Book before 4th December for 2016 travel at 2015 prices

[whole diary]

[grahame]

In an email from RailEasy ...

The trick to beat the train companies' secret Jan price hikes!

Rail fares are on the up again. Higher rail fares shouldn't be in force until Jan 2016, but the Big Train Operators will be 'quietly' loading these 2016 fares into their systems from Dec 4th!

If you^re smart and book before December 4th, for travelling in Jan, Feb, March, to June, you can beat this sneaky price hike with Trainsplit. Leave it to later and you^ll be forced to shell out more! Trainsplit finds on average extra savings of 30% on 60% of journeys compared with buying your tickets on any other site, even on the day of travel.

Booking early before the 4th December 2015, is probably the best money saving New Year resolution that the Big Train Operators are keeping to themselves!

[Brucey]

Lucky I didn't book yesterday!  Anytime Return from Cambridge to Stansted Airport has reduced in price from ^16.05 to ^13.20, with railcard.  Previously there was a routeing loophole that would get you singles at ^6.60 each way, so ^13.20 for a return.  Interesting that the loophole was removed by lowering the direct fare, rather than changing the routeing guide.

[ChrisB]

Prices for the January rises are now loaded into databases apparently. Average overall increase is 1.1%

[grahame]

Prices for the January rises are now loaded into databases apparently. Average overall increase is 1.1%

Here are some this year - next year figures. Returns, most off peak first.
mkm-swi: 6.80 / 9.40 -> 6.90 / 9.50 ( 1.4% / 1.1% )
mkm-pad: 51.00 / 64.00 / 160.00 -> 51.50 / 64.60 / 161.00 ( 1% / 1% / 0.6% )
mkm-wey: 16.90 -> 17.00 [off peak via Yeovil] ( 0.6% )
mkm-hhd: 116.40 / 228.60 -> 118.70 / 233.00 ( 2% / 1.9% )
mkm-lan: 99.90 / 188.00 -> 100.80 / 190.00 ( 0.9% / 1.1% )
mkm-bmh: 56.80 / 112.80 -> 57.30 / 115.05 ( 0.9% / 2.7% )

[grahame]

P.S.  I find those Holyhead fares a bit high ... but I was looking at rail fares in my review.  I have very little work to do in Holyhead and usually carry on to Dublin - 42 pounds single via Ferry / 47 via Fast Ferry, rising to 42 and 48 in the new year. That's a round trip up by 1.1% if it's one leg each way.

Edited to correct a second 'Holyhead' to 'Dublin'

[grahame]

For the "headline rises" on the most expensive journeys:

http://www.independent.co.uk/travel/news-and-advice/train-fare-increase-tickets-for-intercity-routes-race-towards-1-per-mile-a6760886.html

[Adelante_CCT]

P.S.  I find those Holyhead fares a bit high ... but I was looking at rail fares in my review.  I have very little work to do in Holyhead and usually carry on to Holyhead - 42 pounds single via Ferry / 47 via Fast Ferry, rising to 42 and 48 in the new year. That's a round trip up by 1.1% if it's one leg each way.

^42 for a single from Holyhead to Holyhead? Seems quite expensive to me

[grahame]

P.S.  I find those Holyhead fares a bit high ... but I was looking at rail fares in my review.  I have very little work to do in Holyhead and usually carry on to Holyhead - 42 pounds single via Ferry / 47 via Fast Ferry, rising to 42 and 48 in the new year. That's a round trip up by 1.1% if it's one leg each way.

^42 for a single from Holyhead to Holyhead? Seems quite expensive to me

Yeah ... "Carry on to Dublin" that should have said!  Melksham to Dublin remains ^42 single via the boat, and increases from ^47 to ^48.    And those are anytime fares. Excellent value.

[TaplowGreen]

P.S.  I find those Holyhead fares a bit high ... but I was looking at rail fares in my review.  I have very little work to do in Holyhead and usually carry on to Holyhead - 42 pounds single via Ferry / 47 via Fast Ferry, rising to 42 and 48 in the new year. That's a round trip up by 1.1% if it's one leg each way.

^42 for a single from Holyhead to Holyhead? Seems quite expensive to me

Yeah ... "Carry on to Dublin" that should have said!  Melksham to Dublin remains ^42 single via the boat, and increases from ^47 to ^48.    And those are anytime fares. Excellent value.

.....I wonder how many Melksham to Dublin tickets have been sold over the last 12 months!