Oxford - Ansdell & Fairhaven 09/12/11-12/12/11

[Buttsy]

Hi, I'm looking to go to Ansdell over the weekend of 09/12-12/12 and am looking to see if I can do this relatively cheaply. On Saturday 10/12 I will also be going to Morecambe from Ansdell (return £12.70), so if that factors in a rover, then all to the good.

So far as I can see, the best price with reasonable flexibility is £72.60 (Oxford-Banbury, Banbury-Ansdell), but does tie me to a fixed outward train, which I'm happy with. Also happy to go via Manchester or Warrington or any other route (eg: Chester-Liverpool-Ormskirk). I only have a Network Card and will be travelling Off-Peak.

Is there any better price out there at all? Your help would be most appreciated.

Thanks

 

[bb21]

If you are happy to be restricted to the slower London Midland trains between the North West and the West Midlands, you could consider splitting at Banbury, Coventry, Rugby/Nuneaton and Liverpool. The Super Off-Peak Return between Rugby/Nuneaton and Liverpool Stations is only £17 and should produce quite a decent saving overall. (Can't check as I don't have Avantix on me at the moment but someone else should be able to provide you with the prices soon.)

 

[SickyNicky]

If you are happy to be restricted to the slower London Midland trains between the North West and the West Midlands, you could consider splitting at Banbury, Coventry, Rugby/Nuneaton and Liverpool. The Super Off-Peak Return between Rugby/Nuneaton and Liverpool Stations is only £17 and should produce quite a decent saving overall. (Can't check as I don't have Avantix on me at the moment but someone else should be able to provide you with the prices soon.)

The best I can see on this route is as follows:
£59.70 (saving £15.70)

Off Peak Return
OXFORD to LEAMINGTON SPA
Fare £15.80
Route ANY PERMITTED
Restriction 2V

Off Peak Return
LEAMINGTON SPA to TAMWORTH
Fare £13.20
Route ANY PERMITTED
Restriction CS

Super Off Peak Return
TAMWORTH to LIVERPOOL STNS
Fare £14.50
Route ANY PERMITTED
Restriction LK

Anytime Return
LIVERPOOL STNS to ANSDELL & FAIRHN
Fare £16.20
Route ANY PERMITTED

 

[bb21]

The best I can see on this route is as follows (but your train would need to stop at Liverpool South Parkway)

Isn't Nuneaton/Rugby - Liverpool LM Only costing about £17 on an OPR iirc?

 

[SickyNicky]

Isn't Nuneaton/Rugby - Liverpool LM Only costing about £17 on an OPR iirc?

Yep - but it's the same price from Liverpool South Parkway to Ansdell as from Liverpool to Ansdell, and ticketing around Leamington and Banbury makes it cheaper to split at Tamworth (from what I can see, and bearing in mind the OP needs a period return).

Edit: also because the tickets are any permitted, the OP could go via Birmingham, if he chose.
Edit2: just seen that Tamworth to Liverpool is also £14.50 so a stop at Parkway isn't need. Adjusted the tickets above.

 

[bb21]

Ah, OK. I see the XC-pricing factor working here on even short-distance fares.

 

[Buttsy]

Thanks a lot!

So based on what you've said, I take it the minimum changes I can make are Tamworth, Lime Street & Preston (subject to suitable through services)?

 

[Gathursty]

Suggesting Liverpool as a splitting point seems prima facie a bit wrong at least by looking at a map. What about splitting at Crewe instead and then you could remain on the WCML to go up to Preston rather than going to Liverpool and back out again either via Wigan or Ormskirk?

 

[Lampshade]

Suggesting Liverpool as a splitting point seems prima facie a bit wrong at least by looking at a map. What about splitting at Crewe instead and then you could remain on the WCML to go up to Preston rather than going to Liverpool and back out again either via Wigan or Ormskirk?

CDRs aren't available from Crewe to Preston/Blackpool, although most people know the right ticket to buy

 

[SickyNicky]

Suggesting Liverpool as a splitting point seems prima facie a bit wrong at least by looking at a map. What about splitting at Crewe instead and then you could remain on the WCML to go up to Preston rather than going to Liverpool and back out again either via Wigan or Ormskirk?

The ticket from Tamworth to Liverpool is particularly cheap (as are all LM super off peak returns in that area) and that's the key to getting a reasonable price.

Even if we use tickets that start/end short, it's difficult to get close to the price going through Liverpool and the OP seems to be interested in price rather than route.

 

[Buttsy]

It is price, as £60 makes it comparable with driving up there, which would cost me £50 in fuel alone and who knows how long in time on a Friday afternoon.