British train tickets - help!

[Amphitrite]

I have chartered from Conwy/North Wales in spring and will arrive in Manchester airport by plane. Checking out the british rail website for train tickets I found numerous different ticket types. What are the differences between single/saver/supersaver tickets? /forums/images/graemlins/confused.gif Which gives enough flexiblity to take a later train if the plane is late?
And, finally, does anyone know if I can buy them just before the trip, since buying online from Germany seems difficult? If it helps, I'll arrive on a a wednesday and leave late on sunday...

Thanks in advance,

Holger

 

[fireball]

The single is one way ... I assume you'll be going back!

The saver and supersavers are only valid at certain times - these don't include the "rush hour" trains.

A train ticket is not for a particular timed train so if you miss the 13:12 one (the one that went at 13:20) then you can get the next one - or the one after that if the next one is cancelled due to chewing gum on the line ....
You can buy tickets on the day - from most train stations (I assume the airport has one?)

 

[Petercatterall]

Just go to the railway station and ask at the ticket office. The 3 types of tickets you can get (assuming you dont want to go first class) in order of cost are
Standard, Saver and Super Saver. You should allways ask for a return ticket (provided that you are returning within one month)
You can use Standard at any time of the day/week which is why it costs more.
You can use Saver tickets if you are traveling on the outward journey after the morning 'rush hour period' You can use Super Savers on Sundays and at other times of the day it is all very complicated!! (even for regular travelers.
Coming back from Wales on a Sunday may be a bit problematic as there will only be a few trains running. Check up on the return times at Manchester.
Enjoy your sailing!!

 

[Evadne]

Beware, there are tickets that are fixed for a particular train time (as I recently found out) called apex and super saver tickets.
The "normal" return is a saver which can be bought in advance or at the station or even on the train, if the ticket office is closed.
An "open return" is very expensive and only necessary if you want to travel at peak times and return after more than one month.
Hope this helps

 

[Sybarite]

I was going to fly from Paris to Luton in March. I changed my mind when I found that the train ticket from Luton to London cost more than my flight.

Eurostar was the cheapest, city centre to city centre and much quicker.

John

 

[flyingjunior]

There is a ticket office at Manchester airport as you start heading towards the airports train station (all marked up clearly) you will probebly have to change at Machester Piccadilly but the station is quite easy to negoiate and when I changed there the conductor was so kind to tell me which was the right platform to make for. /forums/images/graemlins/smile.gif
Try not to buy tickets on the train as they cost even more. /forums/images/graemlins/shocked.gif
This a very useful little link that will work out what time you train leaves, where you have to change how long to wait etc and you can even book in advance on it (not sure weather it accepts euros though)http://www.nationalrail.co.uk/planmyjourney
Try to buy food before you get to the station as its outragiously expensive /forums/images/graemlins/mad.gif (well to a student).
hope this helps cheers Pip /forums/images/graemlins/smile.gif

 

[T_S]

I use the rail network quite a lot, if you use this site it provides you with all you need to know when using UK rail!

http://www.nationalrail.co.uk/

Regards......Dave

 

[thewetone]

Or you could contact David Blunkett, he can get you a very good deal

 

[pvb]

Try this website...

I've found that The TrainLine has a fairly easy interface and gives good information on choices.

 

[Amphitrite]

Re: Try this website...

Thanks for the input and the links, I'll probably buy a saver return ticket at the ticket office at the airport. I've checked the return times, it's no problem...
Holger

 

[tonyran]

Re: Try this website...

Why do you want to go sailing in Wales of all places - in Spring.

Dont forget your umbrella

 

[Thistle]

Re: Try this website...

... but beware that the weekend train timetables are works of fiction as the schedules are often changed to allow maintenance work to be done. Sadly I've discovered no way of finding out what is planned for a particular day (and I'm not sure that I would trust and information I got from our railway companies.) Sorry!

Good luck and enjoy the sailing.