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[Mr Skrunts]

Google maps are brilliant for quick 8)ly plotting A to B routes with many options inbetween.

Whilst looking on google I have often seen railway lines dissapear underground like Gringleford to Dore/Totly line.  Tonight I saw some line by the side of the M62 in the Cleckheaton area and wondered what stations they connected to.

Also was looking at a faster method to work out train journeys, google is ok but doesnt allways show faster or shorter routes.

Its only a passing thought but maybe worth a mention as there are possibly some sort of map network out there to make it all easier.

[Mr Skrunts]

Talking of maps a while ago I found a side by side map comparison that either side could be changed to historic type maps.

Would also be nice to find one that shows public walk ways across the country side,  Google does show some as dotted lines.

[Sir Tigger KC]

Talking of maps a while ago I found a side by side map comparison that either side could be changed to historic type maps.

Would also be nice to find one that shows public walk ways across the country side,  Google does show some as dotted lines.

Ordinance Survey. 

[Doctor Gollum]

Seconded

As for trains, Trainline is ok, but remember to play the system. if you know there's a choice of routes, you can plan them as individual sectors to go via a particular place rather than via the default 'Google/Trainline' suggestion. ie by choosing a short local journey for the first leg, you can travel earlier without paying a premium for the whole journey 

This can seem really convoluted, but the railway companies do this deliberately, because it's competition init

[GastronomicKleptomaniac]

Talking of maps a while ago I found a side by side map comparison that either side could be changed to historic type maps.

Would it be this one? https://www.sabre-roads.org.uk/maps/

Word of warning - very knowledgeable bunch but if you don't have a full beard, NHS specs and elbow patchs on your jacket, you'll not fit in... (I can say that, I'm a member)

[Jimbob]

Seconded

As for trains, Trainline is ok, but remember to play the system. if you know there's a choice of routes, you can plan them as individual sectors to go via a particular place rather than via the default 'Google/Trainline' suggestion. ie by choosing a short local journey for the first leg, you can travel earlier without paying a premium for the whole journey 

This can seem really convoluted, but the railway companies do this deliberately, because it's competition init

Doesnt it just
Last time I needed Chester to London (via Crewe obvs) was about £300 on one ticket
or bought as individual tickets...
Chester to Crewe - about £15
Crewe to Euston - about £17

Criminal!

[Marks DTM Calib]

The side by side maps are on the National Library of Scotland site:

https://maps.nls.uk/geo/explore/side-by-side/#zoom=5&lat=56.00000&lon=-4.00000&layers=1&right=ESRIWorld

Bing maps support OS view to so you switch between simple, aerial and OS:

www.bing.com/maps

As for train tickets:

https://splitticketing.co.uk/

Gives the options based on multiple tickets to get best price

[johnnydog]

I've just tried the 'split ticketting' website for a work related train journey tomorrow, and the price is coming up as exactly the same price I would pay at the ticket machine on arrival at the train station PLUS they would charge me £1.00 extra for the privilage....
I have used Trainline before, and unless the train is likely to be full, and the tickets are purchased a good number of days in advance, I haven't found any significant financial gain. And again, there is a booking fee to pay on top.
My experience is that the only real benefit is in 'normal' times, you have a guaranteed seat if there is a remote possibility the train is likely to be fully booked up.
Trainline is just an alternative and easier method of searching for the cheapest fare at the time that suits you - not necessarily any cheaper.
Currently, the trains are not going to be full anyway...

[redelitev6]

I've used the 'split ticketing' site a few times and I have saved a fair bit of money with it, my only criticism with it was that some of the timings between trains was really tight , a slight hold up on one had a knock on effect for the rest of the journey .

[STEMO]

My wife is an ungrateful cow. Last year she had to go to London to visit an academy somewhere around Wembley. She asked me to book her train tickets, but only gave me 24 hours notice, so I thought it would be expensive. But no, I found her a ticket for around £24, pretty cheap I thought. However, when I told her that I'd booked the ticket, she was not happy. All because it was at 0430, and would get her there in plenty of time for her lunchtime meeting. Ungrateful cow, I had to change it to a more expensive one.

[STEMO]

Actually, it was probably more like two, or even three, years ago. But one day is pretty much the same as the next to me nowadays. 

[Marks DTM Calib]

Its not always cheaper to split ticket, but for instance if I want to go to London from Nottingham and I change at Kettering, its a third off. The standard price does not give this cheaper option 

[TheBoy]

My experience is that the only real benefit is in 'normal' times, you have a guaranteed seat if there is a remote possibility the train is likely to be fully booked up.

Nope.  No matter how far in advance you pay.

Some companies, like Chiltern, dont actually offer seat bookings.  Others like GWR do, but cancel them at the last minute.  And that doesn't make me bitter.


So I just stick to the age old principle of it being quicker, cheaper (down south) and more comfortable to drive.  Trouble is, in "normal" times, my company's tree huggers say we have to use the train, as cars are evil.

[Doctor Gollum]

Buying the ticket the day before is unlikely to yield anything resembling a saving, no different to booking a flight or a hotel.

[johnnydog]

My experience is that the only real benefit is in 'normal' times, you have a guaranteed seat if there is a remote possibility the train is likely to be fully booked up.

Nope.  No matter how far in advance you pay.

I disagree.
Before this Covid malarky, I often used Virgin trains (which became Avanti) on the East Coast line from Leeds and on the West Coast line from Preston, and I was always allocated a carriage and seat no. on the ticket. The smaller rail networks such as Cross Country, Northern Rail etc, never allocated seat numbers.  If you were travelling from a 'hub' such as Leeds or Preston rather than smaller stations,  it seems, pre Covid, seats were allocated.
Initially, after the start of Covid, they continued to allocate seats to ensure social distancing, but at the moment, travelling for work on Avanti during lockdown is quiet, it appears they don't currently allocate seating on Standard travel (First Class is probably different with allocated seating, but I havent had that pleasure..)