UK train, ticket price for a single journey is the same price as a return ticket?
I'm planning to visit the UK in November, and for reasons of logistics it may be easier to leave from a different airport than I arrive on.
I checked train prices online, and getting a single journey from Manchester airport to Loughborough is listed as £43.80, the same journey with a return ticket 10 days later is listed as £44.10; that's basically the same price‽
They should be ‘off-peak’ tickets, and the prices are the same on nationalrail.co.uk and thetrainline.com ... I actually continued the booking process up to the point where I had to pay to make sure this price was correct (and not £44.10 × 2).
Did I miss something? Is there a trick to get decent prices for single journeys? I find it hard to believe that a return is the same price as a single ticket, that makes no sense at all to me, in The Netherlands, a return trip is just twice the price of a single trip…
Here's the booking information: single journey, (screenshot) return journey (screenshot)
Best Answer
As this journey involves changing trains at Sheffield, two different train companies are used. This often means that the cheaper ticket types are not available. You can circumvent this by buying separate tickets for each leg of the journey.
For example, using the East Midlands Trains website, for 11th November I found Loughborough to Sheffield Advance single for £13 and Sheffield to Manchester Airport Advance single for £8.
The disadvantage of this practice is that, if you miss a connection, you may have to buy a new ticket for the second part of your journey.
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Is return train ticket cheaper than one-way?
On both your outward and return journey, you'll be able to access the First Class carriage, and it'll generally be cheaper if you travel during Off-Peak times. In fact, an Off-Peak Return journey in First Class can sometimes end up cheaper than an Anytime Return ticket in Standard.What is the difference between a single and return ticket?
A one-way ticket allows you to travel only to your destination, without returning. A return ticket includes a journey to your destination and back.Is a return ticket cheaper than two singles?
Two singles are only cheaper than a return when you are buying 'Advance' tickets. If you are buying tickets from a machine for immediate travel they won't be. Stations usually have at least one machine that accepts cash.Why are singles more expensive than returns?
Fares are driven by things like fuel costs and operating taxes at the origin and departure cities, but the single largest variable to prices is market-forces like competition and the like.. This is also why you *tend* to see higher fares to/from smaller markets that have fewer airline choices. 2.How to Save Hundreds of Pounds on UK Train Tickets
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