Advice Please - Travel 26th March 2011 Worle to Tonbridge

[whole diary]

[Worle Wonder]

Reasonably early start (well it is a Saturday!!) as I have some business in London before heading off to Kent.

Indicative travel times are start around 08:15, leave London around 13:30, leave Tonbridge around 17:30 for return to Worle. Any advice on best route/cheapest tickets would be appreciated (I have a PAYG^▸ (Pay as you go) Oyster^▸ (Smartcard system used by passengers on Transport for London services) if it helps) as most, if not all, the cheap advance tickets have been sold!!

Thanks in advance.

[Ollie]

The issue you have that day is in London there is a TUC Rally which is why no advance tickets available.

http://marchforthealternative.org.uk/

[Chris from Nailsea]

Welcome to the Coffee Shop forum, Worle Wonder!

I'm sure our resident ticketing expert will be able to suggest something here.  He has letters after his name, you know! 

Chris. 

[JayMac]

Thank you Chris! 

I have been out most of the day and need to pop out again soon, so I'll take a look at this one later this evening. I feel a Didcot split coming on......

In the meantime, may I also extend a welcome to you,  Worle Wonder! 

[Brucey]

Having a quick look, it seems that splitting at Didcot would be the best option (as advised by Dr FARTS ).

Worle - Tonbridge Super Off-Peak Return: ^64.00

Worle - Didcot Parkway Off-Peak Day Return: ^24.90
Didcot Parkway - Tonbridge Off-Peak Day Return: ^31.60
Total ^56.50

A further split could also be added at Reading, if your service calls there
Worle - Didcot Parkway Off-Peak Day Return: ^24.90
Didcot Parkway - Reading Off-Peak Day Return: ^5.30
Reading - Tonbridge Off-Peak Day Return: ^24.00
Total: ^54.20

Splitting at London (and using Oyster^▸ (Smartcard system used by passengers on Transport for London services)) is actually more expensive than either of these options.

[JayMac]

To add to what he said↑↑↑....

I concur, Brucey's 2nd suggestion, splitting at Didcot and Reading is probably your best bet for saving a few bob. I have found a slightly cheaper option going via Bristol and Salisbury into London Waterloo (incl. an assumed 2x PAYG^▸ (Pay as you go) Oyster^▸ (Smartcard system used by passengers on Transport for London services) Zone 1 singles), but it is a looooong journey and the saving on what's already been quoted is only around ^3-^5. And you are getting home very late.

As you need to break your outward journey in London you can exit the tube system wherever you need to be in London (as long as it is in Zone 1) on your Didcot/Reading - Tonbridge ticket, but you will not be able to re-enter using the same ticket to get you to Charing Cross for your train onward to Tonbridge. So you will also need to factor in the cost of a PAYG Oyster single.

Unless, of course, your 'business' in London is near Charing Cross!

I would suggest the best outward train to catch would be the 0732 from Worle (if that's not to early for you!) as this is direct to Paddington, arriving 0944, and also calls at your ticket split point of Didcot.

Returning from Tonbridge around 1730 is a bit problematical for getting back to Worle using a train that calls at Didcot. Best I can find is 1710 from Tonbridge arriving 1800 at Charing Cross. Then 1830 from Paddington arriving Bristol TM^‡(resolve) 2015, changing onto the 2055 to Worle arriving 2117. This is not ideal as you only have half an hour to get from Charing Cross to Paddington. Also should you need to leave Tonbridge later than 1710 you are likely to be stuck at Bristol for some time waiting for the 2224 to Worle. A very late return.

The savings with split tickets on this journey are not vast compared with the Worle - Tonbridge ^64.00 Super Off Peak Return. It just depends what price you place on losing a small bit of flexibility by having to use services that call at Didcot.

Taking all of the above into account I am, rather unusually, suggesting that the Super Off Peak Return from Worle - Tonbridge at ^64.00 is the best overall bet. It importantly allows you to take the 1900 from Paddington - Worle direct, a service that dosn't call at Didcot. It is also an easier service to connect into from Tonbridge, taking the 1740 departure, arriving Charing Cross 1810. You can also take the 1719 from Tonbridge, changing at Redhill and Reading (avoiding London) and then the 1927 (1900 ex Paddington) from Reading to Worle.

[Worle Wonder]

Many thanks for the info.......