mgkdj1

Looking for the right rail pass from Holyhead/Edinburgh/Glasgow/Holyhead.I think the"FLEXPASS" is good for me 4 days use in an 8 day window. Need to go to Waverly Sta. in EDI, Hotel is near.
Three days there then on to Glasgow for another three days, and back to Holyhead to ferry back to Dub.
Senior, on foot, 2nd class will do.
Stena line ferry arrives Holyhead @11:50 am, then it's train time. Different Rail Companies and rules, ie:
not good before 9:15 and a host of other restrictions.
Looking for ideas, suggestions, well, any input is greatly appreciated.
Thank you in advance for helping me with my........."training".

♪♪MG in SLC♪♪

sofarsogood

why not just buy a ticket?

Dublin to Edinburgh via Holyhead from £40

Edinburgh to Glasgow £12.50

http://www.seat61.com/Ireland.htm

PalenQ

What pass and priced are you referring to?

and yes a pass like that could be good deal if you want to hop on any train anytime but booking discounted tickets in advance like sofarsogood says would be a whole lot cheaper.

For pass details (shortest flexipass is 3 days in a one month period if talking about BritRail Passes at about $280 or about 200 pounds or about 65 pounds for each flexible day of travel and you can hop any train anytime but not valid on ferries or from Dublin.

Go to www.nationalrail.co.uk and see the various fares and conditions - cheaper tickets may not be refundable or changeable from a specific train you chose way before your travel day to get these limited in number discounted ducats.

Even compared to full fares the pass may not be a good deal - do the maths.

For info on passes and British trains in general check www.seat61.com; www.budgeteuropetravel.com and www.ricksteves.com.

thursdaysd

Note that there is also a senior railcard, which will get you a further discount off even discounted tickets. However, you need to do the math to find out what is worthwhile. I bought the senior railcard this year for the first time, but I am doing more train travel than usual.

For each trip, check on nationalrail.co.uk for the price tomorrow vs. the price two months out, with and without the senior railcard, which will give you the savings for buying ahead and for buying the railcard (if any). Then compare to the per day price of a Flexpass.

PalenQ

What are restrictions of using the Senior Deiscount as per time blackouts, if any or does it apply to every train and any time?

Thanks

thursdaysd

" Railcard discounts are available throughout Britain but they are not available on tickets for morning peak period services for journeys wholly within London & South East Network Railcard area on Mondays to Fridays. (The exceptions to this discounted fare rule are when you travel at weekends and on Public Holidays)."

See: http://www.senior-railcard.co.uk/

thursdaysd

Note that you can also get discounts on London Transport fares:

http://www.senior-railcard.co.uk/usi...times-tickets/

flanneruk

" Railcard discounts are available throughout Britain but they are not available on tickets for morning peak period services for journeys wholly within London & South East Network Railcard"

In practice: ridiculously over-simplified version of an extremely complex rule.

The definition of "morning peak" varies by route, by direction and by operator - and on some routes by the brand of discount card used ("senior" cards sometimes offer discounts on trains some other cards don't get discounts on, for example). The easiest way to tell if a discount is offered is to check on nationalrail.co.uk with and without the card.

There are also some similar blackout periods on journeys that are not wholly within SE England.

Note that these card-related discounts are almost always cumulative: if you're buying an Advance ticket, the relevant card will generally get you your 33% (or whatever) discount on top of the Advance discount.

thursdaysd

I quoted the site that sells the cards. Maybe you should complain to them.

PalenQ

does not each rail franchise set their own policies on things like black-out periods when the card cannot be used and the discounts if any they give out or is it a blanket thing that applies to every train on every franchise?

OP will spend at the least about 90 pounds - how much does a Senior Card cost?

thursdaysd

30 GBP. It's saving me 24 GBP on top of that, not counting any savings in London.

Suggest reading the links I provided for more info.

mgkdj1

much thanks to all.
I found LOCO2 and purchased point to point...HLY/EDI/GLA/HLY.

Am sooo looking forward to rail ride through Wales/Scotland.

I'm reading, books and trip reports about EDI/GLA.
Taking Stenna Line DUB/HLY on my B-day, one I'm sure to remember...well as much as I can...over 30 you know.

Thank you all again,
♪♪mg in slc ♪♪

PalenQ

Q- Is LOCO2 have same prices as www.nationalrail.co.uk - or are they the same exactly on prices and fees - nationalrail.co.uk has the cheapest fares usually but I'm not so familiar with LOCO2 so asking for my and others knowledge?

flanneruk

"Is LOCO2 have same prices as www.nationalrail.co.uk "

Not quite.

1. They charge a credit card surcharge on ALL bookings. I've never encountered that on bookings initiated on National Rail, though NR merely pushes you onto the operator's site for the final payment. For all I know, some operators may charge cc surcharges - but it's not universal on NR.

2. I can't find an option on LOCO2 for applying Railcard discounts. Maybe there's a functionality hidden there somewhere, but if so it's jolly well hidden.

So, for a very large proportion of journeys (including the one the poster seems to have booked), using LOCO2 seems to be costing the poster 54% more than using National Rail would have.

PalenQ

So, for a very large proportion of journeys (including the one the poster seems to have booked), using LOCO2 seems to be costing the poster 54% more than using National Rail would have.>

that's what I saw too. Why not use www.nationalrail.co.uk as suggested? Paying more for the same, a lot more it seems.

PalenQ

I found LOCO2 and purchased point to point...HLY/EDI/GLA/HLY.>

did you get seaT reservations too - they are optional on most all trains and in 2nd class you always can find full 2nd class cars?

Neat scenery in North Wales - the train practically goes under Conwy Castle - one of the nicest anywhere in a walled town of the same name!