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How much? Crazy prices for 1st Class Stafford to Torquay!

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Masboroughlad

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Hoping to go to Torquay from Stafford on 3rd October, direct at 0902.

2 of us, Standard class just over £100 return.

Thought we might splash out and check out first class. £1001!!!! I've got back on to my chair.

How can that be justified? We are flying to Svalbard via Tromso, back to Oslo, on to Hamburg and back to the UK for less than that later this year.

Needless to say, we will be going standard class!!!
 
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DarloRich

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Hoping to go to Torquay from Stafford on 3rd October, direct at 0902.

2 of us, Standard class just over £100 return.

Thought we might splash out and check out first class. £1001!!!! I've got back on to my chair.

How can that be justified? We are flying to Svalbard via Tromso, back to Oslo, on to Hamburg and back to the UK for less than that later this year.

Needless to say, we will be going standard class!!!

split tickets?
 

ainsworth74

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Well considering that you're looking at a pair of 1st Anytime Returns I'm not sure what you expect? They were always going to expensive as they're priced for people on expenses. If your willing to indicate when you intend to return I'm sure someone will be able to offer advice.
 

AlterEgo

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I suspect these fares are deliberately ridiculous precisely to discourage heavy patronage - it's only a Voyager and there have been occasions in the summer when the whole carriage has been full on the Paignton/Torquay trains. There just isn't the capacity for people on walk up tickets.
 

LNW-GW Joint

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Sky-high First Class fares on Cross Country go back to Arriva's decision when they took over from Virgin to mark up Anytime fares by 100% from Standard, instead of the usual 50%.
As they have a monopoly on Birmingham-Bristol there's not a lot you can do to avoid it.

If you buy separate 1st returns Stafford-Birmingham (£29.60), Birmingham-Bristol TM (£142.20*) and Bristol TM-Torquay (£105.40*) = £272, you can save a packet.
The through Anytime fare (£500.50) is set by XC, while Stafford-Birmingham is LM and Bristol-Torquay is GWR, who don't have the same swingeing policy on First fares.
*Note that the Birmingham-Bristol and Bristol-Torquay fares are Off Peak Returns (after 0930).
You pay a fortune to start your journey before 0930.
On the 1002 or later the XC through Off Peak fare is "only" £265.60.

You might get a better deal with Advances if you know your times both ways.
Somebody will also chip in to say you could go via London and get cheap 1st Advances on VT and GWR.
 
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LAX54

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By way of comparison, as people say its cheaper to fly.... Birmingham to Newquay £2,000 return 1st Class.
 

Merseysider

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Birmingham to Bristol should be split at Cheltenham.

Edited to add that if flexibility is needed, there is no need to pay for the 1st Off Peak or Anytime fares. XC offer advance fares until 10 minutes prior to departure which, following the same split pattern, will be even cheaper. Not always available on their busiest trains, but south of Birmingham you'll be fine.
 
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bb21

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sky-high first class fares on cross country go back to arriva's decision when they took over from virgin to mark up anytime fares by 100% from standard, instead of the usual 50%.
As they have a monopoly on birmingham-bristol there's not a lot you can do to avoid it.

120%

...

varies but mostly 60%-70% AIUI
 

dave87016

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try Stafford to Newton Abbot direct or Standard class from Stafford to Birmingham NS and then 1st Class Birmingham - Newton Abbot there can generally be much cheaper fares

I have looked 1117 from Birmingham is £125 for 2 adults 1st class advance single without a railcard discount is the cheapest I can find for that day if you can go later then 0902 from stafford
 
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yorkie

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Thought we might splash out and check out first class. £1001!!!!
Trainsplit will sell you 1st class return tickets for £144.77 on the 0902 Stafford-Torquay and the 1013 Torquay-Stafford returning the next day.

Through fares can be very costly, especially on XC, and in particular in 1st class.
 

LAX54

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Is this 'fare' not like the one plastered all over the press a while ago with the guy going by air to some Euro Capital and then to London saying it was cheaper than getting a train to London ?
 

Deafdoggie

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I live in Stoke, and spent many summers working in Dawlish-going down Monday morning, returning Friday afternoon.

Standard class was cheaper to split SOT-Stafford, Stafford-Birmingham, Birmingham-Cheltenham, Cheltenham-Bristol, and Bristol-Dawlish. Particularly because I was on the train before 09:30 too!

Cheaper still, if time not too pressing, is to London, then to Torquay. Plus you'll get better, and more, food on Virgin.

I do have sympathy with XC though. The train is full and standing with the fares they charge, if they made it cheaper, how full would it be?
 
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