Uk Trains Confusion

jeffk

We are looking at going from Liverpool lime Street too Blackpool (not sure which station is best) for the day to see it all (or the best bits within reason)

I have looked up some tickets etc and figured out it's best to get a direct route with a open return ticket, but not sure off peak VS anytime. I emailed customer care and sent a link but cant make sense of it

https://www.nationalrail.co.uk/times_fares/ticket_types/TicketAndValidityFinder.aspx

Is there a need too prebook to save money etc? (assuming it wont sell out)

Thanks for any and all help!!

fdevine

All pretty much depends on your planned departure time. Assuming you'd be leaving early from Liverpool to make the most of the day trip then the Anytime Day Return would appear to be the best option.

From the link you posted - "Off-Peak hours begin at 09:30 from Monday to Friday in cities and large towns, and at 09:00 everywhere else. If your train is scheduled to depart after this time, you can travel with an Off-Peak ticket. Weekends and bank holidays are Off-Peak all day"

Nothing to say you can't travel during off-peak hours on an anytime ticket but clearly you cannot do the opposite unless you're planning to travel over a weekend or bank holiday weekend.

pat_sconce

Try

theTrainline.com

You'll get far cheaper fares

HorseSea

Ignore, I misread OP post - enjoy your trip.

afatbollix

How it works is you can buy an advanced single, these are for a specific train and you can only travel on that train.

Anytime single/returns allow you to travel on any train on the day.

Off-peak single/return allow you to travel on any train in off-peak (After 09:30 in the morning and after 7pm in the evening) .

Depending on how many trains there are you could just get the anytime return so you can hop on the next train when you show up.

From looking at The train line you can get advanced train tickets for £7 from Liverpool to Blackpool. So it would be worth checking times all day on the ticket sites. (You might have to look at them individually instead of returns.)

jeffk

Ask national rail and wait hours for no help and told to ring UK after i said im coming from Ireland (I know its not the dark ages an we can ring but why, surely could help over email)

Ask on boards and im MUCH more in the clear, thanks too all

So its seems Peak is 430am or so untik 9am, thats it, I thought would be like 8-10 and then 4/5-6 basically people getting into work times

Ive got it down to these two cheapest and fastest/direct

@afatbollix i remeber hearing about that with people on away days at football having multiple tickets for one journey, so ill have a look on the train line app now an see what you said

Many thanks again too all

jeffk

Well its done now

Going out 1139

Coming back 1905

E33.24 for two single tickets, so about E15 saved 😎