Cheap tickets to London from Southampton.

[Julian Hornby]

To get to London from Southampton with South west trains, as a family of four (2 adults, 2 children) can be very expensive. With an Off peak day return costing £125.70 even when booked in advance! With the quickest journey being 68 minutes long.


To get to London from Southampton with Southern trains, as a family of four (2 adults, 2 children) can be a lot cheaper. With a super off peak day return costing £52.20! All you have to do is make sure your terminus is London Victoria and you choose 'Direct services only'. The quickest journey is 151 minutes long meaning it's a lot cheaper than SWT, but a lot slower.

Happy travelling!

 

[bicbasher]

You could have purchased Southern Daysave which is valid across the whole Southern network for £15 each, plus £2 for each child. Valid after 1000 weekdays and all day at weekends, although there is a weekday peak restriction from 1615-1915 from London Terminals, Clapham Junction and East Croydon towards Southampton.

Total £34.

http://www.southernrailway.com/tickets-and-fares/ticket-types/daysave-off-peak/

 

[Julian Hornby]

Thanks for adding that! I forgot they did day - save!!

 

[bb21]

You could have purchased Southern Daysave which is valid across the whole Southern network for £15 each, plus £2 for each child. Valid after 1000 weekdays and all day at weekends, although there is a weekday peak restriction from 1615-1915 from London Terminals, Clapham Junction and East Croydon towards Southampton.

Total £34.

http://www.southernrailway.com/tickets-and-fares/ticket-types/daysave-off-peak/

Or just the group version for £30, for four passengers.

 

[Julian Hornby]

The savings keep rolling in!
--- old post above --- --- new post below ---
Just checked and the Super off peak day return ticket allows you to travel anytime whereas the Day save is at more awkward times. So, if you want to travel whenever it might be worth upgrading your ticket.

 

[bb21]

The restrictions are slightly more generous on the Super Off-Peak Day Return.

Day Save restrictions.
Super Off-Peak Day Return restrictions.

 

[bicbasher]

Or just the group version for £30, for four passengers.

I did wonder if the kids would count as part of the Group ticket.

 

[Haywain]

With Group Save and railcards available, the fares quoted by the OP are really the maximum that anyone would need to pay, and cheaper options are almost always available.

 

[alastair]

If you do want the fast journey on SWT,you definitely need to buy a Network card,as with this you can do the trip for £62.50 super OP return(at a weekend or after 10.00am Mon/Fri).

Its still a lot more than Southern but some might value the faster journey.

 

[dzug2]

You can also travel on SW trains for cheap if you book though megatrain

Convenience of the timings varies tough

 

[jkdd77]

Don't forget either a Family & Friends Railcard, or Megatrain tickets from Southampton to Waterloo, although:
1) the two are mutually exclusive, since Megatrain tickets offer no other discount;
2) Megatrain tickets are limited to availability, restricted to booked trains only, do not permit any form of BoJ, and are likely to be relatively more expensive if booked close to the date of travel;

 

[paul1609]

Is the Brighton to Southampton Route Not Via London Off Peak Return valid for break of journey (starting short) at Clapham Junction?

 

[jkdd77]

Is the Brighton to Southampton Route Not Via London Off Peak Return valid for break of journey (starting short) at Clapham Junction?

Yes, it is, with restriction code UT: http://www.brfares.com/#faredetail?orig=BTN&dest=SOU&rte=700&tkt=SVR

 

[swt_passenger]

With an Off peak day return costing £125.70 even when booked in advance

An offpeak day return is a walk up ticket, there would never be any reduction if bought in advance.

You might be thinking of the 'Advance' fare type, but these are not sold for that part of SWTs network.

Someone else has already mentioned Megatrain option though - and this is (sort of) SWT's alternative.

 

[Julian Hornby]

Thanks! You learn something new every day.

 

[Haywain]

Thanks! You learn something new every day.

You do. We don't.

 

[yorkie]

There are three 'categories' of fares. You can learn about different ticket types in our RailUK Fares & Ticketing Guide - Section 1 - Ticket Types & Conditions

There's also the National Rail "simple rail fares" guide to the three categories, this appears to be written as a sarcastic comedy, with claims such as "Ticket terms and conditions are now the same across all train companies nationwide, so you know exactly where you stand."

 

[Abpj17]

There are three 'categories' of fares. You can learn about different ticket types in our RailUK Fares & Ticketing Guide - Section 1 - Ticket Types & Conditions

There's also the National Rail "simple rail fares" guide to the three categories, this appears to be written as a sarcastic comedy, with claims such as "Ticket terms and conditions are now the same across all train companies nationwide, so you know exactly where you stand."

I particularly liked the below too

The new fare names simplify the choice, allowing you to choose your rail ticket with confidence.

 

[Merseysider]

Not so long ago, we were entertaining the faint possibility of 'super peak' tickets.

David Cameron and his Government have ‘put rail companies’ profits ahead of the needs of hard-working commuters’ by backing massive rail fare rises, a would-be MP has claimed.

Nothing's changed then...