Leicester to Edinburgh to Glasgow to Leicester

[suzanneparis]

On Thursday I want to go from Leicester to Edinburgh - preferably early subject to prices
Then on Friday from Edinburgh to Glasgow
Then on Saturday evening from Glasgow to Leicester

What are my options? In particular is there any way I can do it by breaking my journey and if so what ticket do I buy?

Many thanks in advance.

 

[ainsworth74]

Hmm not much to be honest this close to the date of travel.

Using a Senior Railcard I can see a £21.35 Advance Purchase (must travel on booked trains) ticket from Leicester to Wakefield Westgate which would see you departing Leicester at 0758 and changing at Nottingham and Grantham before arriving at Wakefield at 1031. You could then pick up a service at 1047 from there to Edinburgh Waverley arriving at 1410 costing £33.05 Advance Purchase (must travel on booked train).

Edinburgh to Glasgow £5.55 Anytime Single (valid on any CrossCountry service and there is one roughly every two hours).

Coming back from Glasgow Central departing at 1800 and changing at Birmingham and arriving at Leicester at 2318 costing £18.80 (booked train only).

Total cost would only £10 less than an Off-Peak Return from Leicester to Edinburgh which would be valid on any train after 0500. You could use that to do your outward journey then the start using the return portion on the Friday before finishing off the return portion on Saturday (it's valid for a month and allows break of journey). So is £10 worth restricting yourself to specific trains and only using CrossCountry between Edinburgh and Glasgow (the Off-Peak Return would be valid on any route between the two)?

 

[g22]

In terms of getting to Scotland On Thursday Morning there is a £28.50 without railcard advance fare from Leicester to Glasgow Central if that is of any use. Depart Leicester 0722 change at Nuneaton and Crewe.

 

[suzanneparis]

g22.
Thanks but I can't find that fare? Can you please explain how. Thanks.

ainsworth74
Thanks. So you are suggesting an off peak return to Edinburgh? (not an off peak return to Glasgow)?

 

[g22]

You need to put in Leicester to Glasgow Central and specify a via point at somewhere like Lichfield Trent Valley. I just thought I would make you aware of this fare which would at least get you from Leicester to Glasgow if it is of any use. Getting between Glasgow and Edinburgh I would just get an on the day ticket. Then there is the £28.50 without railcard fare that is available from Glasgow Central to Leicester departing at 1800 changing at Birmingham on Saturday that ainsworth74 has picked up.

So in short there are £28.50 advance fares without railcard from Leicester to Glasgow Central in both directions if you can arrange the travel between Glasgow and Edinburgh using on the day tickets.

 

[ainsworth74]

ainsworth74
Thanks. So you are suggesting an off peak return to Edinburgh? (not an off peak return to Glasgow)?

Actually, if it were me, I'd be the two tickets to/from Glasgow that g22 and myself found and then a day ticket. If you can travel with CrossCountry each way between Glasgow and Edinburgh that would only be £11 in total for that plus the APs would mean a total cost of £48.60 which is a considerable saving over the Off-Peak Return. Even if you end up buying a ticket valid on Scotrail between Glasgow and Edinburgh it'll only push the total cost up to around £55.

If you were going to buy the Off-Peak Return I'd buy to Edinburgh not Glasgow.

 

[suzanneparis]

Many thanks g22 and ainsworth74

Sadly, a new problem has arisen. I have to travel up to Edinburgh on Friday not Thursday and that wonderful cheap fare isn't available disappointingly as otherwise I would have gone for it.

Any other suggestions? Or am I stuck with the more expensive off peak return?

Thanks again for all of your kind help - genuinely appreciated.