Do train tickets reduce in price nearer the time?

[user123454321]

Looking to get a return ticket. The ones for next weekend are less than half the price of the weekend I want in a month's time. Is this normal?

What journey are you taking

Have you tried the split ticket sights

Depends on lots of factors but often they rise. What's your journey?

Last time we looked to book to go to London ticket prices rose considerably closer to the departure date.

I've been caught out in the past by how much they rise, the later you leave it.

Look exactly 12 weeks before journey for each leg

Ie out bound 12 weeks to the day of departure and rerun leg 12 weeks to to day before thet

I am going from Cheshire to Anglesey next week, evening journey, a single ticket, joining DH and DD who will already been there with car and caravan.

I found that the direct fast train from our nearest mainline station was much cheaper than a slower train, with one change, probably because the latter involved 2 companies. Difference was half as much again as the direct train. Going on the fast train was a no brainier!

I then discovered that if I added on the journey from my local station, rather than buying a £3 ticket on train, it added about £14 on, again guessing because it is two train companies. I plan to pay that segment on the train!

From booking my ticket on Tuesday, the same 2nd class ticket now is a £1 cheaper - however I managed to book 1st class for £1.50 more than 2nd - that option has now disappeared!

I would say check out the cost of buying the tickets separately if you are going on more than 1 train operated by different companies.

No it's the opposite. The cheapest tickets are bought well in advance.

I hate buying train tickets. I am always left feeling like I have been slightly ripped off. You never know if you have got the best deal.
(No help, sorry. Just a mini rant from me)

It's usually the opposite, but if there's a big event on that route on particular weekend, they do seem to not offer the discounts for booking in advance they normally do.

On Virgin west coast the best fares are usually available about 6 weeks in advance (but much higher if more than 6 weeks) and then rise steeply as the travel date gets closer

Often if you book to a tiny station after where you are going and of course alight at the station you are actually going to it can be much cheaper too.
I realise this Sounds mad but it often is the case.
I was told by the local station young lady that it was to do with subsidised stations whether this is true I’ve no idea.

The problem with that tmaryjoyce is that if the station you are going to has barriers you won’t be able to get out of the station and you run the risk of a fine for travelling on the wrong ticket.

Why couldn't you get off a station early and still get through the barrier?

They rise based on occupancy - they have a certain number of cheap, advance fares and when they're gone, the price goes up to standard.

Possibly the weekend you want has already been well-booked on the train - sporting events, concerts etc. will have this effect.

www.thetrainline.com/en/help/question/79/can-i-break-my-journey
Useful link about breaking your journey. If you have the right sort of ticket as in the link, just show it to one of the station staff at the barrier if you can't get through,

Standard ticket prices are what they are, they don't change. Advance tickets are released 12 weeks in advance, there are only so many at various prices, so the price is likely to increase until they're all gone and then it's just standard tickets available.

Agree it's worth looking at split ticketing, although I've found this only really offers notable savings when you're travelling at peak times.

You can get off early you just can’t get off late there is no issue ever with getting off early

I do this 2 days a week

And to different stations

Ticket pricing on trains, doesn’t work like buses, where generally the further you travel the more expensive it is.

If the cheapest ticket is an advanced single (or two for a return) then it will only let you through the barriers at the stations specified on the ticket. If you book a cheaper ticket to a further away station then you will need someone to open the barrier for you. They will most likely charge you the difference between what you’ve paid and a same day single for the journey you’ve made but they can fine you up to twice the full cost of the ticket.

If it’s a more flexible ticket you have a few more options.