Margate-Manchester splits

[craigwilson]

Hi,

Can anyone recommend any good splits for Margate to Manchester, next Friday, returning on Sunday. Flexible with travelling times on Friday, returning after lunchtime on Sunday would be ideal.

Thanks
395009

 

[SickyNicky]

In my experience, walk-up fare splits for long distance flows that cross London rarely produce much, if any, saving.

In this case the through Off-Peak Return ticket is cheaper than any normal splits that I can find.

For journeys to or via London, I would always recommend looking for advance tickets for the best price, although you do lose flexibility.

 

[Clip]

The off peak fare will be the best price as you will get to travel on HS1 where as with a split you could end up paying the premium to ride on HS1 if you just done it from London and thats £37 return on its own.

 

[dzug2]

There might be mileage in a split Margate to say Brum and Brum to Manchester using off peak returns. Or even advances on the second leg

But as others have said splitting in London is rarely cost effective

 

[yorkie]

Hi,

Can anyone recommend any good splits for Margate to Manchester, next Friday, returning on Sunday. Flexible with travelling times on Friday, returning after lunchtime on Sunday would be ideal.

Thanks
395009

Not really, as your ability to take the fast trains Margate-London would have a premium if you paid for that portion of the journey separately, and London-Manchester trains tend to be non-stop at least between [stn]MKC[/stn] and [stn]SOT[/stn], which is an expensive bit if paid for separately.

So, if you do "split", you are going to have to get much slower trains. For example, you could buy a Margate to London ticket, then London to Stoke LM Only, and Stoke to Manchester. But is the saving worth it for a much slower journey? Only you can decide.

Also "splitting" works best when you are returning the same day, and a through day return is not available. That isn't the case here. It also works well to get around peak restrictions, but that isn't going to help here as the through ticket has no time restrictions at all between Margate and London and you can get to Manchester as early as 1149 on the through Off Peak ticket. If you wanted to arrive earlier then splitting is going to cause a really early start as your trains would be so much slower.

 

[craigwilson]

Guys,

Thanks for all your advice. Off Peak Return it is then!!

Advance tickets to Manchester from here (I don't know whether this is true of all VWC + connections Advances) seem to have really dried up, even trying to book ages in advance.

 

[extendedpaul]

I can get Margate to Manchester for a very reasonable £17 in May !

Suspect there are only a few at the lowest price point and they sell out fast.