Exmouth to Exeter Peak/Off Peak

[piccadilly]

Sorry for this basic question! - we can’t seem to find the answer!

I am taking some friends to Exmouth station to travel to Exeter to celebrate an important birthday.

They have booked a meal at 2pm - and I will pick them up from Exmouth on their return and take them home.

I think as they are likely to be returning after 4pm but before 7pm they will need a peak return ticket?

 

[yorkie]

An Off Peak Day Return (CDR) has the following restriction only:

Not valid on trains timed to depart after 04:29 and before 08:44.

This applies to both portions.

So no need for an Anytime Day Return.

 

[Watershed]

No; the Off-Peak Day Return is valid all day from 08:44 onwards. See here.

 

[piccadilly]

Thank you - this is very helpful and a relief because I think they have already purchased off peak tickets!

Travelling back at (say) 5pm will be ok - (having had a couple of cocktails!) they don’t want the hassle of trying to upgrade their ticket.

 

[Class172]

Travelling back at (say) 5pm will be ok - (having had a couple of cocktails!) they don’t want the hassle of trying to upgrade their ticket.

Yes, it will be absolutely okay on an Off-Peak ticket. I regularly use this line, and as others have pointed out, peak restrictions only apply to the morning period.

 

[piccadilly]

Class172

Thank You for taking the trouble to reply - and the ladies have asked me to pass on their thanks.

Regards,

 

[piccadilly]

Following the enjoyable trip to Exeter the ladies have now planned a few days in Cirencester going on 26th June to 28th June and have asked for my advice i.e. that means after consulting this helpful forum!

I will give them a lift to Exmouth station ,hand them a bottle of chilled Prosecco! And then I have worked out that the best route is via Exeter St. David’s to Cheltenham to Kemble (never heard of this station until now) and then taxi to Cirencester.

My question is does this sound like a feasible route? and secondly, if they leave at say 10 am - and take a return train from Kemble at 5pm will they need to buy a Peak travel ticket?

The train journey is very much part of the enjoyment of the trip ,no hassle with motorways etc.

The group are quite elderly(on their own admission) but I think there will be a minimum of stairs.

 

[alistairlees]

Following the enjoyable trip to Exeter the ladies have now planned a few days in Cirencester going on 26th June to 28th June and have asked for my advice i.e. that means after consulting this helpful forum!

I will give them a lift to Exmouth station ,hand them a bottle of chilled Prosecco! And then I have worked out that the best route is via Exeter St. David’s to Cheltenham to Kemble (never heard of this station until now) and then taxi to Cirencester.

My question is does this sound like a feasible route? and secondly, if they leave at say 10 am - and take a return train from Kemble at 5pm will they need to buy a Peak travel ticket?

The train journey is very much part of the enjoyment of the trip ,no hassle with motorways etc.

The group are quite elderly(on their own admission) but I think there will be a minimum of stairs.

Assuming they are buying Off-Peak Returns (£39.50 each with a Senior Railcard - not too bad really) then the only restriction is that they may not travel before 08.33 in the morning on Mondays to Fridays. There are no afternoon or evening restrictions. There are no restructions at any time of the day on Saturdays, Sundays or Bank Holidays.

Note that this ticket (the only through flexible ticket) is not valid via Cheltenham Spa though. From Bristol TM they would need to go to Swindon, then change there for Kemble.

 

[piccadilly]

Thank You - this does seem good value - but changing at Cheltenham Spa is not an option?

I was thinking of an Open return off peak ticket?

 

[Class172]

Note that this ticket (the only through flexible ticket) is not valid via Cheltenham Spa though. From Bristol TM they would need to go to Swindon, then change there for Kemble.

Trainsplit is showing itineraries via Cheltenham or Swindon; either being available on a Exmouth-Kemble Off-Peak return at £41.25 on a senior railcard.

 

[alistairlees]

Thank You - this does seem good value - but changing at Cheltenham Spa is not an option?

I was thinking of an Open return off peak ticket?

An “off-peak return” is an ‘open’ ticket, on that it is valid to return within a month.

Also, it is valid via Cheltenham - it’s usually slower though because of poor connections. Somehow I missed that first time round.

 

[SwindonBert]

Couple of points, probably want to look at changing at Bristol Parkway rather than Temple Meads, it's usually quicker and on the same platform.
If you're looking to get a taxi at Kemble, I would strongly advise to pre book it

 

[nickswift99]

You may find it cheaper/quicker to get a bus from Cheltenham or Gloucester to Cirencester.

 

[piccadilly]

Good idea to change at Parkway.

They have quite a lot of luggage (for three days but I haven’t commented on this!)

A friend of ours has suggested (who used to live in Cirencester) a direct train from Tiverton Parkway to Kemble but I can’t seem to find this route).

 

[yorkie]

There are no direct trains from Tiverton Parkway to Kemble.

If you want advanced options, such as being able to specify an interchange station, or additional change time etc, the forums booking site lets you do that.

 

[piccadilly]

You may find it cheaper/quicker to get a bus from Cheltenham or Gloucester to Cirencester.

I have suggested this it just the luggage problem.

 

[bkhtele]

If they do not have Senior railcards, and travel by GWR (not cross-country) groups of 3 or more travelling together can have 1/3rd off with "groupsave" discount from 0930

 

[nickswift99]

I have suggested this it just the luggage problem.

I think you'll find that the people of Gloucestershire are quite friendly and will happily help. The bus station in Gloucester is across the road from the front of the station, while buses in Cirencester stop right in the middle of town.

 

[piccadilly]

They all have senior railcards - but good suggestion thank you.

I think you'll find that the people of Gloucestershire are quite friendly and will happily help. The bus station in Gloucester is across the road from the front of the station, while buses in Cirencester stop right in the middle of town.

I worked in Cheltenham for a few months in the 1990‘s and I agree the people in Gloucestershire are very friendly and helpful.I will put this too them.

This all started with a trip to Exeter from Exmouth now they want to go further afield - I am merely the station chauffeur and supposed travel expert ( thank god for the UK rail forum!) - but happy to help and see them have a good time!