Great Western Coffee Shop

I am thinking of toddling down to St Ives, going down on either Fri 20th Sept (after 17.00) or Sat 21st and returning on the 22nd. It'll be me, Mrs Squirrel, two kits and a family railcard. (For the avoidance of confusion, that's two adults and two children - I'm not really a squirrel). I'm not asking anyone to do the legwork for me, but I'm concious that some of you lot have a far better understanding of the fares labyrinth than I do - can anyone give me pointers as to best ticket types and splits? All advice greatfully received!

Not sure about tickets, but if you go on Saturday then I would strongly recommend the 0917 as it's a FGW HST so much better for a 4 hour+ journey than a Voyager and Class 15x. Though it's quite a long way to go for one night with two children.

To go on the Saturday morning Off Peak Return ^119.90 with railcard straight through Bristol TM

Bristol TM - Newton Abbot off peak Return ^59.50
Newton Abbot - St Ives off peak return ^54.40
So splitting at Newton Abbot will save you ^6

If you want to lose flexibility, there are advance Singles available with cheapest available on:
0917 from Bristol TM on the Saturday ^46.80
1433 from St Ives on the Sunday ^40.00

Just to note that ^46.80 is the discounted advance fare only available from the FGW website/app. 

Whichever ticket you buy there is then the option to buy a Weekend First upgrade on the train.  The 09:17 (07:30 from Paddington) can be very busy on a Saturday.

The cheapest way I believe would be to split the tickets at Tiverton Parkway (Meaning you will almost certainly have to use an XC service), then at Plymouth.


2 Adults 2 Children with Friends and Family Railcard
BRI-TVP ^41.30 Saver Return
TVP-PLY ^31.40 Saver Return
PLY-SIV ^30.80 Saver Return

Total ^103.80

Also, though it may not be cheaper but is worth mentioning here, over the last 2 months or so I have seen a Cheap Day Single added to my Avantix ticket types between Bristol and Exeter. It is around ^13.60 I believe! Cheaper than a Saver Single to Tiverton!

I tried to look for this on National Rail and could find no reference. I have definitely seen it as I have sold the ticket!!!!!


Any information from any others in the know would be good

Thanks for the tip about the 09.17 being an HST, John R - I had (rather naiively) assumed they all were!

Very happy to lose flexibility, richwarwicker.

Am I right in assuming that the fares quoted on nationalrail.co.uk are the same as on the fgw site?

I know it's a long way to go for a weekend, but hey - South Devon Banks are always a treat! Oh, and I like bobm's suggestion of a weekend first upgrade; would it breach the conditions of travel if I just upgraded myself and left Mrs Squirrel and the kits in cattle class?

RWith the F&F Railcar you really should all travel as a group. You won't win any popularity contest with the TM if he has to go hunting for the Railcars holder.

It should be ^15 each for WF from BRI-PAR on the 0917.

How about combining tickets with Rovers/Rangers (x2)

The Devon Ranger is ^10 adult/day, ditto the Cornwall version.....add on your BRI connections, and surely that's less than ^100?

It was a joke. If you knew Mrs Squirrel, you'd realise how Martian the concept of me lounging in First while she and the nippers slummed it in steerage - more likely to be the other way round!

Sadly, no:

Ride Cornwall Ranger (Family): ^20 x 2 = ^40
Devon Day Ranger: ((2 x ^10) + (2 x ^5)) x 2 = ^60
Bristol - Tiverton Parkway (return): well, maybe about ^30

I got a bit excited about the 'Freedom of the South West 3 in 7 Day Rover' at ^79, until I remembered we'd all need one...

Apologies for my awful typing earlier. That was sent from my not so smartphone that pointedly refuses to allow 'Railcard' as a proper noun. It's in the phone's dikshunree now though.

Nice though that the phone was substituting an alternative railway term. :D

trainbuff's suggestions are probably the cheapest splits with F&F Railcard on flexible walk-up tickets. Just remember the need to call at the split points. Pay particular care to Tiverton Parkway if you are aiming for FGW HST services. You can't use the 0917 FGW HST for example on the Saturday, and Friday evening and Sunday's return may also require use of CrossCountry and their Voyagers to ensure a TVP call. Sadly, you are unlikely to find CrossCountry's small gang of HSTs out to play at those times.

Whatever you decide, I hope this Tufty family outing is enjoyable for you all. Willy Weasel is best left at home. Also, do let us know here what tickets you eventually plump for and we can check everything is, err, tickety-boo. Wouldn't want you to have any bother from BTPoliceman Badger - assuming he hasn't been culled. :-\ ;D

Those fares were a trial by FGW, I believe. There was one of the thrice yearly fares round on 8th September, where unregulated fares can be changed, removed or amended. The Bristol-Exeter Off Peak Day fares are no longer in any online retail systems as far as I can see. I know for definite that they were, as I bought an Off Peak Day Return from Bristol-Exeter some weeks back via redspottedhanky.com.

I'll check the TVMs and ticket office at Bristol TM in the coming days (if I remember). Perhaps you could check your Avantix again, trainbuff, and see if they've disappeared from that also.

Will have a look later and let you guys know. But at least now I know what the fares were for. Cheers



Edit note: Quote marks amended, for clarity. CfN.

Yes indeed, bignosemac. These fares are now no longer available on avantix. Shame. I sold ticket from Bri to Exd as it was cheaper than going to Tiverton Parkway, and advised customer to purchase that way again!

Any idea if the trial was a 'success' or even why FGW wanted to trial it?