London Midland Great Escape is back!

[Mojo]

London Midland are doing another Great Escape (aka. Green Dot Day) on the 19 Feb - 06 Mar. Same prices as before (£10 Standard/£20 First).

http://www.londonmidland.com/destinations/great-escape/?=

 

[RJ]

Hurrah!

 

[anthony263]

better make sure i book a day off then. i have yet to get a ride and a class 323 so thats what i might do.

 

[Polarbear]

Beware the restriction that applies to peak journeys from London Euston this time around.

Travelling from London on weekdays?
Our weekday departures from Euston between 1540-1900 are already really busy, so to help everyone have a more comfortable journey, Great Escape tickets can't be used on these trains on weekdays. However, if you really need to get back, we're offering a special evening peak supplement which you can use in conjunction with your Great Escape ticket to travel from Euston between 1540-1900 (prices are person):


Adult Child
First or standard class £5 £2.50


This supplement can be bought at the same time as you collect your tickets (as long as this is after 7 February), on the day of travel from any ticket office on our network (including Euston), or from the conductor on your train into London. Please note that upgrades are not required on Saturdays or Sundays.

I fear a few people may get caught out with this as it appears it's not possible to pay the supplement at the time when you actually want to use it, (i.e. on the way out from London on the day).

 

[nedchester]

Beware the restriction that applies to peak journeys from London Euston this time around.



I fear a few people may get caught out with this as it appears it's not possible to pay the supplement at the time when you actually want to use it, (i.e. on the way out from London on the day).

You can buy it at Euston before you board though.........

 

[furryfeet]

I take it that the evening restriction is for boarding at Euston only i.e. could one get on during the evening peak at say, Watford without having to pay the supplement ?

 

[JoeGJ1984]

Can you use other operator's service that share the same routes? E.g. could I use a service run by Arriva Trains Wales instead of London Midland between Shrewsbury and Birmingham International? (Usually tickets are interchangable between trains run by different TOCs on the same route, except for advance tickets).

 

[transportphoto]

Can you use other operator's service that share the same routes? E.g. could I use a service run by Arriva Trains Wales instead of London Midland between Shrewsbury and Birmingham International? (Usually tickets are interchangable between trains run by different TOCs on the same route, except for advance tickets).

Nope = its valid on LM trains only

 

[JoeGJ1984]

Nope = its valid on LM trains only

That's unusual - normally the TOC running the service is irrelevant if they take the same route (except advance tickets as you then have to use the train specified) (and I thought that applied universally, with the exception of things like railtours). (E.g. if I buy a return ticket from Shrewsbury to Birmingham New Street, I can use trains run by either London Midland or Arriva Trains Wales - which usually comes down to what time is most convenient).

 

[MCR247]

So you have a London Midland great escape offer, and someone is confused a why you can't use Arriva Trains Wales...? :roll:

 

[DJ737]

G'day

I have downloaded a voucher for use during my next trip up to the UK.

All I have to work out is the cheapest way to get from Elsenham to a LM station. (Watford Jn?)

The Hertfordshire explorer ticket at £8 seems to be the way to go here.

Elsenham-Stansted AP-Harlow-Watford Jn, although that will entail 6hrs on local buses for a round trip.

Cheers
DJ737
Melbourne, Australia

 

[theblackwatch]

That's unusual - normally the TOC running the service is irrelevant if they take the same route (except advance tickets as you then have to use the train specified) (and I thought that applied universally, with the exception of things like railtours). (E.g. if I buy a return ticket from Shrewsbury to Birmingham New Street, I can use trains run by either London Midland or Arriva Trains Wales - which usually comes down to what time is most convenient).

It't not unusual at all - when a TOC does an offer, it is normally for its own services and not those of another company! For example, EMT's Red Dot Day cannot be used on anything other that EMT trains.

 

[wintonian]

Also for example there are 2 £14 CDR's from London to Milton Keynes one is routed VIRGIN TRAINSONLY and the other is LDN MIDLAND.ONLY, the difference is that they have different restrictions and are tied to one TOC, though there is an ANY PERMITTED at £20.50 which is equally valid on both.
--- old post above --- --- new post below ---
Oh and this might be worth Great Escape pepole being aware of:

This is an important announcement

Due to ASLEF (the train drivers’ union) not renewing an agreement relating to drivers working overtime, it is likely that some trains will have to be cancelled on certain days over the coming weeks.

From London Midlands front page.

 

[London_Midland]

Happy New Year all.

Just to clarify a few things, the evening restriction on "GE5" is only from Euston. If you get on at Harrow or Watford for example, the restriction doesn't apply. The reason we have had to introduce it this time is due to a falling out we had with some of our commuters due to even heavier than usual loadings from Euston during the October offer. Hopefully the £5 charge has been mentioned enough to make people aware and encourage avoidance of these trains.

However, if someone hasn't paid, the conductors will have instructions to simply charge the upgrade on board, since the purpose of it is to simply put people off, not a money making exercise. The last thing we want to do is alienate anyone.

Regarding the ASLEF issue, we are obviously very disappointed that they have decided not to renew the overtime agreement, but hopefully things will have moved on by the middle/end of February. That said, I hope my 7 day forecast and 24 hour advance notice information on the web will help avoid anybody getting caught out.

Further to suggestions made on here previously, we have also made the offer 2 weeks long this time for those who want to avoid trains full of children in week 1!

Best wishes,

David.

Ps you can also contact me on Twitter @londonmidland if you've got any burning questions.

