Birmingham New Street - Gatwick airport with London Midland

[math1985]

When I look up fares for Birmingham New Street - London Euston on National Rail, I get to see both Virgin and London Midland trains. However, when I look up fares for Birmingham New Street - Gatwick Airport, I only see the Virgin trains. Does anyone know whether there is a way to book this route as one ticket with the New Street - Euston part through London Midland?

 

[telstarbox]

Click on 'more options' then next to "Travel via" type in Milton Keynes (MKC) - the London Midland trains stop here whereas most of the Virgin Trains services don't.

NRE doesn't sell tickets so if you're using the Virgin Trains website to make the purchase, it will show VT services in preference to LM ones. Try a different site such as www.eastcoast.co.uk which should show both VT and LM tickets.

 

[soil]

Are you looking for the cheaper London Midland fares?

Or do you just want to take their train?

There are 'London Midland Only' fares for BHM - London, but not for London - Gatwick, the reason being that LM don't serve Gatwick.

The available fares from BHM - GTW are:

'Any Permitted' (intended to be used on Virgin to London) - £60.10 off-peak return
'VIa High Wycombe' (Chiltern to Marylebone) - £42.50 super-off-peak return
'Via Kensington Olympia' (here you must change at either Milton Keynes or Watford Junction (either Virgin or London Midland are ok), and then take a Southern service to Clapham Junction) £41.30 return

In comparison BHM - London super-off-peak return is £23, and Gatwick - London is around £20 for a return, so the via Olympia fare will work out cheaper.

 

[island]

I would suggest you put travel via Northampton rather than Milton Keynes C.

 

[Sacro]

In comparison BHM - London super-off-peak return is £23, and Gatwick - London is around £20 for a return, so the via Olympia fare will work out cheaper.

Surely you'd split at Watford Junction when comparing the via Olympia fare?

£21 + £23.80

 

[math1985]

Click on 'more options' then next to "Travel via" type in Milton Keynes (MKC) - the London Midland trains stop here whereas most of the Virgin Trains services don't.

That doesn't work, I still get Virgin trains even though Virgin only passes through Milton Keynes and does not stop there.

NRE doesn't sell tickets so if you're using the Virgin Trains website to make the purchase, it will show VT services in preference to LM ones. Try a different site such as www.eastcoast.co.uk which should show both VT and LM tickets.

That doesn't work either, still no LM trains.

Are you looking for the cheaper London Midland fares?

Yes, looking for cheaper fares.

There are 'London Midland Only' fares for BHM - London, but not for London - Gatwick, the reason being that LM don't serve Gatwick.

That's annoying.

The available fares from BHM - GTW are:

'Any Permitted' (intended to be used on Virgin to London) - £60.10 off-peak return

I travel one way during peak hours, so it is £97.50 for me.

'VIa High Wycombe' (Chiltern to Marylebone) - £42.50 super-off-peak return

That works indeed, £32.00 in my case.

'Via Kensington Olympia' (here you must change at either Milton Keynes or Watford Junction (either Virgin or London Midland are ok), and then take a Southern service to Clapham Junction) £41.30 return

That's £67.90 for me, which is still more expensive than splitting, see below.

In comparison BHM - London super-off-peak return is £23, and Gatwick - London is around £20 for a return, so the via Olympia fare will work out cheaper.

In my case £12.00+£23.70=£35.70.

I would suggest you put travel via Northampton rather than Milton Keynes C.

Wow, that works. That gives £32.00. How come putting Northampton as via station works, while putting Stechford or Milton Keynes does not work?

 

[CallySleeper]

Wow, that works. That gives £32.00. How come putting Northampton as via station works, while putting Stechford or Milton Keynes does not work?

Virgin go via Stechford and Milton Keynes but not Northampton.

 

[math1985]

Virgin go via Stechford and Milton Keynes but not Northampton.

Of course, then it makes sense. I did not realise Virgin uses different tracks between Milton Keynes and Rugby.

 

[bb21]

Stechford and Milton Keynes are both compulsory timing points, and Virgin travel through them, so booking engines cannot filter them out. In comparison, Marston Green is not a compulsory timing point, so trains which do not stop there even if passing there can be filtered out. I believe all LM services stop there whereas Virgin don't, so specifying "Via Marston Green" should work in your case.

All LM services from Birmingham go via Northampton whereas Virgin don't (except 1-2 trains a day) so filtering with Northampton also works.

 

[telstarbox]

My mistake - I thought that "via"/"avoid" on NRE filtered calling points rather than timing points.

 

[Hadders]

There are Advance fares from BHM to GTW route: Southern & London Midland for £10 each way.

A good value fare which could be useful, although as it's an Advance there is the issue of missing a train if an onbound flight is delayed.

 

[dvboy]

All LM services from Birmingham go via Northampton whereas Virgin don't (except 1-2 trains a day) so filtering with Northampton also works.

Worth bearing in mind on the southbound journey it can be quicker to change at Rugby, and not go via Northampton, and still travel entirely on London Midland.

 

[Tetchytyke]

There are Advance fares from BHM to GTW route: Southern & London Midland for £10 each way.

This fare, I believe, is priced via Kensington Olympia and not via central London. This isn't an issue when the connections at Watford Junction and Clapham Junction run smoothly, but if they don't and you have a plane to catch...