Manchester to Bournemouth

[msemma]

Is there a cheaper way of doing it than going either direct (Virgin) or going via London form Euston to Waterloo? Journey needs to be by train.

[dzug]

If you can get Virgin Value tickets then it's highly unlikely for there to be a cheaper way.

Some possible suggestions for parts of the journey if you can't:

Megatrain - 2 or 3 daily Waterloo to Bournemouth, not Sundays
Megatrain twice daily Birmingham to Bournemouth not weekends
Midland Mainline/Northern between Manchester and London via (typically) Sheffield - cheap tickets can be more readily available than on Virgin
Chiltern between Birmingham and London - look at Just 15 and e-tickets

[vehelpfulguy]

As dzug says, there is a direct route from Marylebone up the Chiltern line into Birmingham.

They offer deal for �15 (return) if you travel off peak, see here

http://www.chilternrailways.co.uk/content.php? nID=106

I would guess Virgin would do an off peak but not sure.

[vehelpfulguy]

Whoops, I misread your question.

I thought you wanted to go between London and Birmingham (did not see the Manchester to Bournmouth)

Oh well, you still may be able to use the Chiltern line.

[Gef]

Book as far in advance as possible and go for single tickets - 2 singles are usually much cheaper than a return.

[Buenchico]

It might make sense to choose different routes in either direction. For example, I just tried some random off-peak dates and times. (I looked at travelling out, in the late morning of Tuesday 6th March and returning, at the same sort of time, a week later).

The best fares offered were �15 outbound (depart 1154, arrive 1715, changing at Birmingham) and �16.50 back (depart 1059, arrive 1624, via London - including the tube fare). I'm confident that you won't be able to beat those sort of prices, so it just seems that a bit of 'trial and error', to find the best prices is called for:
http://www.nationalrail.co.uk/

Chris

[msemma]

Thanks guys, I agree I think we'll be going and coming back via different routes. It's just a matter of working out which stations are the best to go via! Someone wants to make a website with a list on it!!!!

[Buenchico]

Thanks for your response.

Actually, the National Rail website does exactly what you want. Put your times and dates in to get a list of suitable trains. Then click 'Get fares information'. Next, click 'View single fares'.

Note which train services are the cheapest ones and then click 'Show details' to see the routes for those trains.

Chris

[steve2010]

have you thought about flying,a few airlines fly from manchester to southampton,which is not far from bournemouth,just a thought for you to explore,certainly quicker