Buying advance tickets tomorrow

[whole diary]

[super tm]

For ^15.75 Advance Purchase each way (I'm assuming 1 adult 1 child F&F) you can go 1st class on the FGW^▸ (First Great Western) 0913 from Bristol TM^▸ (Train Manager, or possibly Ticket Machine, depending on context) to Exeter SD and return on the FGW 2044 from EXD^» (Exeter St Davids - next trains)-BRI^» (Bristol Temple Meads - next trains). Then ^3.25 for an Off Peak Day Return from EXD-Dawlish. Does mean a unit from EXD though. Tis only 15 mins though.

Total ^34.75. With better comfort levels on the legs to/from Exeter, complimentary refreshments, served at seat in the morning, collect from buffet in the evening.

F&F railcard not valid for 1st class tickets AFAIK^▸ ('as far as I know') ?

No F&F railcard works fine for ADVANCE first class tickets.  These are the only first tickets which it can be used for.  The same also applies to YP first advance.

[Ollie]

F&F railcard not valid for 1st class tickets AFAIK^▸ ('as far as I know') ?

No F&F railcard works fine for ADVANCE first class tickets.  These are the only first tickets which it can be used for.  The same also applies to YP first advance.

No F&F should not be accepted on First Class tickets.

Save on these ticket types:

    * Off-Peak Day Singles and Returns
    * Anytime Day Singles and Returns
    * Anytime Singles and Returns
    * Off-Peak, Super Off-Peak
    * ALL Standard Advance*
    * Gatwick Express, Stansted Express, Heathrow Express and Heathrow Connect services
    * London Underground Zone 1-6 Off-Peak Day Travelcard (subject to minimum fare)
    * Anytime Day Travelcard London Zone 1-6 Anytime Day Trave card when bought as part of ticket t o London (subject to minimum fare)
    * PLUSBUS - unlimited bus travel from your arrival / destination station with participating operators. Visit www.plusbus.info or ask at your local station ticket office for further details
    * Some rail/sea journeys with Wightlink, Red Funnel Ferries and Stena Line

* These tickets need to be booked before you travel.

[James158]

Personally I'd go with the cheapest option which probably isn't Cross Country. I always try and avoid Cross Country like a barge pole simply because I dislike the lack of tables/lack of legroom/lack of decent catering/annoying toilets/unsavoury smell that are found on Voyagers.

I don't find the refreshed HSTs^▸ (High Speed Train (Inter City class 43 125 units)) bad, legroom is ample, the buffet serves a wide range of goods and the enthusiast in me prefers the mk3 with droplight etc.

On balance I'd travel on the 1114 Paignton service simply because it is direct and negates the use of a packed unit between Exeter and Dawlish. On the return however I'd travel on the 2042 FGW^▸ (First Great Western) HST from Exeter, which is usually fairly quiet so chances are you will get a table, plus FGW advance fares to Bristol are dead cheap.

Hi

We have just bought the tickets to Dawlish at Weymouth.

We are booked on the 11:47 direct from Bristol Temple Meads arriving at 13:09 and the 20:02 from Dawlish changing at Exeter St Davids onto the 20:44 to Bristol Temple Meads arriving at 21:47. Total price is ^10.20. Both journeys are travelling with First Great Western. We asked the lady to reserve a table seat in the quiet zone and she said that you cannot choose your seat. We have always been able to choose what seat we would like. We have a airline seat in Coach B reserved both ways. All we have to do now is look forward to the Dawlish Airshow and travelling on this lovely scenic route.

[James158]

The CrossCountry HST^▸ (High Speed Train (Inter City class 43 125 units))'s are lovely. They are better than First Great Western HST's.

[inspector_blakey]

One day, if/when you're 6' 1" tall, sit in an airline seat on an XC^▸ (Cross Country Trains (franchise)) HST^▸ (High Speed Train (Inter City class 43 125 units)), then get back to me and see if you still think that 

[James158]

One day, if/when you're 6' 1" tall, sit in an airline seat on an XC^▸ (Cross Country Trains (franchise)) HST^▸ (High Speed Train (Inter City class 43 125 units)), then get back to me and see if you still think that 

What is the difference between a XC HST and a FGW^▸ (First Great Western) HST.

[inspector_blakey]

Well, according to a previous post of yours you seem to be familiar with the difference:

The CrossCountry HST^▸ (High Speed Train (Inter City class 43 125 units))'s are lovely. They are better than First Great Western HST's.

But let's take a wild guess...

I'm tall. My legs will fit comfortably, with room to spare, in the airline seating on FGW^▸ (First Great Western)'s HSTs. The same is not true of XC^▸ (Cross Country Trains (franchise))'s, where my legs end up wedged against the seat in front.

And James158, please do not use the quote tool when you're replying in threads unless it's absolutely necessary for clarity, otherwise things can get veyr very cumbersome and difficult to read. Thanks.