Hi All,

The other day I managed to get a cheap advance for travel from Bristol TM^▸ (Train Manager, or possibly Ticket Machine, depending on context) to Cardiff using Cross Country app on my phone while travelling from the Airport on the M2 bus. It was cheap enough to book rather than wait an hour for my booked train.

Have GWR^▸ (Great Western Railway) a similar app and can you get cheap last minute tickets if available, ie within a 20 mins to your phone?

Thanks

Basset

Hi Grahame,

Thanks, if I had seen your poll on Buses then 3 and 6 are my main concerns about this Trip.

I am planning to arrive an extra Hour earlier than normal just to be able to get on a bus, plan B having to take a Taxi if I cant get on.

Basset

Hi All,

Have to get to Bristol Airport from Temple Meads at around 9.00am next Wednesday.

I Know the Bristol Flyer is not running but the A2 is, what I cant find on First Bus maps is the city center stops.

Does the A2 call into the station? and where is the previous pick up stop just in case the Bus Stop has many passengers waiting.

Many Thanks

Basset

Might 3 be Newport (Wales)

Basset

Hi All,

Our employer had a large discount arrangement for season tickets, which was set up under Arriva Trains Wales. It was 34%.

This was to encourage people onto the trains, this has now been changed to 5% at the end of the month.

Glad I had my over 60 Bus ticket.

Basset44

Hi All,

Caught the 17.56 from Cardiff to London on Friday and felt cold.

Today caught the 14.12 from Reading to Cardiff and it was Freezing, everyone sitting wearing coats and hats.

Walked through all 2nd class carriages in the front 5 cars and everyone was cold.

Is this a ploy to buy hot drinks from trolley.

Basset

Hi All,

Transport of Wales announce new Club 50 promotion.

https://tfwrail.wales/club50

£29.00 Return valid from 2nd September to 24th November.

Basset

That was/is my plan, I believe it's a somewhat Grey area.

In the past I have booked cheap advance tickets from Hayes and caught the first train to Reading and then wait for the train I am booked on, likewise from Stanstead Airport, waiting at Paddington.

What's caught me out is that train goes to London Paddington the opposite way, so I have to do a bit of track bashing and apparently the Swindon bound train does not pick up at Reading.

I wait for the off peaks from Swindon to appear and I buy them on the day and if everything is on time and I am out of Terminal 5 might catch the Bus /Train providing its still off peak.

Hi Celestial,

To be honest I never thought of that way, shall keep it in mind for next time.

The problem being I seem to have the time on my hands and going away every 6 weeks I need to keep the cost low.

Usually I book a late cheap advance and allow time for delays etc, but if everything okay I usually jump on a train at Hayes and have a break in Reading involving a beer or 2, what I didn't check before I booked was the route. This train involves a TFL^▸ (Transport for London) to Paddington, but I think the same principal applies.

Thanks

Basset

Hi All,

Need to get back to Cardiff on 9th December, arrive Term 5 about 1.45, I have booked an advance from Hayes & Harlington to Swindon on the 17.04 via London Paddington ( Not normal route) for an excellent £12.20 with Senior Railcard. Depart Padd 17.25 arrive Swindon 18.39

The Swindon to Cardiff is only showing Advance for the 18.45 at £16.15, am I right in thinking that the normal Off Peak with railcard is only £15.60 , which is not showing, with the inbuilt flexibility should I not make my advance and have to pay the single from Hayes to Swindon with Senior railcard.

Should I wait for the Off Peak Singles.

Many Thanks

Basset

Hi All,

A pleasant Bus Station is Sheffield, close to Station.

The story of the new Cardiff Bus station and why it is late was covered in this BBC^» (British Broadcasting Corporation - home page) report.

https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-wales-46114122

Basset

hi Grahame,

May I suggest you think about doing this trip in the Autumn or Winter months.

At the moment the Valleys are very Green with full leave blocking out some stunning views.

Could I also suggest you look into the Rover ticket for the Valleys and think about a bus from Rhymney to Merthyr enabling you to go up one valley and come down another, you might then be able to go from Abercynon to Aberdare.

I do realize that the daylight is shorter but with a bit of planning and good connections you could do most of the valleys.

Basset

Aberdare has improved, there is a New Housing Estate being built where the works were.

On Saturday there is a Festival in Merthyr so could be quite busy, its the Merthyr Rising Festival.( Week Saturday, mixed up date)

Treherbert is a nice run but the best would be the one you haven't mentioned the Rhymney Valley Line, you see the 2nd largest Castle in UK^▸ (United Kingdom), you go through a nice Tunnel and I am not sure if you can see the remains of an old viaduct, hope this helps.

Mind you I would walk to Queen Street for Rhymney Line , cause the down train just misses the up Rhymney.

Basset

One thing Bristol Airport has now is a water fountain not far from Superdrug by the Toilets, just take a empty plastic water bottle through security and fill it.

The worse prices for water was at the German Airports, they also charge a refundable deposit of about 2 euros on top of about 5 euros for a standard water.

Basset

Hi All,

From the new Passenger's Charter of Transport For Wales Railways.

Compensation for seat reservations not being honoured
Seat reservations are available on many of our longer-distance services, free of charge. If, for any reason, we cannot honour your seat reservation please speak to the Conductor onboard as they will try to find you another seat on the train. If this is not possible and you have to stand for more than 15 minutes of the journey, please ask the Conductor to endorse your ticket.
You may send your endorsed ticket and details of your journey to our Customer Relations department as we will compensate you to the value of 5% of a single ticket or relevant portion of a return ticket for every 15 minutes that you have stand, up to a maximum of the total cost of your journey ticket. You will also need to tell us how you would like us to pay your compensation. Please see the section “How will my compensation be paid?” for the options available. The above does not affect any legal rights or remedies you would otherwise have under the Consumer Rights
Act 2015.