Christmas in Scotland - best rail travel fares from Trowbridge

[whole diary]

[grahame]

From my inbox from good friends.

Would you be able to help me with finding the best price of the tickets?

It's me and Xxxxx (2 adults) that, if possible, would like to travel from Trowbridge to either Glasgow or Edinburgh the 27th of December and go back the 29th.

Preferably leave around 10-11 or so on the Friday and come back evening on the Sunday.

I don't think they hold any railcard(s) at present ... no doubt could buy a two together if that's part of the 'deal'. Thoughts welcome from our fares experts!

[stuving]

Given the dates, it's no surprise there's railways being dug up - and specifically at Haymarket. 27/29 December there are very few trains in and out of Edinburgh to the east, and lots of buses instead. A few XC^▸ (Cross Country Trains (franchise)) trains that avoid Glasgow will run, but (1) do check carefully, and (2) long-distance trains that do run will no doubt be full and seats book up early (even if you imagine this is not the Hogmanay high peak).

[ChrisB]

Looks as though there are no end-to-end ADV fares - I'm getting £244.10 to EDB with a 2-together card - so add £30 to that if they need to buy the railcard.

Also, the last train with a same day connection back from EDB leaves EDB at 1451 via Wolverhampton, Birmingham NS & Cheltenham. - so they won't get particularly long in Edinburgh.

Similar from Glasgow - £247.90 return for 2, plus the cost of the railcard. Similar return time of early afternoon on the 29th to get home same evening.

[grahame]

Thanks so far ... extra info, one would qualify for a 26-30 railcard, the other would not.

Will splits do anything?

[ChrisB]

I don't think that railcard would produce better benefits over the purchase of the 2-together one - which would giove discount to both travellers, not just the one under 30.

Splits almost certainly would be cheaper, but no time yet to research, maybe others can beat me....

[IndustryInsider]

Barry Doe was recommending traintickets.com as a really good newish site for finding cheap fares with all sorts of split tricks.  Don’t know if that might help?

[ChrisB]

On a quick search, that site produced no options!

[JontyMort]

Thanks so far ... extra info, one would qualify for a 26-30 railcard, the other would not.

Will splits do anything?

The West Coast London-Brum-Scotland (Glasgow/Edinburgh alternate hours) service is mostly Pendolinos, leading to some good advance fares from Birmingham to Edinburgh, especially in first class. That will be the split worth trying.

As has been suggested, a Two Together railcard will pay for itself on this trip.

Obviously the time of year will not help, but we got Brum-Edinburgh return for £100* each first class just before Christmas last year.

* net of railcard discount.

No fares are up on EastCoast yet for that date - which may be good or bad!

WCML^▸ (West Coast Main Line) is the way to go - it's a long way in a Voyager.