To think train prices are crazy? Just spent eye watering sum London to Edinburgh

[AbsentmindedWoman]

Almost £200 for two adults return. We are going next week, so it is fairly last minute, plus I know it's a lengthy journey, but woah.

Train prices seem pretty haphazard to me depending on the line.

Before the railways were privatised, were prices a lot better and more consistent?

Thats quite cheap for festival time.

Am mollified by all the remarks that it's actually quite a reasonable price

that's not too bad for last minute and as others have preciously said the Edinburgh festival is on, so busy times, train is handy as takes you straight into the city centre too.

Of course it's reasonable. How much do you think it should cost

Megabus is the cheapest

I use a megabus. MUCH cheaper and you're guaranteed a seat.

The cheapest edin - London fare is £29 pp one way, so you've actually done alright for last minute! But it ain't cheap for sure

I just got train tickets to London from Edinburgh for £25 each! We booked well ahead tho

Most train companies allow you to book a seat for free after you purchase a ticket. If this seat cannot be used due to overcrowding (which they cannot prove and you don't have to provide evidence for), and complain that you had to stand the whole way they will refund your ticket.

I used to work for a train company down south as a customer service agent. It was a regular thing to say you had to stand so you travelled for free. I wouldn't do it but it is something people do!

Sorry to jump on here but where is best to book train tickets? Never done a long journey by train before and plan on taking my son a 3 and a half hour train hour journey go visit family.

I paid over £6 for a one way ticket for a 35 min journey last week, ouch.
No booking in advance as I didn't know I'd need to travel on that day.

Dd's railcard is £18.10 a week which might be ok if the trains weren't constantly late/cancelled/missing out stops.
Train travel in my part of Scotland is terrible, and overpriced.

I use a megabus. MUCH cheaper and you're guaranteed a seat.

If you buy an advance ticket on the train, you get a reserved seat. And I think you can reserve one at any time, as long as there are seats available.

I don't know if it's still the case, but it used to be that you couldn't travel on popular long distance routes, such as London-Cornwall, or London-Scotland, at peak holiday times, if you hadn't pre-booked and reserved a seat. A friend of mine once had to fly Glasgow-London because she'd left it too late to get a train ticket.

Sorry but I think that’s pretty good! I’ve just paid £73 to go to Manchester return from London next week for comparison.

Sorry to jump on here but where is best to book train tickets?

I usually go along to my local station. Earlier this year she found me a cheaper journey than I'd found myself looking online. I go midday/afternoon, when they're less likely to be busy.

Even with the team dates and shuttle transport to the city I can usually fly to Norway, Poland Belgium, France and Germany etc etc from Manchester or Leeds on dates I want for less than 60quid.
I never understand train prices!
I was looking to go to London with a weeks notice and it was nearly £200 just for me. I went to Porto instead and stayed at an airbnb and still had change!

I use a megabus MUCH cheaper and you're guaranteed a seat
It's bloody horrible though. You arent always guaranteed a seat. I've seen people arguing with the driver on more than several occasions at Shudhill because the bus was already full by the time it got to Manchester!!

team dates
I meant tram prices!!

I've flown London to Aberdeen £90 return

That seems cheap but we’re on the most expensive line in Europe apparently- one way into London for just over an hour journey is 70 pounds so for 2 return 280 pounds 😳

£6.50 return London to Glasgow Megabus has been my best bargain so far

**IHaveBrilloHair

Red Spotted Hanky or The Trainline or Virgin Trains

you could have got a two-together railcard, it might have been worth it even if this is the only journey you ever make together.

Are you going super off peak? Have you specified exactly which train you are getting? All these things make it cheaper.

so does going on one of the cheaper coach companies

They don't work for the type of travel I'm using.
I just needed to get home, and DD needs to get to school.

I usually go along to my local station. Earlier this year she found me a cheaper journey than I'd found myself looking online.

our local station doesn't sell super off peak tickets, you have to get them on line