A to B return costs over twice as much as B to A return on same trains??

grahame

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A to B return costs over twice as much as B to A return on same trains??

« on: April 11, 2013, 07:19:41 »

Next week, I'm in East Anglia:
Melksham to Peterborough, Sunday evening (leave 17:25)
Peterborough to Melksham, Friday evening (arrive 19:11)
Best return fare offered - 216 pounds anytime return.

But looking at the booking the other way:
Peterborough to Melksham, Friday evening (arrive 19:11)
Melksham to Peterborough, Sunday evening (leave 17:25)
Best return fare offered - 92 pounds 50p - super offpeak return

Same train, same journey, other way round. Which is correct? Can I specifically buy a super offpeak Melksham to Peterborough and validly use it


« Last Edit: April 11, 2013, 07:28:36 by grahame »	Logged

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JayMac

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Re: A to B return costs over twice as much as B to A return on same trains??

« Reply #1 on: April 11, 2013, 09:01:09 »

Your return on the Friday is in the evening peak through Paddington and a Melksham-Peterborough Super Off Peak Return is barred through Paddington heading west between 1501 and 1900. You would not be able to use your return portion on the 1745 off Paddington service, changing Swindon/Chippenham, arriving MKM^» at 1911

If you were travelling in the other direction from Peterborough-Melksham the outbound journey isn't restricted through Paddington in the afternoon/evening peak. It's quite common to have different restrictions depending on the direction of travel. Common - yes. Logical - perhaps not.

Super Off Peak Single MKM-PBO ^91.50
Super Off Peak Single PBO-MKM ^91.50

...would be valid and cheaper than the Anytime Return. However....

I would split at Didcot Parkway, taking a slightly later outbound service from Swindon, but still arriving at Peterborough at the same time as journey planners offer from Melksham. You would also need to leave Peterborough at 1550 on the Friday rather than 1607, to be able to take a service from Paddington (the 1730) that calls at Didcot and allows connection at Swindon for the Melksham service.

Times:
Sunday 14th April
1725 Melksham - Swindon 1755
1828 Swindon - Paddington 1947 (calls Didcot)
2035 King's Cross - Peterborough 2125

Friday 19th April
1550 Peterborough - King's Cross 1643
1730 Paddington - Swindon 1828 (calls Didcot)
1844 Swindon - Melksham 1911

Fares:
Melksham - Didcot Parkway Super Off Peak Return ^20.40
Didcot Parkway - Peterbrough Super Off Peak Return ^65.50 (not restricted through Paddington in the evening peak thanks to the 'Network Area' easement)

Total: ^85.90


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grahame

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Re: A to B return costs over twice as much as B to A return on same trains??

« Reply #2 on: April 11, 2013, 18:05:35 »

Neat, Thank you... I hadn't thought of the implications of a Didcot split on this one!


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thetrout

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Re: A to B return costs over twice as much as B to A return on same trains??

« Reply #3 on: April 12, 2013, 13:48:36 »

*cough*

Frome - Woking FDR vs. Woking - Frome FDR Angry

I'll get my coat...


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Brucey

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Re: A to B return costs over twice as much as B to A return on same trains??

« Reply #4 on: April 14, 2013, 10:10:30 »

Quote from: thetrout on April 12, 2013, 13:48:36

*cough*

Frome - Woking FDR vs. Woking - Frome FDR Angry

I'll get my coat...

And the ridiculous things about these fares is that there is no difference in time restriction as both are anytime returns.


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