Great Western Coffee Shop

Although the fare system has been "simplified", many of the old distortions remain.  If you're travelling from "a" to "c" via "b", it's worth compating the price of a direct ticket from "a" to "c" with the cost of an "a" to "b" ticket PLUS the cost of a "b" to "c".

Example from last Saturday.

Off peak return - Chippenham to Taunton - 23.00
Off peak day returns Chippenham to Bristol and Bristol to Taunton - 6.50 + 9.80 = 16.30

Provided the train you are travelling on from "a" to "c" calls at "b", you ARE allowed to do this.  And the ticket seller at "a" has to sell you the tickets is asked, as well.  Regrettably, if "a" only has a ticket machine and not a real human being, you'll not be able to buy the "b" to "c" ticket there.

Is using this technique morally justified? Now there's a difficult question which I'll leave you to ponder / discuss.   To start you off, my personal view is that if I'm offered a service from the station I want to start from to the station I want to travel to, at the time I want to go and at a fair price, then I really should pay that fair price and not look to trim it.  But if I'm forced to divert because there's no service at the time I need on the route I want, or the fare is exhorbitant, then it's only fair that on a knock for knock basis I should try and get the best deal I can within the rules.

Which is why everyone buys the 'Filton special' from Trowbridge.

Is that the one that starts from Melksham?

Melksham - Bristol TM is now more expensive than Trowbridge - Bristol Temple Meads:

MKM-BRI
SDR   -  ANYTIME DAY R                GWR
00831 -  BATH SPA       

   1 Adult    @^     9.00  =  ^     9.00
                              __________
                              ^     9.00

Standard Class Return

TRO-BRI
SDR   -  ANYTIME DAY R                GWR
00000 -  ANY PERMITTED   

   1 Adult    @^     8.90  =  ^     8.90
                              __________
                              ^     8.90

Standard Class Return

ahhh, everything becomes clear. It used to be Phil.

The next 12 months Melksham ticket sales will be interesting reading then, as I believe the price was changed not so long ago, Trowbridge fares were dropped.

Bit late on this one.

You buy your "b to c" ticket on line and ask to collect it from your ticket machine.

I always use this method when travelling to Cardiff from Didcot Parkway, a return to Bath Spa + return from Bath Spa to Cardiff central normally works out cheapest, and i dont particularly mind if it means changing trains.

If it is legal, then everyone should do it as much as possible.

Then perhaps the fares mess will be sorted out.

Does that not mean going via Bristol Temple Meads?