getting the train?

[Spindles]

I got a bargain early booking through one of the rail booking sites last year (raileasy, ticketline, etc) last year (which I ended up not needing). A return ticket, checked on several rail booking sites varied in price for me (redditch-castle cary return) from cheapest £52 to steapest £97 (both prices for same trains, at same times, but checked on different days and with different booking sites). One day I checked and got a return for £37.

The moral? Watch prices. The price you see today will likely not be the price you see tomorrow. When a price is suitable: Accept it.

I ended up getting a lift and never actually used the ticket. Go figure.

[Junglist-Guy]

I got my tickets 5 weeks ago. Return from Lincoln to Castle Cary £50. Checked today its like £140.

[dawlishmonkey]

hi folks.I believe I am in a position to comment cos I am a fgw guard. so here are the realities of the situation. a break in journey would be possible on (nearly) all but advance tickets,however,if you are leaving castle cary station on or around the festival dates you have no chance of convincing anyone that you are breaking your journey armed with a tent and sleeping bag.

If you have an advance ticket and join the train when it's so busy that you are unable to get to your seat then you can have a chance of claiming that back from fgw(claim forms available from ticket offices),however be aware that the conditions of carriage which are the rules under which you buy your ticket state that the ticket entitles you to a journey but not a seat. but this is different for an advance ticket as opposed to an open ticket.

I'd be quite happy to sort any ones queries via pm or on this forum.I might not know all the answers but I'll know someone who does.

by the way I'm driving in....and I get free train fare

[krofh]

oh blimey, essay. Sorry about motivating that!

I didnt realise Al was on about getting an advance ticket, though thats the only way it would work out cheaper so I probabily should

If its that much cheaper it might be worth grabbing a single from whatever station is the one before Castle Cary though then you can still do the cheap thing.

As for the advance ticket for coming home though, they must get people missing their train all the time given the huge queues outside. Its not your fault the train company wont let you onto the train you booked onto so they certainly wont have a problem with someone get a later train, I wouldn't worry about that.

I'm driving for the first time this year, looking forward to not having to drag a tonne of booze around on trains on the way to festivals Last year my rucksack strap broke when I was getting on and a load of strongbow burst over everything. Was a good start to the week

Edited May 30, 2010 by krofh

[ParanoidAndroid86]

Possibly a stupid question(s) but..... Having checked times on thetrainline/raileasy and FGW it looks as though I can get 2 singles for £37 combined or an off-peak return for just under £45 (both with a 16-25 card, all 3 sites appear to be the same prices). Am I right in thinking that if I go for the singles then (in theory) I'm expected to get that service - and if I miss either I'd have to try and blag it or pay again? If so then I'd rather pay the £8 extra.

The only thing about the off-peak option is that it normally equates to travelling after 10am, yet I've entered departures on the Wednesday/Monday mornings after 7/8am and it's still permitting me to click those. The description of the ticket type says "return any time within a month" - am I clicking a specifically timed service for the sake of it then?

Edited May 31, 2010 by ParanoidAndroid86

[Mrs Peanuttie]

Possibly a stupid question(s) but..... Having checked times on thetrainline/raileasy and FGW it looks as though I can get 2 singles for £37 combined or an off-peak return for just under £45 (both with a 16-25 card, all 3 sites appear to be the same prices). Am I right in thinking that if I go for the singles then (in theory) I'm expected to get that service - and if I miss either I'd have to try and blag it or pay again? If so then I'd rather pay the £8 extra.

The only thing about the off-peak option is that it normally equates to travelling after 10am, yet I've entered departures on the Wednesday/Monday mornings after 7/8am and it's still permitting me to click those. The description of the ticket type says "return any time within a month" - am I clicking a specifically timed service for the sake of it then?

[mikeb]

Possibly a stupid question(s) but..... Having checked times on thetrainline/raileasy and FGW it looks as though I can get 2 singles for £37 combined or an off-peak return for just under £45 (both with a 16-25 card, all 3 sites appear to be the same prices). Am I right in thinking that if I go for the singles then (in theory) I'm expected to get that service - and if I miss either I'd have to try and blag it or pay again? If so then I'd rather pay the £8 extra.

The only thing about the off-peak option is that it normally equates to travelling after 10am, yet I've entered departures on the Wednesday/Monday mornings after 7/8am and it's still permitting me to click those. The description of the ticket type says "return any time within a month" - am I clicking a specifically timed service for the sake of it then?

Edited May 31, 2010 by mikeb

[ParanoidAndroid86]

Thanks for the info - finally got around booking it earlier.

[dawlishmonkey]

just to confuse you more...there is a new level of off peak ticket this year.the super off peak.valid from castle scary from 10am. this is the cheapest walk up or open ticket. you can board any train with this ticket as long as you are willing to pay the upgrade to the next available cheapest fare,they might charge you this at the barriers but I doubt it.

[fadeinout]

I got the train from Padders to Castle Carey a couple of years ago on the Friday morning and it was great. The free bus from the station missed out all the traffic and dumped us right near the gate which leads up to what was the John Peel/Dance tents. It's well worth doing.