Great Western Coffee Shop

A friend asked me using my knowledge if I could find her a cheaper fare than she'd be quoted for a return journey from Cardiff (leaving after 13:30) to Strood or Rochester leaving Fri 15th and returning on the 17th Apr.

Using the splitting tickets routine I must say I'm at a loss. The cheapest I can see is a combined total of ^64 which seems pretty expensive to me. I ahven't split the tickets up in 4 legs, would this make a substantial saving?

The difference between going to Rochester or Strood on the 14:25 from Cardiff is ^42!!!!  (Strood from St Pancras, Rochester from London Bridge!)

Also how are advanced tickets priced as I used to be able to get adv tickets to Swindon for approx ^5 a week to 10 days  in advance travelling on a Fri afternoon and now looking 10 days in advance travelling at a similar time the standard advance price is ^11.50?

It's the easter holidays - more people are travelling.. and as they are quota controlled once they're gone, erm, they're gone.

Looking at Avantix Traveller, you might be able to beat the ^64 total without splitting or advance fares. Walk-up fares to Rochester and Strood are often the same when comparing like with like. From Cardiff to RTR or SOO there's an Off-peak Return (SVR) via Warminster/Salisbury for ^62. The restriction code is 8A, which is 'Valid on any train'.

The journey to London is slower via Salisbury, and will involve more changes, but as that route goes to Waterloo the journey will be possible without using the Underground, which will balance out the time and convenience, assuming there's no particular wish to use the high speed service from St Pancras. Two options spring to mind: go to Waterloo, cross to Waterloo East and join the Charing Cross to Gillingham service, which stops at Strood and Rochester; or change at Clapham Jn, go to Victoria, and take the main line service, which stops at Rochester.

Potential problem if going via Salisbury... it looks like there are engineering works that might involve buses through Westbury on the Sunday.

Agreed: I heard multiple pre-recorded announcements at Bristol Temple Meads this evening, to that effect.  ::)

Thanks for your answers, I'll tell her. Unfortunately she'll be travelling with a 3 year old so the journey is going to be a bit of a mare however she decides to get there

Waterloo via Salisbury & a 5 minute walk to Waterloo East. Simples

Has she got a Family Railccard.  Works out cheaper if making more than a couple of journeys a year.

Would it still work out cheaper with a railcard?  I assume the three year would normally travel free but to get a railcard discount for the adult you'd have to buy a child ticket as well.

Using a F&F Railcard should work out cheaper. Take a ^50 adult fare as an example:

Without railcard, total ^50. (1 adult at full price, 1 under five, free)

With railcard, total ^43. (1 adult at 34% off = ^33. 1 child at 60% off child fare of ^25 = ^10)

Regular travel with child needed through the year though to show a saving after factoring in the purchase cost of the railcard.