I adult no railcard
Newcastle to Sanderstead outward Sun 12th July (or early Mon 13th -appears very expensive) and return Mon 13th July after 1700.
Cheapest option anyone - funeral at 1330 so going Sun appears to give more chance of a saving than early Mon.
Thanks in advance for anyone who comes up with a viable saving.
I take it the fare you are trying to beat is the £109.20 Super Off-Peak Return [M-F: by any train scheduled to arrive Kings Cross at or after 1117, return by any train scheduled to depart London 0929 - 1457 or after 1859 (1815 Fridays)].
It is not easy to beat this fare but my best effort is:
Monday 13 July
0752 Newcastle - Peterborough 1015 Advance Single £29.25 [1]
Off Peak One Day Travelcard Peterborough - Zones R1256 London route Any Permitted £29.50 [2]
2022 Peterborough - Doncaster 2119 Advance Single £14.60 [1] [4]
then either 2123 Doncaster - Newcastle 2256 Advance Single £16.50
or 2248 Doncaster - Newcastle 0041 Advance Single £8.30 [1]
Total £81.65 (or £89.85 if you risk the 4-minute connection at Doncaster [3])
[1] These are NXEC Advance tickets with a special offer 20% discount available at
http://www.nationalexpresseastcoast.com/ only until 4 July.
[2] You need to make sure you buy the "Any Permitted" version of this ticket and not the cheaper "FCC Only" version. This will let you stay on the train from Newcastle to Kings Cross. This ticket is valid from Peterborough by any train from 0954, and from Kings Cross to Peterborough by any train 0954 - 1555 and from 1901. It is also valid on all tubes, buses, trams, DLR and trains (except Heathrow Express) in Greater London, including to and from Sanderstead.
[3] This is less than the recommended 7-minute connection at Doncaster, so if you miss it you are unlikely to get much help from the train companies. An anytime single Doncaster - Newcastle is £41. To avoid the risk of having to buy one, consider buying
both the £16.50 and £8.30 tickets. This gives you insurance in case the connection is missed, but 1hr 45mins earlier to bed if you make it. Total cost then £98.15.
[4] This is the 1933 Kings Cross - Leeds.
John
