AIBU to ask for help with booking trains?

[clicknclack]

I want to book a train that goes through London (PAD-EUS) when I search for fares the cheapest it gives me allows 45 minutes to get through London (lunchtime-ish) which doesn't seem all that long. If I ask for extra time it charges me a boatload more. If I book the fares separately it costs 30 pounds or so more (ACK!) but it doesn't make much of a difference which train I take to PAD so it is crazy the cheapest way only allows one particular train.

Why do they make this so difficult?

Also if I book the two legs separately does it mean I have to buy a tube ticket?

I'm middle aged and am traveling alone so apparently railcars are out unless I suddenly become a student in the next half hour.

Visitor oyster card

tfl.gov.uk/travel-information/visiting-london/visitor-oyster-card

Are you sure going via london is your best option?

Is it possible to get lost from Euston square to the main line station? Do not want to end up in Clapham by mistake because I went the wrong way.

haha - Wolverhampton! How very dare it.

Sometimes works great for discounts, sometimes not.

have you looked at my link. it has a map too :)

No, you can't get lost. It is all signposted.

Betty, if I didn't go through London I'd miss that wonderful pushing and shoving and people trying to pass me on the escalator experience. No seriously it says it is the fastest way to go... although as I'm going to visit my ILs whom I don't like that is not necessarily a good thing.

Ok so way back when in the dark ages when I was a student, if you booked a trip that included a trip across London e.g from Sheffield to Swindon your train ticket got you on the tube too. Does it not work that way any longer?

The 19 minute journey will assume you know exactly where you are going and there is no waiting for a tube train and you already have a tube ticket. It won't include the time it takes searching out at Euston which platform you need to get your train from either.

As you don't have contactless or an oyster card, then unless you have time to order one online and get one delivered to you by post, you will need to queue with a gazillion other tourists trying to use the underground ticket machines.

With all these added extra minutes, I'm not sure 45 will be enough.

::wondering what the slowest way to go is that will have me arriving after I'm due to leave::

Gin, excellent!

Crisp no (feeling suitable chastised, will go look at map)

Granny, I do have time to order one and have it sent. I used to be pretty damn good at running across stations to the right platform with my hair blowing behind me and jumping on the train with plenty of time. Course that was before two kids and plenty of chip butties.

You train ticket will include the tube.

Well if you want the longest route accidentally book going via Bristol or somewhere.

Going a slightly longer route might also be lots cheaper.

Click - if you have time to get an oyster card delivered, then you certainly have time to work on your sprint finish!

The actual tube journey from Paddington to Euston Square is 7 minutes, so 20 minutes includes all the walking time. The trains come every few minutes, so there is very little waiting. You can also find out which platform you need at Euston ahead of time.

I'd go a longer way and avoid London, in your circumstances. It makes no sense to book a more expensive ticket because you're going through London, have the stress of running across London on the tube, and then not need to come into London and not need to be there particularly quickly.

Your ticket should definitely include cross-London travel. There's no need to get an Oyster card.

if you are coming in from the west, ie heathrow, then you can get a direct tube to euston

You can't find out what platform you need at Euston in advance, at least not for Intercity services. Everyone has to stand watching the boards until the platform appears, and then there's a massive surge. I've never understood why they do this. But Euston Square to Euston is short and signposted as Gin says.

Granny, let's be serious, how am I going to convincingly play the role of American Tourist number 5679 with white trainers and calf length white socks and a very large camera if I'm doing an Adam Gemili across Euston?

Betty, Bristol sounds lovely, I could look at blue glass and walk across the bridge while phoning DH and letting him know I'm going to be late.

Anchor, I'm a little scared of taking cross country trains that might end me up who knows where and stopping every five seconds. I figured main line might be more comfortable.

Crisp, I'm not coming in from LHR :) I'm visiting a friend before heading north.

Re tube travel being included - the small print will need to be carefully checked - tube tickets are not always included although sometimes they can be added as an optional extra.

Gin - the extra walking time includes the time from Euston Underground to Euston Station. It doesn't include the walking time to get off the train at Paddington, access the underground station, stand in a queue to get a ticket/oyster card, check the train boards at Euston as they frequently change platform departures and then hot-foot it to the train.

Then there's the potential train delay into Paddington. But then, I hold my hand up to being a pessimist when it comes to travel!

..and going through London is cheaper.... and SO MUCH FUN! haha

When are you coming OP? One of us will likely to be able to come over and hold your hand through the cross-London bit of the trip!

It will be charging you more to "add extra time" because then you will be getting a different train, either from the west or to the north. Nothing to do with the tube (and when travelling via London, it is usually cheaper to get a ticket that transits through London rather than start faffing around paying tube fares separately.)

The cheapest way to get a rail ticket is to book a specific train in advance, unfortunately for you on the day you want, the cheapest train is leaving Euston 45 minutes after you arrive in Paddington.

But personally, I think 45 minutes is plenty. Just get the tube directly to Euston Square and walk down the road a bit. You would be very very unlucky if it took you 45 minutes on the tube - it would probably take about that to walk the whole way!

Do y'all charge for travel advice (did I miss those T&C when I signed up?)

Owl, it does look like I could walk it in 41 minutes...

I just don't understand why it is charging me more, there are a lot of trains going to Paddington and if I book them separately they are the same price as the one the cheap fare wants me to go on. I shouldn't really complain, the fare is only thirty something pounds which is pretty cheap for me right now (::don't mention the Brexit, don't mention the Brexit::)

Euston square is very close to the station.

Id go on the pink or yellow line, paddington to euston square. Will take 15 mins max, plus a couple of minutes walk at each end.

You can usually buy your tube ticket when booking, or your train ticket covers tubes.