Fares advice re London via Stafford / Penkridge / Birmingham / London

[Ian99]

2 of us need to do a day trip this Friday of London to Penkridge via Stafford arriving mid morning then on to Birmingham for 4pm ish then a few hours later back to London.

Any thoughts on the cheapest way please on a "close to quickest" route?

Happy to buy a Two Together Card if need be although I guess it only applies in the afternoon....

 

[Fawkes Cat]

Is the 'via Stafford' bit essential? If the only places you need to be are Penkridge and Birmingham then it seems to me that you might do better going via Wolverhampton.

 

[Ian99]

Thanks for your input. Via Stafford is not essential - I thought of it as it's more of a loop that way and that it might be cost effective.

 

[Mcr Warrior]

Is travel via Stafford a valid route on a London Terminals -> Penkridge (walk up) ticket?

 

[Watershed]

Is travel via Stafford a valid route on a London Terminals -> Penkridge (walk up) ticket?

Yes, it is. So the OP could simply buy a London to Penkridge return. They could buy the cheaper "WMR & LNR only" fare if they are happy to limit themselves to that operator's services.

Between London and Stafford, Stafford and Penkridge, and Penkridge and Birmingham, that wouldn't really impose a major restriction as WMT are either the only operator, or not much slower.

Between Birmingham and London their direct services are quite a bit slower than Avanti's, but changing at Rugby onto a service from Crewe/Stafford saves some time as you then avoid the Northampton 'fester'.

 

[Mcr Warrior]

So, Off Peak Returns (route "Any Permitted") would be 2 x £51.70 with "Two Together" railcard discount, and with "WMR & LNR Only" restriction, they would be 2 x £32.05.