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As a non-flyer (a mixture of sinusitis, pressure problems, fear & the need to convince myself I`m trying to do my bit for the environment) I travel by train 2 or 3 times a year to Italy.
The nightmare part of the journey is always the British railway.
Eurostar have now moved &, rather than haul cases round on the Tube, I`ve opted for the free connection Waterloo East to Dartford & Ebbsfleet.
The online sites (e.g. trainline) won`t let you check timetables more than 90 days in advance, ticket pricing is a nightmare of confusion &, last but not least, the cost is appalling compared to European fares.
For example - Lille to Monaco TGV 1st class with all bells & whistles included is ^289 for 1312 miles (that`s less than 25p a mile).
Barnstaple to Waterloo 1st class open return (return date still outside 90 days ::)) works out around 89p a mile!
As one can`t even reserve a seat on the Tarka Line you`ll probably guess that 1st Class isn`t something North Devonians even get as an option.

Is there a sensible reason why we Brits pay so much more for so much less?

Welcome befuddled.

If you travel to Paddington you can get onto the Circle line to St Pancras with one short escalator down to the ticket office, so as painless as you will get on the tube. And you may like to know that there is a special ticket especially for Eurostar travellers which means you don't have to pay extortionate peak fares into or out of London (someone will remind me what this is, London CIV?), and may make the journey to Paddington more affordable.

 

Many thanks for the welcome, John  :)

Yes, I`ve heard of the London International CIV (I think that`s what it`s called) but have been unable to get much info on it.

I went onto the Raileasy site from The Man in Seat 61 (I find that site really useful) but....... my return date is outside 90 days. You can guess the rest. I can`t get a return price for any comparison.

Thanks, too, for the Tube info. I should have added that, although I`m a relative spring chicken in my 50s  ;), my other half is a Senior - hence the desire to evade the Tube if at all possible.

On this occasion I`ve already booked E* from Ebbsfleet. At least we can get there from Waterloo free of charge ;D

Hubby was on the phone booking the return to London - only to find out that he would have to ring again next week & pay an extra ^10 to reserve seats!

Despair sets in after a while.

If you can book ahead and stick to off-peak trains it's possible to get a 1st Class Advance ticket from Barnstaple to Waterloo for something in the region of ^30.

The Pacers (http://www.takeforum.com/forum/images/smiles/2bounce.gif) we are currently lumbered with probably wouldn't even count as Third Class...

[quote TerminalJunkie]If you can book ahead and stick to off-peak trains it's possible to get a 1st Class Advance ticket from Barnstaple to Waterloo for something in the region of ^30.[/quote]
Ooo - tell me more, please.

I can book ahead (around 10 weeks before for the outward & 14 weeks for the return)
On the way out we have to leave Barnstaple at 8.35am to be absolutely sure to make the E* connection (17.45) - so that would be peak.
On the return we`d be coming back from Waterloo on the 14.20pm. I guess that may qualify for off peak?
If so, a saving on one way would be something.

I`d be really grateful for info.

You must wait. Wait until reservations are available and then book. It may well be an off-peak ticket from Exeter-Waterloo as you should be leaving there later. What time is it? Check every day until they are available and then book straight away.

The prices offered are:

BARNSTAPLE to LONDON WATERLOO
Tickets /
Price
        From     BNP         From     WAT
                 To     WAT        To     BNP
       Depart     08:35        Depart     14:20
       Arrive     13:49        Arrive     19:08
       Changes     1        Changes     1
    APEX RETURN
    ^54.00                     *
                       
    SUPER ADVANCE RETURN
    ^78.20                     *
                   
    SAVER RETURN
    ^118.00                     *                          *
                   
    SAVER RETURN
    ^130.00   
                   
    SAVER RETURN
    ^144.40                     *                          *
                   
    STANDARD OPEN RETURN
    ^246.40                     *                          *
                   
    FIRST SAVER RETURN
    ^370.00                     *                          *
                   
    FIRST SAVER RETURN
    ^382.00   
                   
    FIRST OPEN RETURN
    ^387.60                     *
                   
    STANDARD OPEN RETURN
    ^404.00                     *                          *
                   
    STANDARD OPEN RETURN
    ^416.00   
                   
    FIRST OPEN RETURN
    ^618.00                     *                          *
                   
    FIRST OPEN RETURN
    ^630.00                      


I`ve tried by singles, by splitting at Exeter etc.
There seems to be no point booking early if flexibility is needed.

I still can`t help making comparisons with the continent & feeling that we Brits are well & truly ripped off  >:(

Wait a week or two and Apex's and Super Advances should become available. Wait and you will save money.

You mean Advance A/B/C ;)

Really?
So, in actual fact, it isn`t a case of the earlier you book the better the deal then?
Thank you both.

Yes and No.
You have to wait until they release reservations, usually about 3 months in advance but after that it certainly is the earlier you book the cheaper it is.

Indeed.

Reservations are released on weekdays approximately 3 months in advance. On weekends they're released 3 months in advance, unless engineering work details are unfinalised.

Use www.atoctravelagents.org - and go to Booking Horizons for the available dates. *Do not* bookmark the booking horizons page itself.

0835, or is it 0840? off of Barnstaple is off peak. Savers and CDR's are valid!

I believe i have read that if you take the train to connect to eurostar - it is free

Very useful, many thanks! It looks as though Mon-Fri is available from 16th. I`ll try for quotes again then (or on Monday).


It`s coming up as 8.35 I suppose they`ve moved it forward 5 minutes.


That`s just on Southeatern, sadly.
See http://www.eurostar.com/UK/uk/leisure/travel_information/at_the_station/terminals/ebbsfleet_international.jsp (http://www.eurostar.com/UK/uk/leisure/travel_information/at_the_station/terminals/ebbsfleet_international.jsp) for details

We can only really make use of it when we get to London...... unless someone here knows different?  :)

Many thanks again for all your help guys.

Welcome to the forum, accidentalenglishman!  :)

Well, they are offering the firstminutes on the later trains but not for the 8.40am.

I also tried from EXD to Waterloo & for the same train (10.10) it`s the same.
Strangely the 9.57 does offer firstminutes.
Maybe I`ll just have to get up earlier  ;)

You want Apex's not Firstminutefares as you are travelling on South West Trains.
If you give me the dates you want to travel i'll have a look and should be able to give more advice.

Many thanks for the offer, qp, but I think we`ve actually cracked it.

What you do is throw the laptop out the window & pick up the phone to SWTrains.
A nice guy, called Andrew, then struggles relentlessly with his own PC, takes your number, comes up with the goods & then calls you back. ;D

^185 return for me & c.^122 for Senior Railcard holder other half.......
None of the above offered online as far as I can see.

BTW Yes, it is the 8.35.
Why it comes up as 8.40 for me I have no idea!  ???
I`d have been well chuffed (sorry, dreadful pun for a board like this) if I`d arrived to see the little Tarka Tin disappearing into the distance :-[

My sincere thanks to everyone here who offered advice.

I can't even find that fare in my national fares manual so I'd love to know what he's come up with!

 ??? Don`t ask me - as you can tell I`m confused enough as it is.

I think he called the normal fare a 1st Class Saver Return &, presumably, the other was similar but with the Railcard.

In that case, that makes perfect sense. ;)

Phew! You had me worried there.