Leeds - Swindon

[Bayum]

My sisters mate is travelling tomorrow, at 8:10 From Leeds to Bristol Temple Meads, and will then be getting the 13:02 FGW service to Swindon.

On the way back, they will be getting the 10:15 Swindon - Bristol Parkway, and then the 11:10 to Edinburgh from Bristol Parkway.

My sisters mate is wanting to know what the cheapest on the day ticket he can get is please!!

but, just simply put the ticket names and prices please, as none of us understand the new system at all!!

 

[yorkie]

My sisters mate is travelling tomorrow, at 8:10 From Leeds to Bristol Temple Meads, and will then be getting the 13:02 FGW service to Swindon.

On the way back, they will be getting the 10:15 Swindon - Bristol Parkway, and then the 11:10 to Edinburgh from Bristol Parkway.

My sisters mate is wanting to know what the cheapest on the day ticket he can get is please!!

but, just simply put the ticket names and prices please, as none of us understand the new system at all!!

2 options for getting to Swindon:

1) Split the ticket loads of places (e.g. Sheffield, Derby etc, if going the slow way via Brum) getting day returns.
or
2) Leeds-Grantham off peak day return + Grantham-Stroud off peak (valid via London according to the Routeing Guide, although there is no +, so I advise getting a bus or paying for the tube as it's not worth the hassle trying to claim it's valid to the tube drones).

To Bristol the former is cheaper, but to Swindon I'm pretty sure the latter will be cheaper. I've done that before and not been questioned by FGW/GNER but the LU drones tried to say it wasn't valid, I showed them the RG and they eventually relented.

 

[Bayum]

Can they stay on the same train if they split the tickets?

Because, they really want to stay on the same trains etc, and have direct trains.

And how would they split the ticket?? E.g. at Sheffield?? And yes, they are going via Brimingham

 

[yorkie]

Can they stay on the same train if they split the tickets?

Of course

Because, they really want to stay on the same trains etc, and have direct trains.

There are no direct Leeds-Swindon trains so you'll have to change at least once.

And how would they split the ticket?? E.g. at Sheffield?? And yes, they are going via Brimingham

Give Avantix Traveller a try! Split it however it works out best, so yes, start at Sheffield and go on from there.

 

[Bayum]

I can't use Avantix, I don't know how, and I don't want to make them look stupid at the station when he's buying the tickets...

 

[yorkie]

I can't use Avantix, I don't know how,

What part are you stuck on?

and I don't want to make them look stupid at the station when he's buying the tickets...

Right but if you ask for a specific combination of tickets they have to sell them.

 

[Bayum]

I'm stuck on the whole thing - I generally don't know how to use Avantix at all.

So, what your saying basically is, he could try getting a Young Persons ticket, from Leeds - Sheffield, Sheffield - Derby, Derby - New Street, and New Street - Birmingham??

Cos, i really don't get what your saying...

 

[heart-of-wessex]

First

1) I presume you mean the 13:00 Bristol - Swindon, as there is no 13:02

2) he/she is returning on the 27th, as you cannot return on the same day at 10am :P

So, a Leeds - Swindon is £182.50, BUT Ive found one at £129.20

What you need to do is once you get to leeds, ask for an anytime return to Birmingham New Street, a return from Birmingham New Street to Bristol Temple Meads and a return from Bristol Temple Meads to Swindon, all adds up to £129.20


That's what I've found online, unless I'm wrong or there's cheaper ones, can someone point out


I hope that helps


Cheers,

James.

 

[Mojo]

Nothing to do with the fares, but check the stations. There is no 1302 from Bristol TM to Swindon, but there is from Parkway. Don't want to end up at the wrong station!

 

[Bayum]

First

1) I presume you mean the 13:00 Bristol - Swindon, as there is no 13:02

2) he/she is returning on the 27th, as you cannot return on the same day at 10am :P

So, a Leeds - Swindon is £182.50, BUT Ive found one at £129.20

What you need to do is once you get to leeds, ask for an anytime return to Birmingham New Street, a return from Birmingham New Street to Bristol Temple Meads and a return from Bristol Temple Meads to Swindon, all adds up to £129.20


That's what I've found online, unless I'm wrong or there's cheaper ones, can someone point out


I hope that helps


Cheers,

James.

He's travelling with a YP railcard

 

[heart-of-wessex]

well with a Y-P its £120.45

but with the follwing return tickets:

Leeds - sheffield
Sheffield - birmingham
birmingham - bristol parkway
bristol parkway - swindon

is total £81.35

 

[yorkie]

I'm stuck on the whole thing - I generally don't know how to use Avantix at all.

No, I mean, which part have you got got stuck on? As you've not said, I'll assume you've got it installed and working and you are struggling with what origin, destination and calculate mean. Apologies if I have this assumption wrong...

Origin means the place the ticket is from, and Destination means the place the ticket is to, so type the stations in there. Press 'Calculate' and it shows you the fares. You may choose to enter a discount e.g. Young Persons Railcard in this case.

