Euston to Manchester fare challenge - Tuesday 7 Feb

[Taunton]

I want to do Euston to Manchester return next Tuesday 7 Feb. Outward definitely on the 0753, return just when done, sometime mid/late afternoon.

Our corporate travel agent quoted £510, caused a certain apoplexy to our beancounters, which I soon diagnosed was a first class (not required, not asked for) open return.

So, the challenge is, quite simply, what's the cheapest fare combination we can come up with, on the direct Avanti service ...

 

[MrJeeves]

Hmm, I don't see an 07:53 looking at Trainsplit, but that's probably because it's priced at £161.90 (!!) when you look at NRE.

In which case, £161.90 advance outbound, plus something between £50 and £60 for the return leg (also advance) might be a decent bet.

Edit: found some splits in Post #4.

 

[splashoutradio]

If you require flexible tickets, which don't restrict the return journey to a specific train, the standard class peak ticket is £369.40.

As MrJeeves says, there's a number of cheaper option's if you're willing to use advance tickets, and there's also the cheaper (but longer routes) if travelling via Sheffield or when using LNW/TfW services.

 

[MrJeeves]

Managed to force Trainsplit to get the 07:53.



Here's your best combination for the outbound leg, totalling £131.30. I'd recommend you pop on the split ticket finder to pick your cheapest combination for the return leg: https://tickets.railforums.co.uk/

Here's some prices it gives me for splits. Second image shows cheaper but longer journeys.

For a completely flexible return leg, I'd recommend Manchester Piccadilly to Euston off-peak single. Splitting for your return leg will only save £1.27, so it's not really worth it.

 

[30907]

Simply buying singles (Anytime out and Offpeak back) gets it down to just over £250, and booking an Advance outward knocks it down to £230.

Beyond that, you'd need to split at MKC or Rugby. Because of the competition withv
LNR (who are the fare setter), and a more competitive Advance, the MKC split knocks another £40 or so off to about £190.
I see Mr Jeeves has beaten be by another £7.

I haven't checked return splits but I doubt there's anything to be gained as the Avanti Offpeak fares are relatively cheap, and you need flexibility.

 

[Mcr Warrior]

Standard class Anytime Single Euston -> Manchester is £184.70 for the Northbound leg, Off Peak Single £68.60 on the way back South.

However, as the 0753 Avanti calls at Rugby, you could split the Northbound journey to Anytime Single Euston -> Rugby at £74.90 together with an Off Peak Single Rugby -> Manchester at £41.30. Train has to stop at Rugby.

Total £184.80 there and back.

 

[MrJeeves]

However, as the 0753 Avanti calls at Rugby, you could split the Northbound journey to Anytime Single Euston -> Rugby at £74.90 together with an Off Peak Single Rugby -> Manchester at £41.30. Train has to stop at Rugby.

The train is pick-up only at Rugby, so you can't split there, by my understanding as your first split leg wouldn't be valid as the train doesn't stop to "let you off" there.

 

[Mcr Warrior]

The train is pick-up only at Rugby, so you can't split there, by my understanding as your first split leg wouldn't be valid as the train doesn't stop to "let you off" there.

Good spot. Annoyingly, some (not all) Avanti Northbound trains are pick up only at Rugby. That's one of them.

 

[Taunton]

Well done so far, all. I don't think I can expect an (expert, apparently) travel agent to be into splitting, but interesting what it can achieve. 263.30 seems a "standard" approach, Anytime Outwards, Off Peak back, unrestricted return time, which is the sort of figure I would expect. I guess "off peak" from Manchester is any time after 10 am, including evening peak.

Still interested in the all-time lowest!

 

[danm14]

I guess "off peak" from Manchester is any time after 10 am.

The £68.60 Off Peak Single from Manchester to London is valid on any train arriving in Euston at or after 11:30am (i.e. the 9:35am departure from Manchester Piccadilly onwards) on Mondays, Tuesdays, Wednesdays and Thursdays.

This ticket is valid on any train on Fridays, Saturdays, Sundays and Bank Holidays.

 

[_toommm_]

Well done so far, all. I don't think I can expect an (expert, apparently) travel agent to be into splitting, but interesting what it can achieve. 263.30 seems a "standard" approach, Anytime Outwards, Off Peak back, unrestricted return time, which is the sort of figure I would expect. I guess "off peak" from Manchester is any time after 10 am, including evening peak.

Still interested in the all-time lowest!

The travel agents the company I used to work for flat out refused to book splits or even use the railcard I had. I always thought it was weird as I had the railcard already and saving 1/3 on every booking surely is better than buying expensive returns from Leeds to Birmingham.

 

[andrewkeith5]

Sounds like they need a new travel agent!

The travel agents the company I used to work for flat out refused to book splits or even use the railcard I had. I always thought it was weird as I had the railcard already and saving 1/3 on every booking surely is better than buying expensive returns from Leeds to Birmingham.

 

[andythebrave]

The travel agents the company I used to work for flat out refused to book splits or even use the railcard I had. I always thought it was weird as I had the railcard already and saving 1/3 on every booking surely is better than buying expensive returns from Leeds to Birmingham.

Corporate agents have a nasty habit of wanting to maximise their commission and should, generally, be avoided like the plague.

 

[MrJeeves]

Thankfully, for work, I can buy my own tickets and submit them as expenses!

 

[fandroid]

I want to do Euston to Manchester return next Tuesday 7 Feb. Outward definitely on the 0753, return just when done, sometime mid/late afternoon.

Our corporate travel agent quoted £510, caused a certain apoplexy to our beancounters, which I soon diagnosed was a first class (not required, not asked for) open return.

So, the challenge is, quite simply, what's the cheapest fare combination we can come up with, on the direct Avanti service ...

The simple rule on London to Manchester journeys is - if travelling out in peak time, always buy singles. If your return day/time is uncertain, buy the outward one only and wait until plans are known before buying the return leg. No-one should ever buy an Anytime Return, because even if circumstances force you to buy two Anytime Singles, (a fairly rare requirement) they won't cost more than the Return. From there on you can check out the ways of knocking more off the cost. And there's nothing to stop you trying to ticket split for both legs.

 

[Runningaround]

Flights are less than £90 and only take an hour

 

[Deerfold]

The travel agents the company I used to work for flat out refused to book splits or even use the railcard I had. I always thought it was weird as I had the railcard already and saving 1/3 on every booking surely is better than buying expensive returns from Leeds to Birmingham.

The travel company my wife used to have to book through always issued tickets to London with a Z1-6 Underground single, despite her having told them she already had a ticket that covered the Underground.