Trains - I know nothing! It's going to be expensive, isn't it?

[mizu]

Edinburgh Uni open day Oct 1st. Think this is the place DD wants to go. We've been to Leeds and I drove. To go to Edinburgh, I want to take the train - easier, less stress etc. I never take trains, ever. It is going to be expensive i am guessing.

I have had a quick look but know that there are ways of getting cheaper tickets, buying to one place and then buying again from there?

I really am clueless and obviously want the best deal.

Cheltenham to Edinburgh by the way - any top tips? Like book NOW? Don't wait?

Trainline gives you split ticketing options now so have a peruse of that. And yes book now!

Oh you're going to have to stay overnight looking at the journey length. Book a hotel asap as well then - the cheap ones tend to book up early on open days.

It will most likely be worth getting her a young persons rail card if she doesn't have one already or there is a different one for 16 to 17 year olds.

Yes I've seen there is a 16-17 train card which is probably worth getting just for that journey as it's 50% off. She turns 18 soon after though.

And yes, will need to leave on the Friday.

You can get a two together railcard, which gets you both a discounted rate when you travel together. Think it’s valid for 16+.

I think you can use railcards for as long as they are valid. They don't 'run out' when the child has a birthday.

There are always cheaper train tickets twelve weeks before the date of travel, so that might be worth doing next time or when you go up to visit!

My dd went to open days by herself. That's a cheaper option.

Advance tickets save money. Check if there is a direct train (Cross Country service).

Sometimes (rarely, nowadays) it is cheaper to go first class because there are advance tickets available, whereas all the standard advance tickets have sold out. Worth checking both options.

Sometimes (rarely, nowadays) it is cheaper to go first class because there are advance tickets available, whereas all the standard advance tickets have sold out. Worth checking both options.

We got 3 singles (2 adults and one child) from Edinburgh to London a few weeks' ago in first class for £130 (in total, not per ticket). I think using a 2 travel together or young person's railcard (which we bought using clubcard points.)

There was a 3 hour delay while on the train so the free food and drink came in useful. I was also automatically given a full refund for the delay.

Look at railcards, they'll probably pay for themselves with that journey. Are you going with her or just her alone? If the latter when I was looking at uni's ( admittedly a long time ago) most had some arrangement where you stay with a current student for lot less than a hotel ( so long as she doesn't mind an air bed in the floor)

I'm planning to go with her. Never been there and thought it would be a nice trip spending time with one of the DDs.

Ok, from the replies so far, I need to get my bottom into gear ( and book Friday off work!)

The cross country train from Cheltenham to York is expensive and I haven't found yet a cheaper way of getting it. Change at York for the Edinburgh train. Trainline or LNER will show you the cheapest tickets. Best to buy sooner and definitely with a railcard.

I got DD and I a 2 together railcard when we did London-Bath-Exeter and back for open days and it paid for itself on the first trip.

Also look at the various split ticketing sites, Martin Lewis advises that Trainline is rarely the cheapest for splitting but for ease I have used that this summer sometimes. I think the other I used was splitmyfare or sth like that.

Have you checked out flights? I had a client in Cheltenham and it was often cheaper for me to fly to Birmingham and rent a car. This was in the Flybe days so might not be so easy now.

Otherwise, I book trains as soon as I have a confirmed meeting. I can often get a first class upgrade for less than the standard ticket. If I can’t, then I use Seatfrog to bid for an upgrade. That used to work very well but I’ve not been lucky the last two journeys (they were for Leeds).

Split tickets are the simplest way to save money. try a few different combined options on the website to work out what's cheapest. If you do split your train must stop at the station (but of course you don't need to get off). Try Birmingham as the first split. You can buy a combo of advance singles and open singles if that's cheaper than a return. You cannot buy a ticket to a later station even if that would be cheaper. Good luck and enjoy, it's a nice journey!

Use one of the tools in this article to look at splitting
www.moneysavingexpert.com/travel/cheap-train-tickets/

You can use Clubcard vouchers to buy some railcards now (family for example).

book.splitticketing.com/default.aspx is the site I use - it does all the 'legal' options for you, ie won't show you a ticket you can't use because the train doesn't stop there.

I don't recommend travelling with Cross Country, especially not that distance. Their trains are always rammed to the doors, have no room for luggage, and even if you book a seat, there will probably be someone else sitting in it.

As others have said, book first class if you can.

You'll have a lovely time. I just recently did that journey and DD loved it so much she wants to go to uni there. Ticket split on the trainline app will allow you to change at birmingham or there's a slower straight-through train from Cheltenham. Get a two together railcard and then look how long in advance you need to book it by testing the dates on trainline app. I think we booked about 3 months in advance and the tickets weren't too bad. Be aware avanti are striking and operating a reduced timetable so you may be best getting the straight- through train which I think is with another provider which is not (currently) striking!. I would spend the weekend there and see some of the city rather than just the uni marketing. You get more of a sense of it I think! Have a lovely time. Don't bother with the plane I think. I used to use it and it was so much hassle with the whole waiting at the airport and liquids in cases issues!

When looking at Edinburgh do specifically ask how many RUK placed they have for the particular subject she wants to study.

You may find driving is still cheaper than trains

I could drive I guess - it would be a lot cheaper I think. Hard though.

marlowe5 thanks I will sit down and take a good look at what the options are.

The 16-17 railcard does indeed run out either after a year or on the persons 18th birthday, whichever is sooner. I would avoid Trainline at all costs. They charge booking fees and if part of your journey is cancelled and you request a refund, they have been known to cancel the whole lot, meaning you’d have to buy a new ticket.

If you book advance tickets, they are only valid on the one train at the one time. If that train is cancelled, you can only board the next one, not any train that you fancy. I’d go to the ticket office at your local station and ask there.

If you've got tesco clubcard vouchers you can buy a two together railcard for £10 instead of £30. You can book tickets through Split Ticketing and see if that comes up cheaper than other Ticket options (don't forget to tick that you have a railcard to get the additional discount)

Cheltenham to Birmingham with cross country, then Avanti to Edinburgh is the other option (instead of via York). It's often very cheap to go first class on a late running service (ie after 6pm) and you often get a proper dinner too.
I definitely recommend a two together card.