So, what your saying basically is, he could try getting a Young Persons ticket, from Leeds - Sheffield, Sheffield - Derby, Derby - New Street, and New Street - Birmingham??.

Yep, and so on.

Cos, i really don't get what your saying...

What part don't you get? I thought you just got it?
--- old post above --- --- new post below ---

well with a Y-P its £120.45

but with the follwing return tickets:

Leeds - sheffield
Sheffield - birmingham
birmingham - bristol parkway
bristol parkway - swindon

is total £81.35

I think you can get it cheaper splitting further! Splitting at Cheltenham and Derby bring it down by a few quid. But I suppose there comes a point where it's not worth saving £1 or £2 to end up with a dozen bits of card to have to sort through.

 

[Techniquest]

AFAIK, from memory, the best combination would be:

Leeds > Sheffield
Sheffield > Derby (£5.90? Off-Peak Day Return)
Derby > Birmingham (£6.85 Off-Peak Day Return)
Birmingham > Cheltenham (£10.15 Off-Peak Day Return)
Cheltenham > Bristol
Bristol > Swindon

Fare prices included where known, I'm feeling too lazy to look them up.

From memory, you should be valid on a return from Cheltenham to Swindon to go via Bristol, but I am not convinced on that yet.

Also, there's the fact it's on the 0810 from Leeds, which will require an Anytime ticket (unless the Off-Peak lot has that unrestricted code thing on it for that journey).

I'll look it up actually, curiosity has got the better of me!

EDIT: I've just noticed, Bayum's query involves staying down there for at least one day by the looks of things, unless they own a Tardis and go back about 4 hours in time...

Which obviously eliminates any possible day returns combinations.

I'm going to look up split fares still though, I managed to save myself £3-odd on splitting a day return fare recently with combo day returns!

EDIT 2: Can't look the fares up at the moment as NXEC's Mixing Deck is not working.

 

[Bayum]

I was told that my sisters mate could get these tickets this morning, for a price of around £72

anytime return from Leeds to Sheffield
anytime return Sheffield to Derby
off-peak return Derby to Birmingham
off-peak return Birmingham to Bristol Parkway and an
off peak return Bristol Parkway to Swindon please?'

However, she's just texted me, saying that it was £93, and that some of them are only singles!!! Is this right?? And if it's not, how would my sisters mate go around getting his money back?

 

[theblackwatch]

2 options for getting to Swindon:

1) Split the ticket loads of places (e.g. Sheffield, Derby etc, if going the slow way via Brum) getting day returns.
or
2) Leeds-Grantham off peak day return + Grantham-Stroud off peak (valid via London according to the Routeing Guide, although there is no +, so I advise getting a bus or paying for the tube as it's not worth the hassle trying to claim it's valid to the tube drones).

To Bristol the former is cheaper, but to Swindon I'm pretty sure the latter will be cheaper. I've done that before and not been questioned by FGW/GNER but the LU drones tried to say it wasn't valid, I showed them the RG and they eventually relented.

Not very useful to suggest day returns when it is obvious from the times quoted that the person concerned is doing the outward and return journeys on different days.

 

[Bayum]

I'm more worried about my current question really!! If they have been overcharged or lied to, it's hardly fair is it!

 

[glynn80]

I'm more worried about my current question really!! If they have been overcharged or lied to, it's hardly fair is it!

It depends what he/she asked for. Ticket offices are only obliged to sell you what you asked for, they are actually told during training NOT to sell cheaper combinations unless specifically asked.

It's like if you go into a shop a put a Wispa bar on the counter which costs 50p the shop attendant doesn't have to suggest an Aero bar which he may have for 45p even though there pretty much the same thing.

I would suggest you ask your friend exactly what tickets they've got and what they asked for and then report back to us.

 

[hairyhandedfool]

I was told that my sisters mate could get these tickets this morning, for a price of around £72

anytime return from Leeds to Sheffield
anytime return Sheffield to Derby
off-peak return Derby to Birmingham
off-peak return Birmingham to Bristol Parkway and an
off peak return Bristol Parkway to Swindon please?'

However, she's just texted me, saying that it was £93, and that some of them are only singles!!! Is this right?? And if it's not, how would my sisters mate go around getting his money back?

£93.20? They probably didn't add the railcard, also that may not be valid via Doncaster. It should be no singles though, unless two singles worked out the same as a return. Railcard prices in brackets.

