Frigging hell! The price of train tickets to London!!

[Hellotoallmyfans]

Why have train tickets become so expensive? (I don't use public transport usually so not very aware of fluctuating prices)

Every couple of years or so I book for us to go to London as a family (2 adults, 3 dcs) to go see a show and take in some sights - the theatre tickets were £600(!) but I was expecting that as I know that's what it costs for decent seats, ditto the hotel which is £500 for two rooms for one night. But what I wasn't expecting was to then have to pay another £340 on top for train tickets from Manchester to get there! Last time we went, before covid, the train was £90 for a family ticket! There doesn't seem to be any options for family tickets and all the websites I've looked at are showing the same price.

I don't know what I'm looking for here, just having a moan really! Or maybe the name of a secret website that does cheap train tickets?

Everything is so bloody expensive isn't it? I guess I will have to suck it up and pay as I've booked the theatre tickets now which I'm sure will non-refundable. It's just gutting that I am looking at close to a grand just to get there and stay for one night. We could literally have flights/hotel for a week in Europe for that! Not taking into account the theatre tickets and the £££+ we will probably end up spending on food/drink and other attractions (wanted to maybe do a boat ride and some museums).

It's going to be at least £2k+ spent on one night in London! I don't know if it's even worth it? Grrr.

@Sparklfairy More likely train companies trying to capitalise on people being able to take trips now after over a year of reduced income for them.

The railways are now under Govt control again. The rail companies now only operate the trains under licence. The Govt set the prices. Train companies have no power to raise fares to make themselves more money anymore.

www.moneysavingexpert.com/travel/cheap-train-tickets/
This is handy.

@DismantledKing

Another triumph for privatisation

Isn’t it just? Everyone driving or flying instead. Madness.

I suspect, but don’t know, that pre Covid one of the rail franchise conditions was that the operator would make a certain percentage of advance or discounted fares available, as a quid pro quo for high walk-on fares.

Since the virus hit and trains were suddenly emptied, I suspect that concessions have been made to the franchisees, including allowing them to increase prices and scale back on the number of discounted tickets, to allow them to recoup some lost revenue.

My experience of French, Portuguese and Dutch rail services are that they are much cheaper than in Britain. Not cheap, but cheaper. There must be a much higher government subsidy, or rail must be government run.

You can put two named adults on a family railcard and then either of those adults can travel with up to 4 adults and up to 4 kids, and you ALL get a third off.

You do need to travel together though, you can't come back on different trains.

It costs £30 a year or £70 for 3 years IIRC.

It's a no brainer!

@DismantledKing

Another triumph for privatisation

The railways are not back under government control. That's probably the reason why train companies aren't offering deals/cheap advance tickets anymore - the govt are setting the prices and won't be bothering with discounts etc to encourage more people to use quieter trains.

It's been very apparent since the govt took over that the usual cheap advance fares are no longer available as often or as cheaply.

Yes--I just checked on trainline for a family of 5 with kids aged 5-15, leaving on Sat the 16 from Manchester Picadilly direct and returning the next day, and it was £115 with a railcard.

(Can you tell that there are chores I'm trying to avoid doing?)

It is criminal really, no incentive to stop people using cars at all is it, DH and i went to Leeds a couple of years ago, hotel right by the station ideal situation to travel by train you'd think ….. nope was going to cost over £300 so we drove, paid £20 to park the car for the weekend and about £60 in petrol, stupid as we really would have preferred the train. At the time we couldhave done a. Weeks all inclusive holiday abroad for that!

Not sure if anyone has mentioned this but there’s a discount if 4 plus people are travelling too.

I noticed last summer that advance fares seemed few and far between and fares have increased too. Also some journeys that used to offer return fares now only offer singles. It’s very complex.

I just looked up return tickets from manchester to london terminals for this weekend and managed to find usefully timed tickets for 2 adults 3 children for £124 all in. I’m not saying that’s cheap but it’s a hell of a lot less than £340 for a quick look.

When are you trying to book tickets for, OP? If it's miles ahead, this might be the problem.

