Active discussions

Meet the Other Phone. Protection built in.

Meet the Other Phone.
Protection built in.

Buy now

Please or to access all these features

Talk
AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

Travelling from London to Birmingham by train (return) = over £120!

42 replies

jarjarsinks · 21/08/2019 10:18

My husband and I want to go to an exhibition in Birmingham (we live in London). I thought we could go by train but it seems it would cost us over £120 (£30 per person each way) to go there. It's therefore not really worth it to wander around an exhibition for one hour.

Am I doing this wrong or is this really what the cost of train travel in this country is!? I mean, I know travel in London is not cheap but I expected the tickets to be about £15 each (return at most). Birmingham isn't even that far away. It's cheaper to fly to Spain!

OP posts:
Zebraaa · 21/08/2019 10:21

Train prices are extortionate. Have you tried Chiltern railways? They go to Birmingham Moor Street from Marylebone.

FermatsTheorem · 21/08/2019 10:21

How long is the exhibition on for? If you have a long enough window in which to buy tickets, then you could maybe plan 3 months ahead and get advanced fares.

But, other than that... I take it you're not a frequent user of public transport. This isn't exactly news. Actually scratch that, it is news - most news outlets have been covering this for years with many, many articles on how ludicrously expensive train travel is in the UK, especially walk-on fares bought on the day.

poolblack · 21/08/2019 10:22

A very basic search for this time next week shows much cheaper tickets.

Travelling from London to Birmingham by train (return) = over £120!
poolblack · 21/08/2019 10:23

Click the pic for full size

happystory · 21/08/2019 10:23

I go to Yorkshire a few times a year and booking in advance my return fare is between £50 and 60. But I do stay a few days, it is a lot for an exhibition.

HaloeVera · 21/08/2019 10:23

I have been shocked by train prices lately. They seem to have shot up, or there are fewer super advances or whatever. Been gobsmacked, even with Family and Friends card.

EnriqueTheRingBearingLizard · 21/08/2019 10:23

Do you use a railcard OP? I got a Two Together railcard for something like £10 worth of Tesco Clubcard points and save a third off most rail fares for trips out.

kitk · 21/08/2019 10:24

It'd likely be cheaper to fly. We live 200 miles from London and recently worked out it would be cheaper for 2 adults and 2 kids to get a taxi to London above the train, even with a railcard.

If you're definitely sold on the train above a bus, it might be worth getting a two together railcard- I trade in my Tesco club card vouchers to have one and it saves us 30% when travelling together, but it's probably not worth it unless you travel together fairly regularly

tired17 · 21/08/2019 10:25

You might want to have a look at taking the coach - National Express or Megabus, that will be cheaper

Waffles80 · 21/08/2019 10:25

Try the “ticketysplit” app. Reduces the cost significantly.

poolblack · 21/08/2019 10:26

It'd likely be cheaper to fly

Absolutely not. There are no direct flights.

There is a train for £7 in the pic I posted.

NoBaggyPants · 21/08/2019 10:30

When do you wish to travel? Are you able to go off peak?

Train travel is very expensive (trains need renationalising) but £60 isn't bad if it's a non restricted ticket.

whattodowith · 21/08/2019 10:30

The coach is a lot cheaper, maybe try that if the exhibition means a lot to you.

I’ve travelled from Leeds to London lots over the years. If you don’t book far in advance, the train is absolutely extortionate.

georgialondon · 21/08/2019 10:31

I've been doing that journey all my life and have never paid more than £35 return.

Londonmummy66 · 21/08/2019 10:34

Marylebone to Moor Street can be as little as £6.40 if you pick the right train and book in advance. Marylebone is a much nicer station than Euston too.

poolblack · 21/08/2019 10:34

trains need renationalising

It hasn't worked on the east coast. Fares are higher than ever and the service is poor.

AuditAngel · 21/08/2019 10:35

Poolblack I can’t see your picture.

Consider whether you are only prepared to use the faster Virgin service, or are happy to take the slower, cheaper service. Play around with the times for advance bookings as train times make the price vary dramatically

NoBaggyPants · 21/08/2019 10:41

It hasn't worked on the east coast. Fares are higher than ever and the service is poor.

It's still being run as a limited company. Fares have only increased in line with inflation and its on time record is the same as it was as Virgin East Coast.

If you want to look at nationalised railways look to Europe. Far more efficient and far, far cheaper.

Original poster
jarjarsinks · 21/08/2019 10:42

Poolblack - I can't see your pic! Can you please repost.

The exhibition is only on until the end of September.

OP posts:
Original poster
jarjarsinks · 21/08/2019 10:43

Hoping to travel at the weekend when MIL can look after the kids.

OP posts:
RB68 · 21/08/2019 10:43

Use chiltern - if 2 adult 2 kids get family ticket 50 quid - moor street is 7 min walk from new street (other side of bullring) so its really negligible

Original poster
jarjarsinks · 21/08/2019 10:44

RB68 - Can we still use that ticket if we don't take the kids?

OP posts:
RB68 · 21/08/2019 10:45

2 adults sould be around 70 quid mark but that is off peak - chose your trains carefully basically

RB68 · 21/08/2019 10:45

No unfortunately!

RB68 · 21/08/2019 10:47

I always use trainline these days - it will show you all trains around time you want and you select the one you want based on time, stops, changes or price as you wish. Its true in advance tickets one way can be less than a 10 er each but you need to pick travel times carefully. Where abouts in Brum is the expo