Shenfield - Manchester £229 - Wow!

[EssexGonzo]

I have to be in Manchester on a Monday morning 10 days ahead for an 11am meeting. Having relatives in Leeds and Bolton, the default option for me is to drive up over the weekend and stay over on Sunday. Long drives don't worry me.

Although a regular short distance commuter, I rarely use long distance trains. However, having done Shenfield to Norwich return yesterday for about £20, I thought I'd see what the best Advance price would be for Shenfield - Manchester return on the same day.

£229!!!! Am I not working the system correctly?

Yes, it's a Monday morning so I guess that's where most of the cost is but really? Given I already have the overhead costs of the car, I can get there and back for £65 in diesel.

 

[Simon11]

The issue is with the morning trip to Manchester, as you are being asked to purchase an Anytime Single.

I would consider either looking into splitting this ticket or travelling on Sunday evening with a hotel stay, which will only cost £80 return.

 

[telstarbox]

Have you got a Railcard?

 

[Tetchytyke]

Try booking Shenfield to London and London to Manchester separately (but get a paper ticket Shenfield-U1, don't use Oyster, to make sure you're protected in event of delays).

I can see London to Manchester advance tickets for about £140 in total.

 

[47421]

Your key problem here is the Virgin WC off peak time restriction for Euston to Manchester on a weekday being no dep Euston b4 0926 or 1501-1844.

Avoiding those times you are looking at off peak return from Shenfield of £88.70, but first train u can get from Euston is 0940 arriving Picc 1149.

Are you eligible for any Railcards? Eg 16-25 or disabled? VT WC have a nice concession for most RC holders, allowing them to travel anytime on an off peak ticket as long as whole journey is with VT WC, so if you have a RC off peak pay on day return Euston to Manchester is a very reasonable £53.85

 

[EssexGonzo]

Thanks for the insights, I'll go and try some other options.
--- old post above --- --- new post below ---
Oh, and sorry, no railcards.

 

[dave87016]

There is a 07:15 and 07:45am London Marleybone for £15 one way get to Birmingham Moor St at 08:53 and 09:42am respectively on the Monday morning 20th April and then 09:01 from Birmingham New St to Manchester Piccadilly arriving at 10:59 for £17 that's one way aswell if they are any good let me know about coming back time date etc and I will see if there is similar

 

[yorkie]

£229!!!! Am I not working the system correctly?

You are using the system the Train Companies want you to use correctly.

But you are not using Trainsplit, therefore you are paying a premium to have the journey on one ticket.

I wouldn't say it's "incorrect" not to try using Trainsplit for a journey like this, but I would say it's very costly not to use it.

The best fare with Trainsplit is £141.70, this is using a combination of 3 flexible Anytime tickets on the outward journey, and one through Advance fare on the return.

Note that with the combination offered, the train needs to call at Milton Keynes Central. The 0720, 0735 and 0820 do. You need to avoid the 0800. Also note the 0735 is via Crewe, while the 0720 and 0820 are via Stoke instead, so the splits may be different depending on the route the train goes.

Virgin Trains charge a huge premium for their lightly loaded trains. You may get a coach to yourself on departure from Euston. However some of them do fill up later in the journey with commuters from places like Stoke, Macclesfield to Manchester (where the fares are cheap).

 

[evotista]

How about this.....

Go Shenfield to London Liverpool street - then tube to St Pancras - then to Sheffield

Mon 20th April Advance fare for that journey departing 05:55 get to Sheffield at 09:41 = £36.50.

Then catch 10:11 from Sheffield to Manchester getting in 11:02 for £ 9.20...so total cost one way = £45.70....similar savings can be had coming back...easily do-able for less than £100 return...Don't use Virgin Trains is the best option to save money.

 

[andythebrave]

Megatrain London to Sheffield and return plus an off peak day return from Sheffield to Manchester totals £48.30 (plus whatever it is from and to Shenfield). Gets to Piccadilly at 11:02 if that's any good.

