Hello all,
Here's a scenario I'm looking for some help with. Every 2-3 weeks I try and head up to the Lake District mid week for some walking, and need to be flexible with tickets as I don't know when we'll be heading back.
With a 16-25 rail card, we used to buy a ticket from Parbold to Windermere at £19.80 then if we were staying local to Windermere, add a PlusBus ticket, or if heading to the central or northern lakes, buy a normal rover ticket on the bus for £9.75. £29.55 each for 2 of us is now working out quite expensive and I'm trying to bring the cost down.
I've found a Lakes Day Rover on Northerns site that covers any train from Lancaster north to the lakes and virtually any bus when there for £13.55 with a rail card. Excellent value from Lancaster!
http://www.northernrail.org/offers/dayrangers/Explore+Cumbria+and+the+Lake+District
However, train tickets from Parbold to Lancaster are £12 (YPR minimum) or £14.90 without a railcard.
So for £25.55, I've saved £4 so far, but is it possible to get Parbold to Lancaster any cheaper without a railcard? I've tried splitting at Wigan & Preston to no avail, but are there any starting late opportunities or finishing short that I can take advantage of?
Usual trains we catch are the 07.16 to Wigan for 07.29*
*Wigan NW 07.38 to Oxenholme 08.21 | 08.27 to Windermere 08.46
*yes, we know Wigan isn't a valid connection - but 9 minutes from one station to the other is easily done
Many thanks in advance!!
Here's a scenario I'm looking for some help with. Every 2-3 weeks I try and head up to the Lake District mid week for some walking, and need to be flexible with tickets as I don't know when we'll be heading back.
With a 16-25 rail card, we used to buy a ticket from Parbold to Windermere at £19.80 then if we were staying local to Windermere, add a PlusBus ticket, or if heading to the central or northern lakes, buy a normal rover ticket on the bus for £9.75. £29.55 each for 2 of us is now working out quite expensive and I'm trying to bring the cost down.
I've found a Lakes Day Rover on Northerns site that covers any train from Lancaster north to the lakes and virtually any bus when there for £13.55 with a rail card. Excellent value from Lancaster!
http://www.northernrail.org/offers/dayrangers/Explore+Cumbria+and+the+Lake+District
However, train tickets from Parbold to Lancaster are £12 (YPR minimum) or £14.90 without a railcard.
So for £25.55, I've saved £4 so far, but is it possible to get Parbold to Lancaster any cheaper without a railcard? I've tried splitting at Wigan & Preston to no avail, but are there any starting late opportunities or finishing short that I can take advantage of?
Usual trains we catch are the 07.16 to Wigan for 07.29*
*Wigan NW 07.38 to Oxenholme 08.21 | 08.27 to Windermere 08.46
*yes, we know Wigan isn't a valid connection - but 9 minutes from one station to the other is easily done
Many thanks in advance!!