| 5 Retailers - 5 different fares for same journeys Posted by njt at 21:25, 19th February 2025 |     |
Looking at tickets for a trip to Exeter in a few weeks time with my son and of the five different retailers I checked all offered a different fare for the same journey.
St Austell to Exeter Central on a Tuesday in March
Depart St Austell 0736 Arrive Exeter Central 1018
Depart Exeter Central 1514 Arrive St Austell 1745
1 Ad & 1 Ch with Devon & Cornwall Railcard
GWR - £62.05 1) Advance Singles SAU – EXC £44.25, 2) Off Peak Singles EXC – SAU £17.80
Trainline App - £52.60 + £2.19 ‘booking fee’ 1) Anytime Day Return SAU – PLY £34.65, 2) Anytime Day Return PLY – EXC £17.95
Trainline Web - £88.50 1) Advance Singles £44.25 SAU - EXC, 2) Advance Singles EXC – SAU £44.25 - I could not re-create the App fare on the website.
Trainsplit - £51.45 + £1.59 ‘share of savings’ 1) Anytime Day Return SAU – PLY £34.65, 2) Anytime Day Return PLY – TOT £9.35, 3) Off Peak
Day Return TOT – EXC £7.45.
Virgin - £60.70 1) Advance Singles SAU – NTA £36.00, 2) Off Peak Day Single NTA – EXC £6.90, 3) Off Peak Day Singles EXC – SAU £17.80
Last year we did this the same trip for £28.50 on advance tickets. That fare hasn't been available at all this year on the 12 week booking window.
| Re: 5 Retailers - 5 different fares for same journeys Posted by plymothian at 07:51, 20th February 2025 | |
The trainsplit fare is cheapest, but not cheapest due to the share of savings add on, eliminate that at the ticket office.
The rest are relying on advance fares, which are quota controlled. Trainsplit is just including walk up fares as all the advances that are available are dearer.
On your chosen itinerary, the DCR isn't valid until 08.45 (at Plymouth), but off peak doesn't become valid until Totnes.
If you're able to drop back to the 08.05 departure, which means you'll arrive at Exeter Central 10 minutes later than planned, on walk up fares you'll have SAU - PLY SDR £23.10 + £11.55 & PLY - EXC CDR with DCR £9.75 + £1 = £45.40. Cheaper advance fares might be available.
| Re: 5 Retailers - 5 different fares for same journeys Posted by UstiImmigrunt at 07:59, 20th February 2025 | |
Also remember certain 3rd party sellers may be a bit cheaper but assistance when it goes wrong can be difficult to obtain. I remember many a TM moaning about SeatFrog, Trainline etc because passengers are on the wrong trains and complain about being charged a full fare single for the journey made. Plus how would you get back delay repay?
| Re: 5 Retailers - 5 different fares for same journeys Posted by ChrisB at 17:30, 20th February 2025 | |
Which Tuesday in March were you trying, coz all the advances will be likely different availability....
