Been following this forum for a while, and very interesting and informative it is to.
By way of introduction, I am a leisure rail user, and FGW▸ fan living in a stationed town in mid cornwall.
Query for you all. Having spent a very frustrating hour trying to buy a advance return from BOD to EXD» as part of a split to BRI» , for a weekend in November using a D&C railcard. Tried on line, telesales, and even a ticket office but am unable to purchase the advertised discounted fare on specified trains and dates with said railcard.
If I were to buy these tickets on line using a different railcard prompt, (eg Two together/ YP) to achieve the discount, and use them in conjunction with the D&C railcard, would they be valid ? The saving is worth the hassle !
Cheers
the devon and cornwall railcard is only available on walk up off peak fairs and day rangers and not advance fairs
however..... if you are intent on splitting bod-tivy parkway with d and c discount ^18.80 (open rtn) ir 11.15 for day rtn .... which will be cheaper than two advance fairs without a railcard (unless you manage to get one of the ones priced 4.50-7.00 .... near impossible unless you book 12 weeks in advance and even then..........) anyway then your looking at 22 for an off peak open rtn (no day rtn available)
so here we go.........
if returning same day splitting at tivy with devon and cornwall card = 33.15
if returning within 30 days splitting at tivy with devon and cornwall card = 40.80
straight threw return = 56.00 (as no rc discount) same for day or period rtn
picking a random weekend in november cheapest available advanced singles tied to set trains with no refunds 19.50 each way
you can split advanced fairs but you have to get off at the station your ticket is to and have to get on at the same station as stated if you follow the rules and i really would not do this ... the only way to play by the rules would be to... if you say split at exeter is to get an advanced fair on one train use that to exeter and then get another advanced fair for another following service....... its so not worth the hassle!
best option and im sure people will agree unless you can get 2 advance fairs all the way threw without discount for less than 40.80 and are happy to be tied to set trains and be unable to get a refund on them go for the 40.80 option !
you can then come back any time within 30 days at any time and if you change your mind or cant go you can get a refund minus the admin fee