 

[Darandio]

Gets to Piccadilly at 11:02 if that's any good.

Not for an 11am meeting, surely?

 

[LNW-GW Joint]

To put it into context, BA want £323 to get you from Heathrow to Manchester in time for your meeting (unless you can catch the 0655 or go the night before).
The connecting Shenfield-Heathrow isn't much fun either (until Crossrail opens).

I can't think of any other time in the week which shouts "peak" more than first thing on a Monday morning.
Booking on Virgin Trains you might get a cheap return half if the time is right.

 

[telstarbox]

Sounds like driving is the better option unless it's more worth your time to do 2 hours work each way on the train from London to Manchester.

 

[extendedpaul]

If you're able to sleep on a coach you could get the 1 am megabus from Victoria to Manchester, current fare for 20/4 is £7. Arrives about 7 am which is perhaps too early.

Alternatively the 18.30 or 20.00 megabus on Sunday evening for £10 with a night at one of the central Manchester travelodges for between £36 and £42.

Then an advance to return to Euston by train for £20, or Shenfield for £23. on Monday afternoon or evening.

 

[Hadders]

This would be an early start but if you were going to drive I'd estimate you'd have to allow at least 5 hours.

There are currently Advance Fares on the 0616 from Euston to Manchester Piccadilly for £35. This arrives into Manchester at 0828. Purchase the ticket though the Virgin Trains website and you can obtain an off-peak single for your return for £40.80.

You will need to leave Shenfield at 0439 to get to Liverpool Street in time to connect with the 0616 from Euston. An Anytime Day Travelcard is £27.90 although I'd imagine there might be cheaper ways to make this leg of the journey. It is important that there is continuity of tickets in case of delay so I'd avoid using Oyster PAYG from Shenfield to Euston.

 

[Starmill]

You will need to leave Shenfield at 0439 to get to Liverpool Street in time to connect with the 0616 from Euston. An Anytime Day Travelcard is £27.90 although I'd imagine there might be cheaper ways to make this leg of the journey. It is important that there is continuity of tickets in case of delay so I'd avoid using Oyster PAYG from Shenfield to Euston.

I can't believe there is an 0400 Southend Victoria - London Liverpool Street service!

 

[yorkie]

...I'd imagine there might be cheaper ways to make this leg of the journey...

At that time only £8.10 on Oyster or contactless.

The same fare on the way back (unless touching in at Euston/Euston Square between 1600-1900, in which case it's £10.90

 

[andythebrave]

Not for an 11am meeting, surely?

Strictly speaking, no. However, there were a few occasions when I knew that I'd be 10 minutes late at offices near South Wigston and merely said so in advance without issue. After all, if driving there is an excellent chance of a far, far later arrival which would be accepted. In any event, meetings (apart from being a waste of time) should really be scheduled for the convenience of all attendees....

 

[neilmc]

My company got wise and scheduled all London-based meetings for early afternoon so people could get there on off-peak tickets.

And, if you really needed to be there early doors, travelling previous evening and using a Travelodge was recommended.

 

[Hadders]

My company got wise and scheduled all London-based meetings for early afternoon so people could get there on off-peak tickets.

And, if you really needed to be there early doors, travelling previous evening and using a Travelodge was recommended.

I bet they were short meetings if you had to beat the 1500 off-peak restriction on the way home from Euston! Or did the meetings go on so long you cold travel after the evening peak

 

[Ediswan]

You could also try 'Via Doncaster' or 'Via Leeds' for the outbound journey. It will take an hour longer, but does offer advance tickets.

 

[EssexGonzo]

Thanks again guys for the advice.

I think I'll be driving up on Sunday and staying with family in Leeds and will drive across to Manchester on Monday morning.

Yep, it's a long drive but Shenfield - Leeds and Shenfield - Bolton are journeys we make many times a year in an ageing but beautifully comfortable and economical car.

It was my SNF-NRW journey this week that prompted me to even look at a train option for this journey but it would appear, as many of you have said, the easy option is the most expensive so I'll take the car instead.