Great Western Coffee Shop

I want to travel from Taunton to Exmouth on a weekday, for which the standard, off-peak, open return fare is ^11.90, with a Senior Railcard.  There is a train departing Taunton at 10.53 (the 09.06 Paddington to Plymouth service) BUT the National Rail website does not quote a fare for this particular service.  Would the ^11.90 fare be valid? 



 

The fare would be valid on that train.  The only reason it is not quoted is because there is a later train from Taunton which connects with the same train at Exeter St David's to Exmouth.  It is the 11:17 which arrives at 11:43 with the train to Exmouth leaving at 11:49.  It is operated by Cross Country, but is usually formed of an HST - the same type as the FGW service at 10:53.

Perfectly valid.  ;)

The restrictions on that fare, the Off Peak Return (return valid for 1 month) can be read here:
http://www.brfares.com/#faredetail?orig=TAU&dest=EXM&rlc=SRN&tkt=SVR

The relevant part of the text for your journey is:


However, if it's a day trip to Exmouth, returning to Taunton later the same day, then there's the cheaper Off Peak Day Return:
http://www.brfares.com/#faredetail?orig=TAU&dest=EXM&rlc=SRN&tkt=CDR

The relevant part of the text is:

Thank you, bobm and bnm, for your replies clarifying the situation.  I have now booked our tickets and priority seating by telephone but catching the 10.53 train caused raised eyebrows at FGW Assisted Travel.  Our seats are reserved on the 10.53 service but the tickets are issued for the 10.16 train - in order to generate the ^11.90 fare, presumably.  There was no problem with the connecting trains on the return journey a few days later.

Let's travel hopefully - and it's only to Exmouth!

Happy travels!  :D