90% off Southern Advance Tickets for one day

[whole diary]

[bobm]

According to Simon Calder's blog   http://www.lbc.co.uk/simon-calders-travel-blog-3525/entry/92/7372 Southern have a special promotion tomorrow (Thurs 26th).

Southern Railway has come up with just such a promotion, for a deal available on Thursday, 26 May only. The deal is: 90 per cent off Advance tickets on Southern Railway, the train operator that links London with Surrey, Sussex and Hampshire. Southern wants to publicise its website and the advantages of booking online, and is willing effectively to give away tens of thousands of seats in a promotion that cuts the cost of travelling by train to less than a penny a mile. 

Might make for a cheap day out with split tickets to the boundary of their area. The booking has to be made tomorrow but travel can be anytime in the next 12 weeks.

[JayMac]

Wow!

Quite a promotion. Apparently it's Loco Toledo's birthday tomorrow (26/05/2011).

No mention of the offer on Southern's website at the moment, though I guess because it is a 'one day only' offer they're not going too mad with the promotion. It is mentioned on Southern's Facebook page. Chat on that page makes it clear that bookings have to made on 26th May 2011 only.

750,000 promotional fares available at the 90% off apparently.

Two of the Govia (Go-Ahead+Keolis) group's TOCs^▸ (Train Operating Company), Southern and London Midland, do seem to be very proactive when it comes to promotions. It's been a very long time since we've seen an 'open to all' promotion on FGW^▸ (First Great Western).

Anyone interested in bagging one of these promo fares should get themselves on the Southern booking engine from 00:01 tomorrow am!

[ChrisB]

Bear in mind it's only fot tickets to destinations that are available as Advance tickets - which isn't all routes / stations.

[JayMac]

Bear in mind it's only fot tickets to destinations that are available as Advance tickets - which isn't all routes / stations.

Still, lots of choice there. When can we see the next FGW^▸ (First Great Western) specific promotion?

My guess..... never.

[Brucey]

Two of the Govia (Go-Ahead+Keolis) group's TOCs^▸ (Train Operating Company), Southern and London Midland, do seem to be very proactive when it comes to promotions. It's been a very long time since we've seen an 'open to all' promotion on FGW^▸ (First Great Western).

But there is a reason for this.  On many flows, Southern aren't the quickest way to London.  E.g. Portsmouth to London is 30-45 minutes longer by SN compared to SWT^▸ (South West Trains).  To encourage people onto their trains, they introduced special SN only fares and Advance tickets.  They've obviously worked as off-peak trains seem quite a bit busier.

[devon_metro]

Might have to see how much it will cost to London from Southampton... a rather large sign adorns the station forecourt stating that it is 'Loco Toledo's' birthday

[Brucey]

Might have to see how much it will cost to London from Southampton... a rather large sign adorns the station forecourt stating that it is 'Loco Toledo's' birthday

Fares are typically: ^5, ^7.50 or ^10 (^3.30, ^4.95 or ^6.60 with a railcard).  If you can get 90% off these, it'll be a bargain!  Do be warned that the service takes a lifetime from Southampton (2hr 40mins).

The Southern website used to have a minimum transaction of ^5 - not sure if this is still the case?

[devon_metro]

Interesting, so I could potentially go to London return for 66p... ridiculous 

[readytostart]

Call me suspiscious but could this turn out to be 90% off full fare tickets (ie about 75% usual discount from Anytime to Advance, plus the 26% Toledo's birthday month discount). I know there isn't the usual *[/these are the tiny terms and conditions, but it wouldn't surprise me!

[Brucey]

According to Martin Lewis' website:

Southern 90% off Advance tickets
Book online, one day only

On Thurs 26 May only, get 90% off Advance single tickets from Southern Railway. You can buy tickets for up to 12 weeks ahead (14 August 2011). Plus Senior, 16-25, Friends & Family, Disabled or HM Forces Railcards can be used!

Southern Rail services the South East, eg, London, Portsmouth, Brighton, Southampton.

How do I get it?

Buy tickets from Southern Railway on Thurs 26 May. If the route you've chosen has sale tickets available, the price will show as 90% off, eg, London to Brighton will cost 45p.

Tickets must be booked for specific journeys and you must travel on the train you've booked. Buying online, having tickets delivered or collecting at the station is free.

Anything else?

Southern has said around 750,000 tickets are available, but they're still likely to go fast. Be warned, the site may be slow from heavy traffic.

Routes included: London to Brighton, Portsmouth and Eastbourne.
How to book: Visit Southern Railway website
When does it end?: Thurs 26 May 2011 only

http://www.moneysavingexpert.com/deals/cheap-coach-train-ticket-deals

[Lee]

In some respects its a pity I booked my tickets yesterday for the 11th August. I got ^11.00 Cosham-London Victoria with a Family & Friends railcard for 2 adults and a child. Had I been able to travel later in the day I could have got the tickets for ^5.55.

I also got London St Pancras-Market Harborough for ^10.55, so at ^21.55 all in (we will be Oystered-up for cross-London) , I'm not displeased.

[Brucey]

Lee, for future reference, it is also possible to get good rates to Market Harbourough using SWT^▸ (South West Trains) (so a slightly quicker journey) for around ^22.65 in total by buy a complete through ticket from Cosham (route +AP EMT^» (East Midlands Trains - about)& CONNECT).  The Advance rates include a compulsory reservation from London to Market Harborough, but are unreserved on the way to London.  This means you can use any valid service (and booking websites are quoting SWT to Waterloo).

[bobm]

Not sure if it was always planned as a marketing ploy but their website now says the offer has been extended until Sunday because of "unprecedented demand".

[JayMac]

That demand is seriously affecting Southern's booking engine. Very slow.

[eightf48544]

Extension was mentioned on You and Yours this lunch time Radio 4. They had someone from Southern on.