Great Western Coffee Shop

Have just spent a couple of hours planning a day's round trip from my home station, Shirehampton taking in Wrexham and Shropshire for a slap up lunch in first class.

Leaving at 0734 and getting back to SHH at 1916 on a weekday with numerous splits I have got the fare down to a quite reasonable price. Anyone want to guess the total cost and the route I'm taking?

(Few hints. I have a railcard, am not going into London and all tickets are walk-up fares in Standard excepting the WSMR journey).

I won't guess the price, but the three routes that came to mind, i'll list the two most likely :)

Shirehampton - Bristol Temple Meads
Bristol Temple Meads - Birmingham New Street
Birmingham New Street - Tame Bridge Parkway
Tame Bridge Parkway - Wrexham General

If you did it this way, did you perhaps split the tickets at Bristol TM and Tame Bridge? Strangely enough a FC Return from Bristol TM to Tame Bridge Parkway is cheaper than a Birmingham New Street return, yet is valid via Birmingham New Street... ??? Unsure if the same applies to SC tickets

Another route that springs to mind and is rather scenic is:

Shirehampton - Bristol Temple Meads
Bristol Temple Meads - Newport (S Wales)
Newport (S Wales) - Shrewsbury
Shrewsbury - Banbury
Banbury - Reading
Reading - Bristol Temple Meads
Bristol Temple Meads - Shirehampton

Your 2nd route is spot on trout, well done!!  ;D

Now as for the split tickets, actual trains and total fare (with railcard) for my trip next Weds......

Shirehampton to Filton AW ^3.30 (SDR)
SHH 0734 - BRI 0758

Filton AW to Worcester FS ^6.95 (CDS)
BRI 0821 - NWP 0859
NWP 0934 - HFD 1026

The first fare is to FIT which I can use into BRI and then board the 0821 which calls at FIT 0833 allowing use of the next fare (FIT-WOF CDS) which is only valid after 0830. Permitted route allows journeys to Worcester via NWP and the Welsh Marches Line, allowing me to stop short at Hereford.

Hereford to Church Stretton ^6.45 (SDS)
Church Stretton to Shrewsbury ^3.05 (SDS)
HFD 1055 - SHR 1151

Shrewsbury to Tame Bridge Parkway ^8.65 (FDS)
Tame Bridge Parkway to Banbury ^10.55 (FOS)
SHR 1207 - BAN 1404

Banbury to Oxford ^3.25 (CDS)
BAN 1419 - OXF 1440

Oxford to Bristol Temple Meads ^11.90 (SSS)
OXF 1637 DID 1651
DID 1712 BRI 1815

Bristol TM to Shirehampton. Return portion of SDR Shirehampton to Filton AW.
BRI 1848 - SHH 1916

Total fare, a bargain ^54.10 (railcard) including first class between Shrewsbury and Banbury.

Are you going to be buying all those from the guard on the train?  He/she will love you ;D

You could save another 10p!  Split the SHH - FIT at BRI:
SHH - BRI ^1.50 SDR
BRI - FIT ^1.70 SDS
Total ^3.20 instead of ^3.30  :P

Thanks for that extra split Brucey! I'll buy the first couple of ticket on board and the others at stations where I change - not fair on the guard on the SVB line unless they're desperate for the commision!

I could save even more by buying an ADV from SHH-SHR which as of today is ^11.90 bringing the total down to ^47.25, which I considered but I'm doing the trip on my pay day and don't have a spare ^12 at the mo!

Hi,

Curious why apart from paying in advance are you not buying Filton to Shrew at 15.20  with railcard advance for the 8.33 arriving 10.51 unless you are breaking your journey.

Basset

Hi Sorry missed the post about avance from Shire to Shrew

Basset

Just back from my circular tour. My third First Class trip with Wrexham and Shropshire - the first in a fully refurbed set - and the service, food and ambience were top notch. Barry Doe wasn't wrong! The staff are a credit to the company. I can heartily recommend anyone taking a trip in W&S First Class (^29.10 - non railcard - walk up between Shrewsbury and Banbury if you split at Tame Bridge Parkway) just for the experience.

I sampled the Moroccan Chicken and Raspberry Cheesecake. Devine. The wine - a bone dry Chablis - was also good value at ^8 for a half bottle.

(http://i598.photobucket.com/albums/tt68/bignosemac/ShrewsburyTrip017a.jpg)

(http://i598.photobucket.com/albums/tt68/bignosemac/ShrewsburyTrip021a.jpg)

(http://i598.photobucket.com/albums/tt68/bignosemac/ShrewsburyTrip015a.jpg)

And my companion for the day........

(http://i598.photobucket.com/albums/tt68/bignosemac/ShrewsburyTrip028a.jpg)

....who was treated to two Cumberland sausages and a piece of flapjack, courtesy of W&S. Lucky girl!

Oh, and I found another saving on advertised walk up fares:

OXF-BRI Off Peak Day Single (not Reading) ^18.70*

OXF-BOA (Bradford-on Avon) Super Off Peak Single (not Reading) ^16.00*. Which is route permitted and validity allowed (even in the evening peak) via Bristol Parkway to Temple Meads to travel short. And because of the shorter Badminton route to Bristol Parkway the timings are near identical as the 'correct' route via Chippenham.

*non-railcard

Considering it was served on a train, the food looks pretty good.  And for ^29.10, including the meal, you can't even say that the fare is excessive.  The refurbishment is stylish and appealing.

I see you went for the smokey three bean chilli and that they still havent followed my suggestion it would be better served in a bowl OR the chilli in a well in the middle of the rice.

And that cheesecake is lush.

And I see you also like the chablis............

You did however miss out on the salmon starter - the samosas are worth missing however the Shepherds pie is also lush

Not the chilli F_A. The Moroccan chicken.  ;)