Request Hitchin-Milton Keynes

[34D]

Dear Sirs,

Tomorrow I need to travel from Hitchin (or Arlesey or Letchworth) to Milton Keynes, returning the same day. I'd need to leave Hitchin around 7am and must arrive in MKC just before 9am. I don't have avantix handy I'm afraid.

If anyone has a spare two minutes, could they look me up some options please. I see the anytime day return is around £60 (which is disgraceful for a journey which is 30 miles as the crow flies), but I'm thinking possibly Hitchin to R1256 travelcard then BZ6 to MKC may be more affordable - or indeed separate tickets HIT-KGX and EUS-MKC.

Don't mind being on a stopper PBR-FPK or on LOROL if I can save money, but I must be in MKC by 9am. Also I would usually walk along Phoenix Road from KGX to EUS.

Sorry to be a pain.

 

[Aictos]

While this is normally Yorkie's and others area, I can see a Anytime Day Return between Hitchin and Kings Cross for only £21.00 and a Anytime Day Return for £35.00 which brings it down to £56.00.

I'm sure the more ticket blessed members might be able to find a even cheaper option then me,

 

[yorkie]

Is it feasible to cycle from Hatfield to St Albans Abbey? This journey takes around 45 minutes. You would just need Hitchin - Hatfield plus St Albans Abbey - Milton Keynes returns. The journey can be done along an old disused railway line.

Alternatively there must be a bus that links the routes...

 

[stut]

If the timing's OK, the 777 coach links Hitchin and Milton Keynes coachway directly. Takes about 70 minutes.

http://www.intalink.org.uk/Timetables/tt/777_A_ATG.pdf

 

[asylumxl]

Hmm, being local, and partial to the Marston Vale line, what about...

06:06- 6:35 101 bus from Hermitage Road, Hitchin
6:59 - 8:35 Luton to Bedford to Bletchley to Milton Keynes Central

I don't remember the fare for the bus, but the anytime ticket would be 23 quid.

The 777 coach is a good bet.

 

[philjo]

An alternative option would be the x5 Cambridge-Oxford coach service.
This is every 30 minutes & passes St Neots Station (times shown as Cambridge Street in the timetable) so could change there off the FCC service from Hitchin there or you could get the local bus from Hitchin to Bedford & catch it in Bedford.

Day Return fare St Neots to Milton Keynes is £10.90
I think it takes about 90 minutes from St Neots to Milton Keynes.

http://www.stagecoachx5.com/default.aspx

The 07:28 coach from St Netos arrives Milton Keynes centre at 08:55. (would need the 06:51 FCC from Hitchin arriving St Neots at 07:12)
there is also one at 06:58 arriving 08:25. (06:06 FCC from Hitchin)


Another option is bus 300.
It is approx every 15 minutes from Hatfield station via St albans to Hemel Hemstead, where you can catch LM service to Milton Keynes.
It also goes from WGC & Stevenage but they go round the houses a bit & the WGC stop is at the other end of the Howard Centre) so it is quicker to change from train to bus at Hatfield as it stops right outside the station.
Takes about an hour Hatfield-Hemel bus staion. Unfortunately it doesn't go to the rail station in Hemel.

http://www.intalink.org.uk/Timetables/tt/300_D_ATG.PDF


There is also an hourly bus from Luton airport or Luton rail station (where you can use bus 100/101 from Hitchin to Luton) to Milton Keynes

http://www.miltonkeynes.gov.uk/transport/documents/VT99.pdf

 

[34D]

Is it feasible to cycle from Hatfield to St Albans Abbey? This journey takes around 45 minutes. You would just need Hitchin - Hatfield plus St Albans Abbey - Milton Keynes returns. The journey can be done along an old disused railway line.

Alternatively there must be a bus that links the routes...

Thank you to everyone for the kind responses. In future if I need to go MK again I'll be taking that 777 coach (times are great).

Today I needed to be on the train as I have an evening appointment in London (should have mentioned really), and the best 'anytime' tickets the booking office could find were travelcard £29 and BZ6-Milton Keynes £27 total £56 - if I need to do this by rail again, can anyone see any other rail options please?

This is why we need the East-West link!

Cheers

 

[RJ]

Thank you to everyone for the kind responses. In future if I need to go MK again I'll be taking that 777 coach (times are great).

Today I needed to be on the train as I have an evening appointment in London (should have mentioned really), and the best 'anytime' tickets the booking office could find were travelcard £29 and BZ6-Milton Keynes £27 total £56 - if I need to do this by rail again, can anyone see any other rail options please?

This is why we need the East-West link!

Cheers

If you'd requested a combination or split at my window I'd have done you the following (All Anytime tickets);


Hitchin - Boundary Zone 4 return - £13.50
Zone 1 - Zone 4 Travelcard - £10.00
London Euston - Milton Keynes return - £25.80 (Virgin Only)

Total £49.30

Add £1.20 if you want a choice between London Midland and Virgin Trains.

 

[north]

Thank you to everyone for the kind responses. In future if I need to go MK again I'll be taking that 777 coach (times are great).

Today I needed to be on the train as I have an evening appointment in London (should have mentioned really), and the best 'anytime' tickets the booking office could find were travelcard £29 and BZ6-Milton Keynes £27 total £56 - if I need to do this by rail again, can anyone see any other rail options please?

This is why we need the East-West link!

Cheers

This is probably a bit late - but if you need to return via London regularly I would recommend the following:

This assumes a Network railcard.

Single on the 777 Hitchin to Milton Keynes £8.40 (£8.50 on a Friday)
Single Milton Keynes - Hitchin route (+Any Permitted) with RC £24.95 - Valid via London

Total £33.35 (£33.45 on a Friday)

You can't return from Milton Keyens until after 10am if you use a Network Railcard.

 

[34D]

This is probably a bit late - but if you need to return via London regularly I would recommend the following:

This assumes a Network railcard.

Single on the 777 Hitchin to Milton Keynes £8.40 (£8.50 on a Friday)
Single Milton Keynes - Hitchin route (+Any Permitted) with RC £24.95 - Valid via London

Total £33.35 (£33.45 on a Friday)

You can't return from Milton Keyens until after 10am if you use a Network Railcard.

Good plan (both yourself and RJ).

Now a stupid question. I've never travelled on a national express coach in my life. Is it like a bus where you pay the driver (is there a day return fare please, or even a weekly season?) or is it like a long distance train where you are encouraged to book in advance?

Edit - just realised that Milton Keynes coachway is 4 miles out of town - http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Milton_Keynes_Coachway so I'd have to factor time and cost of local buses in too.

 

[north]

Good plan (both yourself and RJ).

Now a stupid question. I've never travelled on a national express coach in my life. Is it like a bus where you pay the driver (is there a day return fare please, or even a weekly season?) or is it like a long distance train where you are encouraged to book in advance?

That's an anytime single - I'm pretty sure you can just buy from the driver (assuming coach isn't full - if you book online you are guaranteed a seat). There are return fares - you can see them on the national express website.

Edit - just realised that Milton Keynes coachway is 4 miles out of town - http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Milton_Keynes_Coachway so I'd have to factor time and cost of local buses in too.

Gosh you're right - It hadn't occurred to me that it might be that far out... I've just checked and there seem to be a few buses that go between the coach way and the railway station - X5, 300, 8A... are the ones I saw on traveline.org.uk.