OXF-TQY Ticket validity codes and options

[whole diary]

[81F]

I am looking to spend a few days in Torquay soon, and have been delving into the BR^▸ (British Rail(ways)) fares website to try to find the least expensive way of getting there. Preferred start station is Oxford, though thanks to the now half-hourly daytime Stagecoach bus service, Swindon is also a possibility. Speed of journey and number of changes don't matter. I have a Senior Railcard.

A Super off-peak return [SSR] from Oxford appears to cost 48.20.
It appears to be possible to save a few pounds legitimately by splitting the journey at Bath Spa.
OXF^» (Oxford - next trains) - BTH^» (Bath Spa - next trains) SSR  17.80 [code 2W] + BTH - TQY 22.75 [code WG] = 40.55.
This is the cheapest I have found so far from Oxford.
There don't seem to be many advance fares available from Oxford to Torquay, and only small savings compared to the more flexible tickets.

Cheapest flexible option from Swindon appears to be a SVR off-peak return, costing 34.00.
There are also good value advance tickets available on a limited number of [potentially useful] trains, particularly at 1055 from Swindon and 0746 from Torquay, starting at 9.25 single.

I should be really grateful if anyone here could (1) suggest any better options
 and (2) tell me where I can find out what validity codes 2W and WG [and their ilk] actually mean.

Thank you.

[bobm]

If you are going to go to Swindon you could get a Freedom of South West 3 in 7 Rover.  It is ^74 but you would get 34% off with the Senior Railcard.   That is valid on the 08:27 from Swindon (change at Exeter St Davids) as well as the 10:55 through train.

Not sure of the earliest time you can return.  But you would also have an extra day to use when down there if you wanted to go for a day trip. 

There is also the 8 in 15 Rover for ^100.50 before discount.

[JayMac]

The Freedom of the South West Rover probably represents the best value if you plan to also use trains whilst in the Torquay area. The 3 days in 7 version is ^48.85 with a Senior Railcard. As bobm has said, this option is only valid for you from Swindon. Mondays to Fridays the ticket is not valid until 09.00 or from when the Off-Peak Day ticket (if available on a particular journey) becomes available, whichever is earlier. There are no restrictions at weekends and bank holidays.

You've already identified some good split fare options and I can't advise on alternative Advance Purchase options without knowing the dates of travel, out and return.

As for ticket validity codes, if you click on the ticket name (e.g. SVR OFF PEAK R) when using brfares.com you are given the full text of the restriction. Alternatively, the following link gives the full list of validity codes in alphanumerical order.

http://www.nationalrail.co.uk/pdfs/OffPeak.pdf

[bobm]

Mondays to Fridays the ticket is not valid until 09.00 or from when the Off-Peak Day ticket (if available on a particular journey) becomes available, whichever is earlier. There are no restrictions at weekends and bank holidays.

I think Off Peak tickets are valid on the 08:27 SWI^» (Swindon - next trains) to PNZ (the 07:30 ex PAD^» (Paddington (London) - next trains)) but in any event the leaflet specifically confirms you can use it - and I often do!  Has a Travelling Chef too.

[Southern Stag]

Mondays to Fridays the ticket is not valid until 09.00 or from when the Off-Peak Day ticket (if available on a particular journey) becomes available, whichever is earlier.

That's the old restriction, which confusingly is referred to still in a number of places. The new restriction is after 09:00 or any of the following trains:
08:35 Newton Abbot - Penzance
08:14 Plymouth ^ Penzance
08:40 Plymouth - Gunnislake
08:33 Liskeard - Looe
05:54 Exeter St Davids ^ Barnstaple
06:48 Exeter St Davids ^ Barnstaple
08:43 Barnstaple ^ Exeter ^ Exmouth
07:26 Exeter St Davids - Axminster
08:26 Exeter St Davids ^ Axminster
08:27 Swindon to Penzance
08:36 Taunton to Bristol Parkway
08:39 Patchway to Paignton
08:49 Hereford to Worcester Foregate Street (train continues to Birmingham New Street)
08:53 Weymouth to Gloucester
08:54 Swindon to Cheltenham Spa
08:50 Great Malvern to Westbury

That list itself is confusing because it refers to a train from Hereford, which is out of the rover area, and it is a London Midland service, and London Midland are not one of the operators included on the list of operators the ticket is valid on. Because NRE^▸ (National Rail Enquiries) still has the old restriction listed I'd say you are fine on any train after 09:00, any of the listed trains and any journey where the CDR^▸ (Off Peak Day Return [ticket type] (formerly 'Cheap Day')) would be valid.

[JayMac]

Thanks for the correction Southern Stag, I had indeed quoted the old restriction. The new one is far more restrictive. For instance, while you can travel on the 0841 Bristol TM^▸ (Train Manager, or possibly Ticket Machine, depending on context) to Weymouth with a Heart of Wessex Day Ranger or Off Peak tickets, you can't with a FOSW^▸ (Freedom of (the) South West Rover) Rover. Bonkers.

[Louis94]

Thanks for the correction Southern Stag, I had indeed quoted the old restriction. The new one is far more restrictive. For instance, while you can travel on the 0841 Bristol TM^▸ (Train Manager, or possibly Ticket Machine, depending on context) to Weymouth with a Heart of Wessex Day Ranger or Off Peak tickets, you can't with a FOSW^▸ (Freedom of (the) South West Rover) Rover. Bonkers.

Would make sense for the 0841 to be on the list. Given the CDR^▸ (Off Peak Day Return [ticket type] (formerly 'Cheap Day')) (Off Peak Day Return) from Bristol to Weymouth Route 'Via Yeovil' is valid anytime after 0700!

[Southern Stag]

Thanks for the correction Southern Stag, I had indeed quoted the old restriction. The new one is far more restrictive. For instance, while you can travel on the 0841 Bristol TM^▸ (Train Manager, or possibly Ticket Machine, depending on context) to Weymouth with a Heart of Wessex Day Ranger or Off Peak tickets, you can't with a FOSW^▸ (Freedom of (the) South West Rover) Rover. Bonkers.

It is more restrictive, but it is a lot clearer. The old restriction was a bit confusing, what if the journey you where making did not have a CDR^▸ (Off Peak Day Return [ticket type] (formerly 'Cheap Day')) available? A favourite of mine used to be the 08:52 Plymouth-London Paddington. If you were travelling to Exeter a CDR would not be valid. To Tiverton a CDR would be valid. To Taunton the CDR would not be valid. To Westbury there was no CDR. So many times on that train I planned to take a trip to Tiverton but changed my mind and either got off early, or stayed on longer.

[81F]

Thanks to you all for very helpful advice.  After fixing dates I have been able to buy advance tickets for 9.25 each way between Swindon and Torquay.  I hadn't thought of the 3 in 7 rover, but will bear that in mind for future occasions.