London to Edinburgh - With mutiple nights stops

[crooky370]

First post here.. I've seen what an impressive and invaluable resource this forum is. Hopefully someone can advise on the following.

I'm after going to Scotland (Edinburgh) for a few days and I'd like to take in a few places along the way. I'd be starting from Milton Keynes on the WCML but will likely be changing to the ECML at Kings Cross (I assume this is the easiest way) and then going on to Edinburgh. I'd like to spend a day each in York and Durham at some point.

Am I right in thinking that I cannot use a off peak\super off peak return to stop at York and Durham on different days along the way to Edinburgh?

But on the return journey I can stop at mutiple places on mutiple days for a whole month on the ECML?

I don't have any railcards and I'm quite happy to travel off peak.

Thanks.

 

[AlterEgo]

The return portion is open for a month, so as long as you obey the time restrictions on the ticket, you can break your journey as many times as you like on the return portion.

 

[ForTheLoveOf]

First post here.. I've seen what an impressive and invaluable resource this forum is. Hopefully someone can advise on the following.

I'm after going to Scotland (Edinburgh) for a few days and I'd like to take in a few places along the way. I'd be starting from Milton Keynes on the WCML but will likely be changing to the ECML at Kings Cross (I assume this is the easiest way) and then going on to Edinburgh. I'd like to spend a day each in York and Durham at some point.

Am I right in thinking that I cannot use a off peak\super off peak return to stop at York and Durham on different days along the way to Edinburgh?

But on the return journey I can stop at mutiple places on mutiple days for a whole month on the ECML?

I don't have any railcards and I'm quite happy to travel off peak.

Thanks.

If you're going to York first of all then the fastest route varies between being via Manchester and Huddersfield, via Tamworth and Derby and via London. It's by no means always quickest to go via London.

The through ticket Milton Keynes-Edinburgh is routed 'not via London' so you can't go via London anyway. However, there are three problems with using this ticket.

1. Only the expensive Anytime Return has 5 days of validity for the outward portion - the more reasonably priced Off-Peak Return is only valid for 2 days (the second day of validity being conditional on you being 'unable' to complete your journey in one day - and often the source of disagreements with unknowledgeable staff).
2. It has a restriction which bars you from breaking your journey on the outward portion (although admittedly this is only likely to be known about and/or enforced if you make 'advantageous' use of the lesser restrictions applying to this compared to other Off-Peak Returns across Virgin's southern "territory").
3. The ticket is only valid via the West Coast Main Line and not via the East Coast Main Line.

The first issue is not one that is going to be solved other than by either reversing the order of your journey (going straight to Edinburgh first, and then stopping off on the return portion which is in all cases valid for a month), or by splitting tickets at your stopoff points.

However, the latter two issues can be fixed, through the 'careful' choice of a ticket. I have sent you a PM in relation to this.

 

[crooky370]

Thanks for both replies. Good to have it clarified that you can keep stopping on the return leg so heading to Scotland first does seem the sensible option.

It is a pain that I'm based on the WCML when the places I want to visit are on the ECML and the suggestion I received from @ForTheLoveOf was a clever one.

There's some terms I need to research like "doubling back" etc. I've also realised I qualify for a 26-30 railcard (never heard of it until today when I saw it mentioned on a non rail related forum strangely enough!) so I'm thinking that will help reduce costs as well due to the amount of travelling being done.

 

[_toommm_]

Thanks for both replies. Good to have it clarified that you can keep stopping on the return leg so heading to Scotland first does seem the sensible option.

It is a pain that I'm based on the WCML when the places I want to visit are on the ECML and the suggestion from @ForTheLoveOf was a clever one.

There's some terms I need to research like "doubling back" etc. I've also realised I qualify for a 26-30 railcard (never heard of it until today when I saw it mentioned on a non rail related forum strangely enough!) so I'm thinking that will help reduce costs as well due to the amount of travelling being done.

If you do get a 26-30 railcard, make sure you have a means to charge your phone I.e. portable charger, as it is only available on your phone at the moment.