Avanti fares

[frodshamfella]

Have I just been unlucky or are the fares on Avanti really expensive ? Bought two lots of tickets from Runcorn to Euston mid week day return 2nd class £ 200 each. They were purchased on different days completely, one much further in advance but it made no difference.

I have a friend trying to visit from London later this month for a weekend and has just asked me the same question, why are the fares so much. Ive suggested he looks at London Northwestern, its slower but a lot less.

 

[Bletchleyite]

Off Peak Return is £92.10. I guess you must have been travelling in the peak, much as the idea of a peak is a joke at the moment?

 

[Starmill]

To travel at "peak" time in both directions would usually cost £334 so £100 each way is actually something of a saving.

 

[Mcr Warrior]

Maybe advance tickets at times when Off Peak tickets in to or out of Euston wouldn't be valid?

 

[Starmill]

Maybe advance tickets at times when Off Peak tickets in to or out of Euston wouldn't be valid?

I imagine that is what the OP has been buying! Of course, they didn't tell us what sort of time they wanted so...

 

[Mcr Warrior]

Cheaper than anytime but still eye-wateringly expensive if you're not on expenses!

 

[Trackman]

To the OP: if it seems more expensive than pre Covid, quotas are very low at the moment.

 

[Llandudno]

Catch the slow train via Birmingham, much cheaper, but take a book, music, sandwiches, pies, sausage rolls, chocolate, Kendal Mint Cake, flask etc...!

 

[frodshamfella]

I travelled down after 9.30 , came back at just after 5, which I expected to be dear, but from memory when I booked there was nothing else much cheaper for hours. I spent some time looking at it at the time looking for something more reasonable.

 

[SickyNicky]

Catch the slow train via Birmingham, much cheaper, but take a book, music, sandwiches, pies, sausage rolls, chocolate, Kendal Mint Cake, flask etc...!

Or change at Crewe/Stafford onto the London NorthWestern semi-fast, which still has the excellent "Anytime Advance" fares available at £15 each way.

 

[frodshamfella]

Catch the slow train via Birmingham, much cheaper, but take a book, music, sandwiches, pies, sausage rolls, chocolate, Kendal Mint Cake, flask etc...!

Yep done that way before, have advised my friends who are coming up from London for a weekend to look at that route.

 

[LNW-GW Joint]

It's only £48 Off Peak Return on WMT, from Runcorn on the 0825 or 0927, no afternoon restrictions back from Euston (xx46 until 1946, but not 1646).
Half an hour or so to change trains at Crewe into the Trent Valley fast.

It's only £51 if you add a London Travelcard.

 

[Mcr Warrior]

There's no afternoon peaks at the moment, not that it matters.

Is that just Friday afternoons, or Monday-Thursday afternoons as well?

 

[Trackman]

deleted

 

[Vespa]

Booking in advance with fixed time slots and a railcard discount can save you a lot of money.

 

[yorkie]

Have I just been unlucky or are the fares on Avanti really expensive ? Bought two lots of tickets from Runcorn to Euston mid week day return 2nd class £ 200 each. They were purchased on different days completely, one much further in advance but it made no difference.

What days and times are these for?

I've found fares starting at £30, searching for an early morning departure (as you appear to be travelling at times when the Off Peak Return wouldn't be valid) on Tuesday. See attached.

I have a friend trying to visit from London later this month for a weekend and has just asked me the same question, why are the fares so much.

What days/times are they travelling? Where in London are they travelling from?

 

[frodshamfella]

What days and times are these for?

I've found fares starting at £30, searching for an early morning departure (as you appear to be travelling at times when the Off Peak Return wouldn't be valid) on Tuesday. See attached.

What days/times are they travelling? Where in London are they travelling from?

I went on a Tuesday....it was last month now, needed to be in London for a lunch appointment.

My friends live near Beckton on the DLR, so they will head to Euston. They are more flexible..but aim to arrive on Friday 23rd say about 1800 ish, leave Monday 26th around 9.30 - 10. My nearest station actually is Acton Bridge.

