sells you the ticket gets a commission

then the fare money is divvied up between the companies that operate on your route according to a complicated formula based roughly on the train mileage they run on that route. For advance tickets which are for fixed trains only the company operating the service gets all the fare

A few companies will offer you a discount on the published fare if you use their own trains only and book with them - they don't have to pay commission to another company