LDS-SHF £10.60 (£7.00) Anytime return NOT Doncaster
LDS-SHF £17.60 (11.60) Off-peak return Any Permitted route
SHF-DBY £15.70 (£10.35) Off-peak return
DBY-BHM £13.70 (£9.05) Off-peak return
BHM-BPW £39.70 (£26.20) Off-peak return
BPW-SWI £13.50 (£8.90) Off-peak return

£93.20 (£61.50) Not Doncaster
£100.20 (£66.10) Any Permitted route

If this is the reason, go back to the office that it was bought and tell them what they have 'accidentally' done. If they didn't get the tickets on the day they go back or the same clerk is not on shift they may have to fill a refund form out and purchase new tickets, they should get 100% of the value of the original tickets, unless they didn't show or mention the railcard when they bought the tickets. HTH

 

[theblackwatch]

LDS-SHF £10.60 (£7.00) Anytime return NOT Doncaster
LDS-SHF £17.60 (11.60) Off-peak return Any Permitted route
SHF-DBY £15.70 (£10.35) Off-peak return
DBY-BHM £13.70 (£9.05) Off-peak return
BHM-BPW £39.70 (£26.20) Off-peak return
BPW-SWI £13.50 (£8.90) Off-peak return

I looked these up earlier and came up with the same prices as you apart from the first two, the differences being:

Leeds-Sheff would be £10.60 due to travel before 10.00
Sheff-Derby, departure at 08.57 would need Anytime ticket with no discount at £15.30.

If I wrong with these, please say - I don't have a lot of railcard knowledge, being too old, too young, no kids, not disabled and not being in the forces! (No discrimination is there!)

 

[hairyhandedfool]

Ah yes, I hadn't taken the time of travel into account, however the SHF-DBY ticket you mention is the day return, not the open, so the fare would be £27.50 (£18.50) Anytime Return, thereby making the total with railcard £73.25.

 

[heart-of-wessex]

oh well, looks like the end of my life, bayums probably on his way to shoot me!

The tickets I saw were all searched via the engibne on First Great Western.
The off-peak returns are quoted as saying they can return within one calender month, so where does the singles come in?

Yes hairyhandedfool, I came up with £61 but realised the first parts were still in the peak hours, so I rounded around £72 as the cost. Something going on there, I've done splits to get to Cehltenham and have always got the ticket and price thats listed on the website with no questions asked!


Cheers,

James.

 

[Bayum]

They asked for the exact tickets that I put down. My sister texted me telling the ticket names, and I even wrote them down as I was told last night - and they still got told they would have to buy more tickets tomorrow, as well as the £93 today!!

 

[dan_atki]

I was told that my sisters mate could get these tickets this morning, for a price of around £72

anytime return from Leeds to Sheffield
anytime return Sheffield to Derby
off-peak return Derby to Birmingham
off-peak return Birmingham to Bristol Parkway and an
off peak return Bristol Parkway to Swindon please?'

However, she's just texted me, saying that it was £93, and that some of them are only singles!!! Is this right?? And if it's not, how would my sisters mate go around getting his money back?

They asked for the exact tickets that I put down. My sister texted me telling the ticket names, and I even wrote them down as I was told last night - and they still got told they would have to buy more tickets tomorrow, as well as the £93 today!!

If the tickets listed there were indeed those purchased then there would be no need to buy further tickets tomorrow :?. Please find out exactly (preferably with a price of each too) what tickets are currently held and we can try to see what's going on .

 

[Bayum]

Hmmmmm

I'll try ringing her like, now.

I'll give you the texts she sent

Yeah yeah were on the train. But you were well off with the price £93!!

I sent back - I wasn't off with the price - the person who told me the tickets was!! Did ask for exactly what I wrote down?

She sent back - Yeah and that made out more expensive! And then he'd have to pay more tomorow cause some of them had to be singles cause you couldn't get returns!


So yeah. It's all confusing!! Like I said, i'll ring her, and find out
--- old post above --- --- new post below ---
Right, well she's not answering the phone. But I don't think they would be stupid enough to try and do it any other way...

 

[Techniquest]

Selling singles because you can't buy returns? I've yet to ever see any route anywhere where that's the case. Sounds like something is amiss.

 

[Bayum]

Your telling me...

 

[Mojo]

Doesn't Bayum's sister have a Priv? There are some routes with a Priv where you can only get singles (eg: Hereford-Bristol). This is because the public tickets are all off-peaks.

 

[glynn80]

Hmmmmm

I'll try ringing her like, now.

I'll give you the texts she sent

Yeah yeah were on the train. But you were well off with the price £93!!

I sent back - I wasn't off with the price - the person who told me the tickets was!! Did ask for exactly what I wrote down?

She sent back - Yeah and that made out more expensive! And then he'd have to pay more tomorow cause some of them had to be singles cause you couldn't get returns!


So yeah. It's all confusing!! Like I said, i'll ring her, and find out
--- old post above --- --- new post below ---
Right, well she's not answering the phone. But I don't think they would be stupid enough to try and do it any other way...

I think this proves the point that splitting can often be more hassle than its worth. I would only suggest this technique to someone proficient in basic fares knowledge and thus would be able to argue their case to incompetent ticket clerks or over-zealous guards. There have been situations where combinations have been refused to be sold to people and guards claiming they are not valid. Without knowledge of the NRCC it would be difficult to argue your case and most would pay up rather than facing the embaressment of BTP being called if they continue to insist it is then valid (even if afterwards it is found to be valid).

 

[Bayum]

And, a few people have said that they should be valid though - it wasn't just one person!

 

[djw1981]

The other option for cheaper tickets is, of course, to buy weeks before you want to travel. As helpful as giving a bicycle to a lame hippo, I know.