 

[Andy Pacer]

I did Rugby to London and back three weeks ago for £12.50 each way, they were advances but I only booked them 6 days before travel.

 

[frodshamfella]

When I went i did book in advance, but there was nothing particularly cheap which would work. £200 was the best I could get.

 

[voyagerdude220]

All week, on my route anyway MAN/EUS.

Looking at next Wednesday for example results in websites showing me only anytime/advance fares valid on Euston to Manchester services around 17:00, not off peak.

 

[yorkie]

My friends live near Beckton on the DLR, so they will head to Euston. They are more flexible..but aim to arrive on Friday 23rd say about 1800 ish, leave Monday 26th around 9.30 - 10. My nearest station actually is Acton Bridge.

In fast mode Trainsplit offers the £90.40 SVR, with a Value option for under £60 which includes a mixture of Avanti and West Midlands Trains.

If you go to Advanced mode and choose to exclude Avanti, you will be offered fares at under £40 for the round trip, all the way from 'London Underground and DLR Zones 1-3' to Acton Bridge. They do need to allow sufficient time to get from Beckton to Euston though (times shown are from Euston)

If they want a bit of flexibility but don't mind a slower journey, it's worth checking out the flexible option on WMT; Trainsplit offers a £50.60 option at their chosen time, or as little as £40.60 if they leave on the 1134.

(Note that WMT trains are branded "WMR" or "LNR" but it's all the same company)

 

[mikeg]

When I went i did book in advance, but there was nothing particularly cheap which would work. £200 was the best I could get.

I suppose it depends on what works. The off peak return (SVR) is always offered at £90.40 but presumably the timings didn't work out? Have to say it's false the advances always save money, only true that they save money much of the time.

You pay your money and take your choice, but this is why we need some level of fare regulation and need to protect the SVR fare (or something similar) at least.
Of course there are some websites that really push you towards advances but sometimes the SVR is the best option.

 

[island]

All week, on my route anyway MAN/EUS.

The current restrictions on an off peak return from Manchester to Euston are at https://www.nationalrail.co.uk/2C

They prohibit departure from Euston between 15:00-18:44 Mondays to Thursdays.

Can you please clarify the basis for your assertion that there is “no afternoon peak” on this route? Are all your journeys in the afternoon originating from Manchester? Are you using a ticket other than an off peak return from Manchester to Euston?

 

[sammyg901]

slightly OT, but related enough I think to save enough thread - but mods please split out if required!

I'm trying to book a Manchester Piccadilly - Milton Keynes Central one way saver for 50.40 on trainsplit so I can use the seat selector, but it doesn't show any flexible fares. I can see it on Avanti website. Any idea why?

Also what is the latest time you can book a ticket and get a reservation?

 

[island]

slightly OT, but related enough I think to save enough thread - but mods please split out if required!

I'm trying to book a Manchester Piccadilly - Milton Keynes Central one way saver for 50.40 on trainsplit so I can use the seat selector, but it doesn't show any flexible fares. I can see it on Avanti website. Any idea why?

Also what is the latest time you can book a ticket and get a reservation?

What date are you travelling?

Cut off time for reservations is typically 23:59 the night before travel.

 

[Trackman]

The current restrictions on an off peak return from Manchester to Euston are at https://www.nationalrail.co.uk/2C

They prohibit departure from Euston between 15:00-18:44 Mondays to Thursdays.

Can you please clarify the basis for your assertion that there is “no afternoon peak” on this route? Are all your journeys in the afternoon originating from Manchester? Are you using a ticket other than an off peak return from Manchester to Euston?

Yes, apologies- It's the former, I rarely do the journey the other way around.
I'll edit my posts.

 

[island]

Thank you. And sorry for being uppity.

 

[Bletchleyite]

slightly OT, but related enough I think to save enough thread - but mods please split out if required!

I'm trying to book a Manchester Piccadilly - Milton Keynes Central one way saver for 50.40 on trainsplit so I can use the seat selector, but it doesn't show any flexible fares. I can see it on Avanti website. Any idea why?

If you want, for whatever reason, a through fare rather than a split, Trainscanbecheaper has the same seat selector software available.