Train fares to London

Weststander · Mar 21, 2013

Away from Gus-mania,

Is it cheaper to buy train tickets online on nationalrailenquiries a day or two before travelling, or

At Preston Park Train Station, just before the train?

Just a one off journey.

(Some have told me before, it's cheaper even buying a day in advance online, that at the counter).

Cheers.

Ernest · Mar 21, 2013

Depends if you want to book in advance and travel by a specified train or just rock up and pay on the day

Justice · Mar 21, 2013

good luck using southern fail every other train seems to be delayed whenever I go to London

Deleted User X18H · Mar 21, 2013

Preston Park is one of the only bunkable stations on the mainline. Shame Balcombe is the other.

Brightonfan1983 · Mar 21, 2013

Ernest said:
Depends if you want to book in advance and travel by a specified train or just rock up and pay on the day

Yeah, advance tickets for specific trains, but you can save a couple of quid for your journey's beverage.

Ernest · Mar 21, 2013

Brightonfan1983 said:
Yeah, advance tickets for specific trains, but you can save a couple of quid for your journey's beverage.

Or if you don't the best off peak fare is to buy it off the bus driver at the front of the station, £14 and you can go anywhere on the Southern network as well as Brighton buses

Barrel of Fun · Mar 21, 2013

Fare (sic) is an oxymoron.

Do we have the most overpriced train system in the world?

HawkTheSeagull · Mar 21, 2013

Barrel of Fun said:
Fare (sic) is an oxymoron.

Do we have the most overpriced train system in the world?

We probably pay the most for one of the best rail systems - which seems strange to say but when you compare it to Eastern Europe, Africa etc.......

Weststander · Mar 21, 2013

Ernest said:
Depends if you want to book in advance and travel by a specified train or just rock up and pay on the day

Thanks.
If a specific train is wanted, eg 8.57 am to Victoria, is it cheaper to buy online before, or buy on the day from the manned booth at Preston Park train station?

beorhthelm · Mar 21, 2013

believe you can get some of the "advance" tickets on the day either over the counter or book online and collect there. seems daft. staying off peak, both after morning peak and for the return after 7pm i think, will save. remember the travelcard if you're going across London, cheaper on the rail ticket iirc.

Barrel of Fun · Mar 21, 2013

HawkTheSeagull said:
We probably pay the most for one of the best rail systems - which seems strange to say but when you compare it to Eastern Europe, Africa etc.......

Can you tell me why you think it is one of the best and prove to me that it is?

I know you said you worked on the rails, but you do seem incredibly positive about our system. Do you still work somewhere along the lines?

Ernest · Mar 21, 2013

Weststander said:
Thanks.
If a specific train is wanted, eg 8.57 am to Victoria, is it cheaper to buy online before, or buy on the day from the manned booth at Preston Park train station?

You've no chance of getting a cheap fare on that train, you will be paying the same online or if you turn up on the day. All the £5 cheap fares are middle of the day when it is quiet

Barrel of Fun · Mar 21, 2013

HawkTheSeagull said:
We probably pay the most for one of the best rail systems - which seems strange to say but when you compare it to Eastern Europe, Africa etc.......

I have sampled train travel in a variety of less developed countries, but not enough to make a judgement on their infrastructure. I would say that they were pretty decent, despite being dirt cheap and obviously not having the backing that our country does. Odd to compare.

Do you think our health service provides a better service than say Malawi? Yes, of course it does! But are we getting value for money?

Herr Tubthumper · Mar 21, 2013

Barrel of Fun said:
I have sampled train travel in a variety of less developed countries

Same here. For example I was in the UK last weekend for the Palace game and used the Brighton to London service.

Herr Tubthumper · Mar 21, 2013

Ernest said:
You've no chance of getting a cheap fare

As usual, spot on.

edna krabappel · Mar 21, 2013

If you use the rail company site (Southern or FCC) rather than the Trainline website, you don't get charged a booking fee, at least you didn't the last time I tried.

Barrel of Fun · Mar 21, 2013

Herr Tubthumper said:
Same here. For example I was in the UK last weekend for the Palace game and used the Brighton to London service.

well played.

It seems the only people who have something positive to say are those who work for them (any of the *******s) and presumably they get free travel.

HawkTheSeagull · Mar 21, 2013

Barrel of Fun said:
Can you tell me why you think it is one of the best and prove to me that it is?

I know you said you worked on the rails, but you do seem incredibly positive about our system. Do you still work somewhere along the lines?

Well (when trains actually run and run to time) its a frequent service and the track and equipment (usually) is up to a good standard. Better than some countries but much, much, much worse than countries like Germany, Holland, France etc - whilst the UK was making cuts to the railways, they actually put money into it. Not to mention their governments dont actually make the passengers pay for all the improvements through their noses, unlike us.

Value for money - weekday peak times - absolutely not. Weekends and off-peak times - generally yes, i mean £15 London to Brighton return (or however much it is) is hardly that expensive.

Actually, when you use FCC its almost like your travelling on a railway in Kazakhstan, cold, s**t and probably late. Kinda makes the above useless but then some companies are better than others.

Barrel of Fun · Mar 21, 2013

edna krabappel said:
If you use the rail company site (Southern or FCC) rather than the Trainline website, you don't get charged a booking fee, at least you didn't the last time I tried.

Another example of how shambolic the whole system is.

We're not talking about a luxury (concert or some sort of event), we are talking about travel.

The Wookiee · Mar 21, 2013

Ernest said:
Or if you don't the best off peak fare is to buy it off the bus driver at the front of the station, £14 and you can go anywhere on the Southern network as well as Brighton buses

Have you got any further details for this ??

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Train fares to London

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