Is this right? Does it really cost 90 pounds more on a Sunday?

[whole diary]

[grahame]

In certain places the NRCoC^▸ (National Rail Conditions of Carriage) refers specifically to the destination on the ticket; but in other places simply to "your destination station".  There is also the question of what the relevant company's passenger charter says.

FGW^▸ (First Great Western) Customer charter says ...

If the train you are travelling on is delayed we will endeavour to get you to your destination station, with alternative transport provided if necessary

so that's Melksham     ... however, I'm not able to be travelling on the train because it's been cancelled 

Looks like it's academic for tonight.    The place I'm training has a transfer bus to another site of theirs and I'll be using that - thus avoiding the need to faff about with local buses which would leave me pushed to get to PAD^» (Paddington (London) - next trains) for the 19:00 .

Useful learning curve - I've always been very unclear about what to expect at times of disruption.   Of course the real answer is for us to have a 100% perfect system!

[grahame]

AND IN REVERSE ....

Next week, I'm travelling ...

Melksham to Elstree on Sunday
Elstree to Manchester on Wednesday evening
Manchester to Melksham on Friday evening

It's my understanding that I CAN'T use the Westbury to Manchester via London return ticket this time, because the outward ticket is only valid for a day plug to 04:29 and my break of journey in Elstree is longer than that.  So I'm looking along the lines of Melksham to Elstree super off-peak return, and a then coming back into Loncon breaking my journey at Euston and using an off-peak return from there to Manchester.  Any better ideas, bearing in mind that I can't really predict my exact times

[grahame]

National Rail recommendation as "the cheapest way" and bearing in mind I specified 'no advance tickets' because I can't be 100% sure on any travel times:

Melksham to London - 29.00 Single
London to Manchester - 78.70 Single
Manchester to Melksham - 81.50 Single.  I asked for 5 p.m. Friday but am told last available service is 16:07

My best so far

Melksham to London - Super off-peak return - 50.00
London to Manchester - 79.70 return off peak
Melksham to Manchester - included above;  17:35 train via Euston / Paddington. 21:59 to 22:26 bus that accepts rail tickets at Chippenham

So that's 189.20 from National Rail (and I asked for "cheapest way to do it"), or 129.70 from my own experience.  If I was going Melksham - Manchester - London - Melksham rather than the other way around, I could save a further 25 pounds and have my tube fares included.   What a funny system we play by!

[Lee]

Have you (or has anyone else) tried to use a rail ticket on the 2226 bus service yet, grahame?

[grahame]

Have you (or has anyone else) tried to use a rail ticket on the 2226 bus service yet, grahame?

No, I haven't. I would take printouts with me to confirm the arrangement - I've gotten into the habit of doing that with any arrangement that may not be known to the professionals (such as NCoC 18(c) , and CIV^▸ (International Convention for the transportation of Passengers) ticketing ) due to their limited scope and / or use.