 

[Dreadnought]

The only issue with the time restriction I can see is for people travelling from stations north of Rugby on the Trent Valley line. If you do not pay the additional fare there is no longer any direct trains home.

For example checking the LM website states to get back to Nuneaton would involve getting the 19:46 changing at Northampton and Coventry to get home at 22:02, an 1hr 46mins later than the last direct train at 18:29.

Tamworth would be even more difficult as LM don't run any services to there except the EUS - CRE service!

 

[IanPooleTrains]

This is good, I can get some more stations out of the way. Love the London Midland Great Escape deal because I can go anywhere and anywhere on the LM network

 

[wintonian]

I do it from the London end so the restrictions don't affect me, I popped up to Crew and back last time I went, so thinking about maybe Hereford this time.

£20 to Euston and £10 for LM rather good for the distance I think.

 

[lyesbkz]

I've been reading old threads and various forums and can't decide whether it'd be likely to be worthwhile paying the £20 for First, I mean there seem to be mixed opinions as to whether it's actually any better than Standard (or worse!), does anyone have any (more recent) experience/advice regarding LM First class which they would care to share?

 

[Pumbaa]

It depends. If you're out on the mainline routes, want a guaranteed seat and table, and want a comfy seat then yes you could say it is good value. Doing 3.5 hours on a 350/2 to Crewe is NOT particularly brilliant, and a couple of turns a day still end up being a /2. Near peak times, it is going to get busy so FC will give you a seat for sure!

If you're wanting to do the local routes, round Snow Hill etc then probably not worth it at all!

 

[wintonian]

I did it first last year and like SWT it is not worth it in the slightest, if traveling during rush hour to/ from London then yes it maybe but to be honest I thought the first class compartments were rather shabby and there was plenty of space in the rest of the train which in the end I opted for as I found the seats more comfortable.

My excuses was it's only another £10 so still a good deal so might as well try LM first class and see.

 

[Mojo]

My excuses was it's only another £10 so still a good deal so might as well try LM first class and see.

I, on the other hand would give the excuse that it's double the price and bail out

For me, I wouldn't do it as I don't consider it worth the extra money. Unless you are taking a laptop and want to charge it, as you get plugs in First class.

If it were EMT, with complimentary refreshments on 222/HST routes, I might consider it, but not worth it on LM for me.

 

[London_Midland]

Incidentally, we have just reviewed our catering, and better offer starts today. Free tea/coffee and biscuits for first class and more trains covered by at-seat trolley.

More details here: http://www.londonmidland.com/catering
--- old post above --- --- new post below ---
I understand where you are coming from, Dreadnought.

Unfortunately it is impossible to differentiate between people travelling up the Trent Valley, and people on the Northampton route, so have to apply the £5 upgrade across the board. £15 return from Tamworth still a pretty good deal, though (although you might be able to get £6 each way on Advance fares if you don't need flexibility).

David.

 

[wintonian]

Hmm if there are trolleys on the trains I get then I might pay the extra £10 and go first class if I think I might drink most of the extra in tea/ coffee.

 

[MCR247]

Is it just tea or coffee? Don't like either
--- old post above --- --- new post below ---
Why aren't LM promoting this? I looked on the website for details the other day, and I was surprised it wasn't on the homepage! Or any other page!

I know where it is now, but why not have it in big on the homepage? (Maybe where the strike thing is now) and even have it on the banner where 'this is an important announcement' is?

 

[Pumbaa]

Incidentally, we have just reviewed our catering, and better offer starts today. Free tea/coffee and biscuits for first class and more trains covered by at-seat trolley.

More details here: http://www.londonmidland.com/catering

I was wondering when that page would be updated - it had been a while!

Anyway, good stuff and like to see LM making a move. However... my two major irritations on this front are now a) no catering on the Crewe route bar two return trips and b) on both Liverpool and London from Birmingham trains, it ends far too early and starts far too late.

a) Its a long trip between Crewe and MK. I can understand there is little need for the trolley to venture south of MK as you're into commuter territory. However, the busy times of mid-afternoon and the day trippers returning to Nuneaton etc, they've got a raw deal. From experience, the busiest departures are the 1133 and onwards from Crewe (but only from Stafford). One solution could possibly be curtailing the trolley at Stoke or Stafford, as that would remove the need for an extra trolley diagram.

b) Peak time commuters, both who travel First and Standard, will not have the option. One reason for the lack of services could be overcrowding, but in my experience the guards do a good job of advertising the location of the trolley on the train if it can't move.

 

[46100ROYALSCOT]

This is aimed at David at LM, it's a great pity you can not allow an earlier time for using the Great Escape ticket if travelling from Liverpool or Runcorn to London. I have used this service whenever the offer as been available and find it great value but unfortunately the first train from Runcorn ( my nearest station ) is not until 10.25 which give a London arrival of 13.49 which is a bit late in the day. There is a train at 09.25 ( Runcorn ) which I can not use because of the 09.30 start time. To much to ask but the 08.24 would be even better if allowed giving customers a few more hours in London. Can you look into this possibility please ???

 

[trickyvegas]

Delighted with this, heading to London from Manchester on 19th February and is it's FA Cup weekend all the advance fares with Virgin are gone. So I've treated myself to a £20 voucher and it will cost me just £8.40 return from Stockport to Crewe to connect with the LM service

 

[TomJ93]

I will be 150 bashing on one of these! May get 1st for when I venture onto a Desiro?

 

[43167]

May do a couple this time. One for a unit bash around the West Midlands and the other for trip to London.

 

[323235]

Is this £5 Peak Supplement an Unlimited Supplement?