Glasgow to Leeds/York

[SammyJ]

Due to work commitments i am having to travel on a Friday to Monday from Glasgow to Leeds,Bradford,Harrogate and York then back to Glasgow (in that order)

Whats the best sort of way to buy this - as a single Glasgow-Leeds and York-Glasgow and buy the Bradford,Harrogate and York all seperate when im down?

Thanks

 

[cuccir]

Can you clarify when you'll be travelling? Are you doing that trip every day (Friday, Saturday, Sunday, Monday)? Did you mean Friday-Monday or Monday-Friday? If it's just one trip, which days do you have to be in each town? What times are you restricted to on the Friday and Monday?

 

[SammyJ]

Sorry its a one off in February and it will be Glasgow to Leeds Friday, Bradford Saturday, Harrogate Sunday, York back to Glasgow on Monday and i am flexible on all times for this.

 

[telstarbox]

Are you staying in each town for one night or basing yourself at one hotel etc for the weekend?

 

[SammyJ]

I will be staying the night in each town

 

[John @ home]

If saving money and flexibility are important, then I suggest:

Anytime Return GLASGOW CEN/QST - BRADFORD YK STNS route VIA APPLEBY £52.50 (2013 rate, reduced to £33.25 if you hold a national Railcard).

which can be used:

Outward (valid 5 days)
Friday: Glasgow - Appleby - Leeds
Saturday: Leeds - Bradford
Return (valid 1 month)
Monday: Leeds - Appleby - Glasgow

If you are starting from a suburban station, the fare is available at this price from 39 stations and at about £3 more from a further 41 stations.

Then buy Single tickets (2013 rate, Railcard fares in brackets):
Sunday: Bradford - Harrogate £8.20 (£5.40)
Monday: Harrogate - York £7.90 (£5.20) and York - Leeds £12.20 (£8.05, not before 0930).

This gives a total cost of £80.80 (£51.90). A cheaper total may be available by giving up flexibility and buying Advance single fares for the long-distance legs of the journey. Check East Coast.

If speed and flexibility are more important than price, consider the Off-Peak Return GLASGOW CEN/QST - LEEDS route ANY PERMITTED £98.10 (£64.75). Valid on any train by any Permitted Route.

 

[telstarbox]

The cheapest Advance tickets available depend on the weekend you're travelling - these restrict you to specific trains.

This combination would cover the whole weekend, as you can use the Leeds-Glasgow return leg ticket to do Leeds - Harrogate - York - Glasgow.

Glasgow Central-Leeds Off-Peak Return £94.20
Leeds-Bradford Stations Anytime Day Single £3.30
Bradford-Leeds Stations Anytime Day Single £3.30
Total £100.80 (without Railcard discount)

This is not the cheapest but allows you to use any trains on the Friday and Monday as long as you start the journey after 0500 (5am).

Are you eligible for a Railcard? If so this would reduce the price to £66.50 for the above tickets. The Railcard is £28 but you would still save money overall, and be able to use it for the next 12 months too.

 

[cuccir]

Was about to post more, but John in particular has covered it with regards to flexible tickets!

Advance tickets (which tie you to one train) are likely to cost £40-£50 return if you pick the cheapest fares at the moment. These will likely increase closer to the date.

If you chose Advance fares, then buy one Glasgow to Leeds, and one from York to Glasgow from East Coast, where you'll find an extra discount on the some of the tickets. The discounted ones may not be the cheapest option though!

Singles from Leeds-Bradford, Bradford-Harrogate and Harrogate-York cost £19.60 in total (I've not worked out a way of making those cheaper if done on separate days). This means that if you can get Advance singles for under £50 total you might save about £10 on John's option: to be honest, I'd just go for the flexible tickets!