East Coast Trains are now accepting bookings for Advanced Fares home from Montrose.

Warning: It's not as cheap as last year if you are travelling home on the Friday (24th May). If you are travelling on Thursday 23rd, the fares are similar to last year's.

It's worth noting that if you can 'buddy up' with two other Challengers for your trip you can get tickets at three for the price of two, which is well worth considering.

For example: Standard class tickets as a single fare on the 10:32 train to King's Cross on Friday cost £54.90 each but as a group of three they cost £110.85 (£36.95 each)

Similarly, First class tickets on this train are £81.35 as a single ticket or £164.40 as a group of three (£54.80 each)

You need to be quick though, as these Advance tickets usually sell out quickly.

Click on the link below to get to their site.

EAST COAST TRAINS

If you wait a week or two: bizarrely, the fares are cheaper!

Eg fares for 17 May and 10 May are cheaper than those for 24 May.

Not totally certain, but, I'm not buying just yet.

I doubt it in this case, Gordon, as it's a Bank Holiday weekend. That's why the deals are not so good.

I'm only travelling to and from Dunbar - will I get specially reduced fares for being an Old Fart, I wonder....?

I've struck lucky this year, as my Standard Class ticket is £8 cheaper than last year - so I have decided to pay a little extra (£6 more than last year) and go First Class.

I don't mind travelling in cattle class up to the West Coast, but I find the return to "civilisation" a little hard on the nerves - so a comfy seat and a "free" cuppa may help me ease back in to society!

So you're shouting 'boooo' all the way to the West Coast ?



See you in Montrose !

Another good reason for booking/travelling through East Coast (which is owned by you and me!) is that their compensation scheme for delayed journeys - Delay Repay - is entirely non-judgemental, with a really fast response.

I had to go to London February 14 (don't even ask . . . ) and my return train that evening was delayed on account of some class of an "incident" outside Doncaster. We rocked into BearTown-upon-Tweed 32 minutes late. I put in my claim and five daze layer was sent vouchers for £24.90. Which I can use on any Train Operating Company, valid for 12 months.

Challenge rail travel sorted at no cost, heh heh!

Moral - delayed trains can be your friend! Other news - it's still Brass Monkeys up here with heavy snow cover on The Cheviots. But the days are growing longer, and cannae wait till May!