The reduced tickets come out something like 12 or 8 weeks before travel (I forget how long exactly) so if you're booking way in advance you won't get them.

Have a look at the same route on different days and see if there are cheaper tickets.

You might need to hold your nerve and wait! Maybe ask the train line when they issue their discounted tickets.

Railcards will help, but I agree, it's absolutely bonkers. No wonder people drive!

I'd hate every moment of it knowing I'd spent that!

That train fare is mad. As others say, are there other options?

We live nearer but our options include driving to end of line tube and parking there fir a couple of days (costs about £20 for parking) or driving to a station a bit nearer London - dd and I (with her railcard) paid £31 for two returns recently, instead of £60+ from our more local station. 30 minutes drive and free street parking too. Any use?

www.nationalrail.co.uk/Terms%20and%20Conditions%20-%20Groupsave.pdf

3 people of more travelling can use this to get 1/3 off. Under 15 free I think but not sure.

We got a family friends railcard via tesco points which cost £10 in points. I used my mums and paid her £10 so might be an option if you know someone with spare points.

LNER don't release their 'cheap' tickets until 12 weeks-ish before travel date, so if you look a long way in advance you are probably being quoted standard fares.

You can setup email alerts to let you know when the cheap tickets are released for dates your are interested in, but it's worth checking back periodically. Last time I was going to London I missed the cheapies so drove to Luton Parkway and caught trains in from there.

We often flew from London to Scotland because of the extortionate train rates. £40 flight and a 30 minute journey or £150 on the train over six hours; it was the obvious choice!

The prices are permitted to increase above inflation every year and yet the service is dire. Cannot remember ever being on a train that wasn’t a least a couple minutes late and I commuted via train for 8 years.

How can they charge so much for the train, a terrible service and then lecture people about the environment? They’re pricing people off the trains as well as putting people off as the service is so unreliable.

I also object to paying the full price for a train ticket and having to get a rail replacement bus the whole way.

Sorry guys, rant over. Years of pent up train-rage!

I went recently and ended up driving, I parked in Park Lane and it cost £28 for the day. Half the price of a train ticket and the same time driving as the train.

I’ve just (last month) returned from a weekend in London.
I traveled from Birmingham New Street on a Friday late morning. Arrived in Euston around noon. Returned on Sunday mid afternoon. Arrived back in Birmingham at 4.30 ish
Reserved seats. It cost £39.00

The trick is to book in advance.

My MIL often visits from London and pays an extra 50p to upgrade to first class on virgin trains. You can’t just book the first tickets and you must book in advance.

I'm more appalled by that you've paid £600 for theatre tickets!! How many people is that for?! There are so many ways of getting cheaper seats with a good view!

Also I agree it is worth looking carefully at theatre seats; we have had brilliant experiences in sears much cheaper than that, for example restricted view at Wicked (some if the set was in the way, but not really; seat next to dd's cist £25 more) and side slips at Les Mis which were amazing, tho to be fair not good for anyone 6ft+.

That train seems insane! I've just returned from 24 hours in London (live in Northampton), and it was £26 return.

I always get the "slow train" that takes about an hour fifteen, as opposed to the fast rain that's 50 minutes. It's usually a fair chunk cheaper.

I would drive to a Tube station somewhere off the M1 on the outskirts, like Stanmore, and Tube the rest of the way. Lots of stations have car parks where you can stay overnight.

Look at stations around Manchester area. I’m an hour away from london & train fares are £20 for me & DD, vs £57 from my closest station going for the day on Saturday.

@clary

Also I agree it is worth looking carefully at theatre seats; we have had brilliant experiences in sears much cheaper than that, for example restricted view at Wicked (some if the set was in the way, but not really; seat next to dd's cist £25 more) and side slips at Les Mis which were amazing, tho to be fair not good for anyone 6ft+.

Agreed! I went to see Hamilton last night - packed house. I was in the Grand Circle, as was told higher up actually gives a better view. They were totally right! Incredible view, no craning round other people's heads. Cost? £65 I'd never pay £100+ for a theatre ticket!

when are you going?

I’ve just seen a westcoast avanti family ticket for £124