LondonMidland Rail Sale

LondonMidland are offering 50% off standard off-peak RETURN fares until Sunday 5th September. Thus Birmingham to London becomes £12.40 day return, and £14.35 for a monthly return when travelling on LondonMidland trains (see below for how to save when travelling on certain Pendolino services).

Off-peak LM trains from Birmingham start at 7.53 whilst from London the earliest departure is 8.46 Monday to Friday. Better still, there are no peak restrictions on the evening 'fast' returns from London at 17.13, 18.13, and 21.13

These fares have to be booked online on the LM site (don't forget to enter Via Northampton under more options), so effectively need to be bought at least 2 hours in advance of travel.

HOWEVER, as the explanatory page makes clear (see http://www.londonmidland.com/tickets-and-fares/summer-rail-sale/), the 50% reduction applies to 'any permitted' route fares set by LondonMidland. So pre-booked off-peak Pendolino journeys from Milton Keynes to London cost £9.90 day return and £12.30 monthly return. The off-peak Pendolino fare to Milton Keynes from Birmingham is £24.20 (10.30 service onwards), SO there is a saving of at least £5.40 by splitting the fare booking at Milton Keynes... Just watch out for the evening peak restrictions back from Euston and remember to travel back from London on the Pendolinos which call at Milton Keynes (the 43 mins past the hour).