Great Western Coffee Shop

Melksham to Cambridge, 16th November, to be in Cambridge by 8 p.m. (earlier in day acceptable)
Cambridge to Melksham, 18th November, leaving Cambridge no earlier that 6 p.m.
Do not wish to specify an exact train; prefer flexibility.
One traveller, eligible for Club 55.  No railcards.

Train times found:  07:17 from Melksham, return 18:45 from Cambridge
Best ticket price on one ticket - 169.00 anytime return
On one ticket each way - 84.50 to Cambridge and 56.00 back (anytime single and superoffpeak single)
Club55 not valid as only train time I was offered involves a London arrival prior to 10 a.m.

I have tried the same thing from Chippenham ...
Best ticket price on one ticket - 20 + 15 + 15 (3 zones) club 55 = 50 pounds Does this include Paddington to King's Cross on tube?
Alternative - 57.00 super-off-peak return.  I know this includes the tube, even though some train managers have told me in the past that it does not!

The difference between 169.00 and 50.00 is astonishing for an extra 6 miles + 6 miles of travel.  It's far cheaper for me to use a taxi rather than a train for this leg of the journey and the times are fare better too!

On the journey to Cambridge, I will have heavy luggage not appropriate for a bus.  On the return, elements by bus are an option.

I'm unable to find anything definitive about the Club 55 being valid on the tube.  However, the FGW website quotes the whole journey as one price and includes the tube journey.  I would therefore be happy to assume that the tube is included.

Did you order any free FCC tickets?  If so, it would be possible to do a Chippenham - London Club 55 for ^35, then ^1.90 (each way) on an Oyster card to Kings Cross where you could then travel for free on FCC.

With regards to the price from Melksham, I agree, the price difference is excessive due to Melksham being excluded from Club 55.  Would two day singles plus the Chippenham ticket not work out cheaper?

This should be printed with the Maltese Cross (i.e. +) before the route which means it is valid on the tube.  I would hope (hope being the operative word!) that any train manager should understand what this symbol means!

http://www.club55.co.uk/LandingEngland.aspx (http://www.club55.co.uk/LandingEngland.aspx)
Fifth paragraph - "your tickets include London Underground transfers".

Many thanks for that feedback.

A single on the 07:17 followed by a wait there in "Steamers" for the first train that arrives in London in "Club 55" time might be a good option, and indeed I could book my Club 55 ticket from Melksham and join short, couldn't I?  Perhaps I could also go via Ealing Broadway and get on the tube there rather than wait around until allowed into Paddington.  Is Ealing Broadway in "Maltese Cross" land?

In the end, I'll probably end up "railheading" via Chippenham for the convenience of services - up by taxi, back on the 22:10 bus on Friday night rather that on the morning train on Saturday.  I'm an enthusiastic user of the current TransWilts service, but I draw the line either an extra 100 pounds + cost, and I also draw the line at having a journey time that's extended by many hours.  Club 55 at 50 quid, Taxi at 20, and bus at about 5 = 80 pounds total.  No - didn't get an FCC freebie  >:(

P.S. I agree that every TM should know about the Maltese Cross.  My experience was about a year ago now, and was on a connecting train rather than one that actually went to London itself.

you need to start your journey after 10 on this journey for off peak fairs

i noticed this with cambridge the other day even leaving axminster the first offpeak ticket is the 1006, they may have different restrictions up your way tho

Applying what is relevant to Axminster to other stations on the network is a recipe for disaster! They do indeed have different restrictions 'up grahame's' way.  ;)

The ^50 Club 55 fare should be okay for your needs and from Melksham as well if you don't mind killing 90 minutes in Chippenham or Swindon.

The restrictions on Club 55 apply to trains arriving into Paddington before 1010. Your first train at 0717 from Melksham isn't going to Paddington, so I see reason why you can't use a Club 55 ticket to Cambridge on it. That said the online booking engine won't give up the fare as you cannot specify waiting time en-route. So if you're near a manned booking office between now and your trip to Cambridge I'd suggest buying from there.

Alternatively you can spoof the booking engine by going for the evening departure from MKM on the 16th and selecting Saturday 19th (1215 from Cambridge) for your return. As the Club 55 is an Off Peak Return this will be fine to use on the morning departure from Melksham on the 16th for the reasons I stated above and the return is valid for 1 month, so fine to use it on the Friday as far as Chippenham (1930 is the first service you can use from Paddington). Can't get back to Melksham as you no doubt know!

And as Worcester_Passenger has said, cross-London transfers are included.

i know that :-p ... in fairness it was a silly thing to say... more of a shot in the dark without the facts really sorry  :-


Moderator note. Edited to insert quote for relevance. bignosemac