The early bird goes cheap, cheap, cheaper!

14 May 2009

Save up to £65.80 return for morning peak journeys between Scotland and Birmingham

Turning up early in the morning without booking ahead is about to get a lot cheaper for a range of journeys to and from Scotland, Cumbria and Lancaster on Virgin Trains linking Birmingham with Glasgow through Carlisle.

A change in ticket restrictions on this route will offer big savings compared to the current arrangements for many passengers arriving at their destination before 10:30 in the morning.
Off-Peak tickets priced by Virgin will be valid on all the company’s trains between Scotland and Birmingham for journeys starting or ending at Lancaster and stations north of there from Monday 18 May. There is no need to book ahead, but making a seat reservation – completely free of charge on Virgin Trains – is recommended.

This removes a restriction that was introduced in January on the use of Off-Peak tickets for customers without National Railcards arriving at destinations before 10:30 on weekdays. For journeys from and to Scotland, Cumbria and Lancaster, Off-Peak tickets will be valid on all of these trains, offering significant savings compared to Anytime tickets.

For example, a turn-up-and-go passenger joining the 05:50 from Glasgow to Birmingham, a new train introduced last December, can return within one month on any train but pay only the Off-Peak return price of £102.20 Standard Class. That’s instead of the Anytime return of £168 that previously applied at morning peak times. Between Carlisle and Crewe, an Off-Peak return is £51.20 compared with the Anytime price of £85 that previously applied at these times. Even bigger savings are possible by booking an Advance ticket and committing to travel on a specific train, one example being Glasgow/Birmingham for £14 single.

The previous morning peak restriction was introduced because of concerns over potential loadings on new early morning trains in the 2008/9 timetable. There were already restrictions further south. However, a change in policy follows experience and is in response to feedback from Virgin Trains staff who sell tickets at Glasgow Central, Carlisle, Penrith, Oxenholme and Lancaster stations.

To simplify arrangements for journeys between stations further south where peak loadings are much higher, the weekday restriction there applies from Monday to departures before 09:00 rather than arrivals before 10:30.

Ends

Fare examples
Anytime Return - Off-Peak Return - SAVING
Glasgow-Birmingham £ 168.00 - £ 102.20 - £ 65.80
Carlisle-Birmingham £ 124.00 - £ 75.30 - £ 48.70
Penrith-Birmingham £ 112.00 - £ 67.50 - £ 44.50
Oxenholme-Birmingham £ 104.00 - £ 63.20 - £ 40.80
Lancaster-Birmingham £ 87.00 - £ 53.60 - £ 33.40
Glasgow-Warrington £ 112.00 - £ 67.80 - £ 44.20
Carlisle-Crewe £ 85.00 - £ 51.20 - £ 33.80

The above tickets do not need to be booked in advance, although seat reservations – free of charge on Virgin Trains – are recommended. Advance fares offer bigger savings for travel on a specific train (Advance ticket conditions apply).