UK Train Travel

[LIZS]

Can you not just buy a cheap day return anymore ?! Am looking at journey and baffled by the variations in price, anything from £20ish to over £100 for a single trip , all of which vary on different websites.

Tickets are cheaper in advance, and two singles tend to be the cheapest option.
Cheap day returns exist if you are buying on the day and going after around 9.30, but advance tickets should be cheaper.

I normally find a return cheaper than two singles, even in advance.

I use www.nationalrail.co.uk and just put in stations, time, date. It'll list some trains around that time and recommend the cheapest options.

All depends on when you are going from and to. Never assume it will be the same everywhere. If going far away consider getting a travel card of some kind cos sometimes cost is outweighed by the massive savings you can make

It's a nightmare of confusion, but there are cheap prices to be had - you just need lots of time to find them.
I use Trainline.com

It's often cheaper to buy two singles.

If you split the journey are you allowed to stay on the same train.

If I get a train to sheffield its £15. If I go three stops further its £13. So everyone I know used to buy a ticket to Barnsley and get off at sheffield. But then I read in the paper that someone got "done" for it. I'm too scared to do it anymore.

If you buy two tickets to split the journey, the train has to stop at the station you split at - you stay on train. But if the train goes through but doesn't stop, then you can't use tickets to there.

If the tickets allow you to 'split your journey' then you can buy to beyond your stop and get off, if they don't, technically you can't. They've been getting rid of that loophole.

Friday and Sunday evenings are often most expensive.

What's your journey OP?

Also beware of some websites. If you buy from a train company one they won't charge a booking fee, other websites will.

What I've found weird is that as well as being able to get a good price when the tickets first come out, you can sometimes also get a good price when buying much closer to the date. It once even proved cheaper for us to go via London rather than across country.

Often there is a Super-Off Peak fare, this has bigger restrictions, but if you can cope with them it gives a better price.

Got a Super Off Peak in the end as that seems valid at weekends. Could probably have done it cheaper if booked singles in advance bit it worked out ok.