What am I missing?... Birmingham / Nottingham / Sheffield...

[afyutr]

I am currently researching fares for what promises to be an EPIC weekend touring the BrewDog bars of the North. I will probably come back to ask about the whole plan when it is finalised, however wondered if anyone could shed light on this oddity that's making me think I'm missing something:

Travelling during the day on a Saturday. 2 people, no railcards.

Nottingham (NOT) to Birmingham New Street (BHM) - £17.80 off-peak single.
BHM to Sheffield (SHF) - £42.40 anytime single. No off-peak single.

I get that there are lots of good Advances available for both routes. Both journeys take approx. 75 mins with the same TOC.

Is one cheap or one expensive? Am I missing something huge? Why the disparity? Should I be doing something different?...

 

[MidnightFlyer]

Can't help with the reasons why but you may want to look at splitting at Derby for the Sheffield leg - knocks quite a bit off fares (or did) if memory serves.

 

[Romilly]

That split still helps: with offpeak day singles available, it's £16.30 + £11.20, i.e. £27.50 instead of £42.40. And there's even more to be saved with split Advances, even if booking close to travel.

 

[34D]

Off peak day return Nottingham to Birmingham £17.90.
Single Derby to Sheffield £11.20.
Total 29.10

When do you go back from sheffield?

 

[Hardcastle]

What ive found if no advances are booked are £12.00 BHM-BUT then BUT-SHF £12.30 Derbyshire Wayfarer but must disembark at BUT to purchase at the said station total £24.30.

 

[MidnightFlyer]

What ive found if no advances are booked are £12.00 BHM-BUT then BUT-SHF £12.30 Derbyshire Wayfarer but must disembark at BUT to purchase at the said station total £24.30.

Of course, on a bar crawl, Burton is one of the more relevant places to alight anyway

 

[34D]

In that case, there is a version of the Derbyshire Wayfarer at £16.90 which includes Nottingham, so that plus a return Burton to Birmingham £12.10 is valid (your train MUST stop at Burton: I think most of the Nottingham to brum trains do).

Total £29.00. What are you doing after arrival in Sheffield/when do you return to Nottingham?

 

[afyutr]

Thank you all for your help. Stopping at Burton may be a good idea; or a simple split at Derby. We will be continuing to Leeds from Sheffield to complete Day One if that enables a different ticket. So the day in total is Nottingham-Brum-Sheffield-Leeds. Day 2 is currently Leeds-Manchester-Liverpool for which two advances seems the absolute best option, but even standard singles are not overly expensive here.

To be honest, if logic and price says that starting in Birmingham (so swapping the Nottingham-Birmingham portion of the day) is a lot better then I'd consider that change.

 

[34D]

Thank you all for your help. Stopping at Burton may be a good idea; or a simple split at Derby. We will be continuing to Leeds from Sheffield to complete Day One if that enables a different ticket. So the day in total is Nottingham-Brum-Sheffield-Leeds. Day 2 is currently Leeds-Manchester-Liverpool for which two advances seems the absolute best option, but even standard singles are not overly expensive here.

To be honest, if logic and price says that starting in Birmingham (so swapping the Nottingham-Birmingham portion of the day) is a lot better then I'd consider that change.

Can you give your full itinerary inc Fri and Sun? Where is home?

Return tickets and using break of journey may well make sense for all or part.

 

[afyutr]

Hi 34D. OK here's how the plan currently stands:

(Preston to Nottingham - Friday late afternoon - one of us going to meet the other).

Then both of us:

Nottingham to Birmingham - Sat arr approx. 1200
Birmingham to Sheffield - Sat dep 1400ish
Sheffield to Leeds - Sat dep 1800 ish

Leeds to Manchester - Sun arr 1200
Manchester to Liverpool - Sun dep 1400ish

(Liverpool to Preston (1x) & Liverpool to Nottingham (1x) - the miserable drunk "going home" trains).

Best to assume no railcards; two standard adults. Happy to split / use rovers etc.

 

[telstarbox]

Are you only going to Brewdog pubs or will you have time for some more pubs (in Sheffield)?

 

[afyutr]

The original plan is just BrewDog, but happy to factor in any good suggestions!

 

[34D]

We need someone to help with the permitted routes, but is a Preston to Nottingham off peak ticket valid via Birmingham one way and via Leeds & Manchester the other?

 

[John @ home]

is a Preston to Nottingham off peak ticket valid via Birmingham one way and via Leeds & Manchester the other?

Unfortunately not. I seem to remember reading complaints on this forum about the withdrawal of Preston - Leeds - Nottingham as a Permitted Route.

Mapped Permitted Routes Preston - Nottingham are shown on maps and map combinations:

• CU+EM
  CU = Crewe - Cumbria
  EM = East Midlands local routes
  This requires travel via Stoke & Derby.
• KM+EM
  KM = Kirkham - Manchester.
  This also requires travel via Stoke & Derby.
• KN
  KN = Kirkham - Crewe - Nuneaton
  This requires travel via Tamworth & Derby.
• KW+PR and PR
  KW = Kirkham - Warrington & Liverpool.
  PR = Midland Main Line - Sheffield - Manchester or Preston.
  Both combination KW+PR and map PR require travel via Chinley & Sheffield.

There is no Permitted Preston - Nottingham Route via Leeds or via Birmingham. But 34D's idea may well have merit. I'll investigate whether a ticket for a longer journey such as Lancaster - Nottingham or Preston - Grantham would be suitable.

 

[telstarbox]

The original plan is just BrewDog, but happy to factor in any good suggestions!

Red Deer/Fat Cat/Bath Hotel all recommended in Sheff close to Brewdog.

 

[afyutr]

Once I have the confirmed dates I feel advances may be the cheapest way to do it - although I guess it's a risky business given the activity!

 

[SS4]

Of course, on a bar crawl, Burton is one of the more relevant places to alight anyway

You mean it's more than a coincidence that Burton Albion are nicknamed the brewers

 

[Wolfie]

You mean it's more than a coincidence that Burton Albion are nicknamed the brewers

Let's hope their perfomance in L1 doesn't droop...