Great Western Coffee Shop

[I thought I was familar with rail tickets and pricing but I can now see why the public are so confused. Recently I planned a trip to London from FRO/WSB. There are probably 4 versions of (normal) routing and pricing. Unless one buys an anytime fare, I was amazed to find that selection of various journey pairs produces a wide variety of price variations, even within the same peak/off-peak slots. The route selections also generally make the journey route specific.]

So to the future, I need tickets WSB to GTW for 12 December out mid-morning and 27 December back mid/late afternoon. There are a plethora of routings available, including via Southampton, which is quite attractive apart from a bus replacement on the return!

Now peak time restrictions are lifted after Christmas which helps the price situation. Since there will be uncertainty about airlines/airports on the return I will avoid any trickery with fixed split tickets or shorter distance advance fares. This leads me to consider outward:

10.47WSB SOP fare £45.80 via RDG/GLD, or
11.44WSB OP fare £45.50 via SAL/CLJ

(Both railcard prices. Changes only at RDG or CLJ, in spite of certain journey planner information).

These fares appear route specific so I am wondering if there is any ticket that allows greater flexibility, such as use of the alternative routing above on the return, or travel via Central London. I would rule out the cost of Anytime via London. Suggestions on the use of flexible split tickets might also be useful but there will probably be little benefit there.

Alternatively I would hope that a change of route would be allowed by payment of the excess (as happened in the olden days). The excess being calculated by payment of any higher cost attributable to 50% of the return fare? No doubt it might be a challenge to get such a change duly processed - however, we live in hope.

Colleagues - I would welcome your thoughts and suggestions.


 

     

There are 8 standard class walk up return fares (7 singles) but no "Any permitted". There are also 71 Advance single fares.

At £80.60 (£53.20 with a railcard), there is a super off peak via London, including the underground. Or change at Paddington and Farringdon?

Paddington main line station is closed on the 27th December as work at Old Oak Common for HS2 ramps up.

Personally with Paddington closed, I’d choose via Salisbury and Clapham junction. Reading will I expect be chaotic.

(From down here in Cornwall i always choose via honiton and Clapham junction when travelling to Gatwick) personal preference