Traingular ticket options: London -> Cardiff -> Bristol -> London

[platypus]

Happy new year all! I'm trying to work out the best ticket options for a journey this weekend (10th Jan) but need a little help on interpreting ticket types. I have a 26-30 railcard, so that'll be factored into any fares.

As added complexity, I want my BRI -> PAD ticket to be flexible so that I can change my plans if needed on when to come back to London.

A rough plan:

• Fri 10/01/25: PAD -> CDF
  • Either on the 1548 or 1618 via BPW
• Sat 11/01/25: CDF -> BRI
  • Want an off-peak ticket so that I can get any direct morning train
• Sun 12/01/25: BRI -> PAD
  • Off-peak ticket so that I can get any afternoon train

I think the best ticket to buy is the Off-Peak return from London Terminals to Cardiff for £87.30:

• T&Cs: "Valid on off-peak services by the route and Train operator shown. Return travel any day within 1 month."
• Restriction code: WW
• Return break of journey: "Break of journey is permitted on the return portion off an Off-Peak Return unless otherwise indicated by a restriction shown against the ticket's Restriction Code."

This way I could use by outward ticket normally, and then on the return break the journey in BRI. The things I'm not 100% sure on are:

1. Is it okay to break my return journey across two days (11/01 and 12/01)?
2. Is it okay to break my return journey at BRI, considering that direct trains from CDF to PAD don't go through BRI (they go through BPW).

Alternatively I could buy, for £91.10, a bunch of (super) off-peak singles:

• PAD -> CDF for £51.25 (off-peak)
• CDF -> BRI for £11.25 (super off-peak)
• BRI -> PAD for £28.60 (super off-peak)

So I would be saving a grand total of...£4! Which doesn't quite make sense for the effort, but it's an interesting problem nonetheless. Would be interested to see if there's anything obvious I've missed.

Thanks in advance for your help!

Sorry release I used the station codes without stating the station names, to be specific I want to travel:

• London Paddington -> Cardiff Central
• Cardiff Central -> Bristol Temple Meads
• Bristol Temple Meads -> London Paddington

 

[jfollows]

1. Yes, you can break your journey as many times as you want. Your return ticket is valid for a month.
2. Yes, assuming “BRI” to be Bristol, either Bristol Temple Meads or Bristol Parkway are on the permitted routes between Cardiff and London. See map LW at https://www.nationalrail.co.uk/travel-information/routeing-guide/ for all permitted routes.

I posted an extract from the map recently at https://www.railforums.co.uk/threads/swindon-to-cardiff-return-valid-via-bath.279545/#post-7103967

 

[alistairlees]

If you split your tickets at Swindon then you can save another £5.05 (with the TST railcard).

This will restrict you on Friday to a service no later than 15.48 though (the 16.18 from PAD does not stop at SWI), and after that Off-Peak tickets are not valid.

On the Sunday on the way back from Bristol everything stops at Swindon so far as I know, so no issues that way.

The SWI - CDF is valid via either BPW or Bath Spa / Bristol Temple Meads.

 

[jfollows]

Sorry release I used the station codes without stating the station names, to be specific I want to travel:

• London Paddington -> Cardiff Central
• Cardiff Central -> Bristol Temple Meads
• Bristol Temple Meads -> London Paddington

That’s fine with the ticket you mention.
A Swindon-Cardiff ticket allows the same routes via Bristol etc.

 

[platypus]

Amazing, thank you both! I'll buy a split return via Swindon