best fares

[Pontyclun Pacer]

Does any 1 know the best fares for:

Cardiff Central-Birmingham
Cardiff Central-London Paddington
& Cardiff Central-London Waterloo


Look forward to any helpful advice or fare details.


Many thanks

Joe.

 

[doubletrackemble]

For Birmingham I think it is cheapest to buy 1 ticket to Gloucester and then another from there.
Similarly, for Paddington when I looked recently it was cheapest to split first to Swindon, and then Didcot.

 

[Pontyclun Pacer]

Thanks for ur info that may b useful, i'll have a look on national rail website to.


Joe.

 

[Techniquest]

For Cardiff to Waterloo, I assume you're going via Salisbury. If that is the case, then you have two options:

Buying a Route Warminster-Salisbury ticket (considerably cheaper than the Any Permitted!)

Splitting the fares at Salisbury. I haven't checked that's definately the best option, but should be right. Only much use if you're coming back the same day mind!

 

[yorkie]

Are you asking for the best combination of walk-on fares? (that is how it has been interpreted so far) If so, it depends on what time of day you want to travel, are you combing back the same day, etc?

Or are you asking for the cheapest Advance fares?
--- old post above --- --- new post below ---
Yes, for Cardiff-Birmingham you can split at Cheltenham or Gloucester (it makes no difference).

There is no Off Peak Day fare from Cardiff to Cheltenham so if travelling back same day you can get the Anytime Day from there, and then Off Peak Day from Cheltenham or Gloucester. This would be valid on the 08:45 from CDF.

A through ticket from CDF to BHM on the 08:45 would cost a shocking £62.00, compared to £33.50 by splitting. That's a saving of nearly 50%!

For Cardiff-London, as documented before in this section splitting at Swindon and Didcot is cheapest (for more details do a search for previous topics, or download the Avantix Traveller software and have a play with that to see the fares). Going via Salisbury is slow, but have a play with Avantix and see if there's an option worth doing - as suggested by Techniquest splitting at Salisbury might work.

 

[Mojo]

Splitting the fares at Salisbury. I haven't checked that's definately the best option, but should be right. Only much use if you're coming back the same day mind!

Rather than buying a Salisbury - London ticket check whether it's cheaper to buy from Bristol Temple Meads - London (route Warmster-Salsbry) as a number of ticket types (OPD, SCO, SDS) are cheaper from Temple Meads, and the CDR is the same price.

 

[yorkie]

Bristol Temple Meads - London Waterloo

cdr - off-peak day r swt
00800 - warmster-salsbry

1 adult @£ 36.50 = £ 36.50

restriction : C4
restriction applies: Monday to
friday only. No travel
restrictions on other days.

Outward travel

by any train scheduled to
arrive london terminals or
kensington olympia at or after
1000.

Return travel

by any train

sco - sup offpk day r swt
00800 - warmster-salsbry

1 adult @£ 29.90 = £ 29.90

restriction : Be
outward travel:

By any train except those
scheduled to arrive at
london terminals or kensington
olympia mondays - fridays
before 1200 and connecting
trains.

Return travel:

By any train.

 

[Techniquest]

Well I never thought the day return would be available from Bristol. I just remembered you can get one from Trowbridge, but Bristol I assumed would be an Off-Peak Return. I've learnt something today!

Others have mentioned Cardiff to London is best to split at Swindon and Didcot Parkway. I ought to add that a day return is also available from Swansea to Swindon, so for Pontyclun Pacer he ought to be able to buy an Off-Peak Day Return from Pontyclun to Swindon and split again as already mentioned at Didcot Parkway.