Bath/Bristol to Nottingham - best places to split ?

[sk688]

Hi

As the thread title suggests , I am travelling from Oldfield Park to Nottingham tomorrow after 10AM , and returning Sunday lunchtime

The GWR website shows a return cost of £57.25 (with 16/25 railcard) , and was wondering if there was anywhere to split that would make the journey cheaper. Tried using Trainsplit and it gave minimum fares of £90 so guessing that wouldn't work for some reason.

Am also happy to travel from Bristol Tm if that would help reduce ticket price , was just wondering the best places to split the ticket on the way

Thanks in advance for any help

 

[Watershed]

Hi

As the thread title suggests , I am travelling from Oldfield Park to Nottingham tomorrow after 10AM , and returning Sunday lunchtime

The GWR website shows a return cost of £57.25 (with 16/25 railcard) , and was wondering if there was anywhere to split that would make the journey cheaper. Tried using Trainsplit and it gave minimum fares of £90 so guessing that wouldn't work for some reason.

Am also happy to travel from Bristol Tm if that would help reduce ticket price , was just wondering the best places to split the ticket on the way

Thanks in advance for any help

I think you will find it difficult to get 'accurate' prices as to the optimal split points, because XC have marked all their trains as reservations compulsory in the timetable data. So with the limited number of seats they're currently releasing, a significant percentage of trains are showing as "sold out" when close to the date. In reality, virtually all of these trains have plenty of space left.

Hence Trainsplit is showing itineries via London(!) as this is the next quickest route with available seats. If you search further ahead you'll see the usual trains and routes (changing at Birmingham or Gloucester), along with suggested split points.

It is a little cheaper to travel from Bristol to Nottingham than from Oldfield Park, but there's not a massive amount in it. Splitting doesn't save a great deal either if you want flexible tickets (as you are returning a different day - if you were doing a day trip it would be a different story).

Notwithstanding the "sold out" nature of the trains, you will still be able to buy your flexible tickets if you use one of the ticket machines at the station - the GWR ones simply sell tickets and are not concerned about itineraries, reservations etc.

 

[Nunners]

The problem with the booking engines at the moment is the compulsory reservations on CrossCountry, forcing you to et a 1st class ticket, which is why it's so expensive.

I haven't had a look at times but I would suggest for the cheapest journey Worcestershire Parkway and Long Eaton would be the best.

Oldfield Park - Worcestershire Parkway OP Rtn (not via Birmingham) £21.25 (£17.25 from Bristol/Keynsham)
Worcestershire Parkway - Long Eaton OP Rtn £14.25
Long Eaton-Nottingham Anytime Single (x2) £7.70
If you can go to Beeston 2 anytime singles Long Eaton-Beeston is £3.40 (saving £3.30)

Total £43.20 (-£4 to that for Keynsham/Bristol and -£3.30 for Beeston)

You're leaving late enough so that Off-Peak tickets will be fine (no evening restrictions on them either)

 

[Haywain]

Hi

As the thread title suggests , I am travelling from Oldfield Park to Nottingham tomorrow after 10AM , and returning Sunday lunchtime

The GWR website shows a return cost of £57.25 (with 16/25 railcard) , and was wondering if there was anywhere to split that would make the journey cheaper. Tried using Trainsplit and it gave minimum fares of £90 so guessing that wouldn't work for some reason.

Am also happy to travel from Bristol Tm if that would help reduce ticket price , was just wondering the best places to split the ticket on the way

Thanks in advance for any help

Having searched on flexible fares in a couple of weeks time, Trainsplit suggests a split at Cheltenham Spa would yield a small saving (singles between Oldfield Park and Cheltenham, and an Off Peak Return on to Nottingham) with fares totalling £54.00. You will need to travel on trains that call at Cheltenham.

Oldfield Park - Worcestershire Parkway OP Rtn (not via Birmingham) £21.25 (£17.25 from Bristol/Keynsham)
Worcestershire Parkway - Long Eaton OP Rtn £14.25
Long Eaton-Nottingham Anytime Single (x2) £7.70
If you can go to Beeston 2 anytime singles Long Eaton-Beeston is £3.40 (saving £3.30)

Total £43.20 (-£4 to that for Keynsham/Bristol and -£3.30 for Beeston)

For these you will need to travel on trains that stop at Worcestershire Parkway and Long Eaton.

 

[sk688]

Thanks all for the replies ! , will probably travel either via Worcestershire Parkway , or do a Cheltenham split in that case