Travel to London via Paddington Rtn via Waterloo?

[Edg]

Hi, apologies in advance if I should be able to answer this myself (honest, I have tried)

Is it possible to travel from Mortimer into London via Reading/Paddington and return via Waterloo/Basingstoke using a standard day return ticket?
I would be looking to include a day travelcard and use a disabled railcard - travel would be on a Saturday, time flexible.

If this is possible, what do I ask for and where can I buy it?

If this isnt possible, is returning via the slooooow Waterloo to Reading train an option?

Grateful for any advice or suggestions - the criteria is to depart and return at Mortimer, travel on Elizabeth line and (ideally) return from Waterloo

Appreciate all thoughts!

 

[jfollows]

On the face of it, looking only at fares from Mortimer to London, no, because they're all defined as being "via Reading", "via Basingstoke" or "GWR only" so you pays your money and you takes your choice.
However there may be more clever options.
See https://www.brfares.com/!expert?orig=MOR&dest=1072&period=20230903

You could buy a Basingstoke-London “any permitted” ticket and start short and go via Reading, then return Waterloo-Basingstoke, but you'd need to buy a single Basingstoke-Mortimer then on top for the final leg home.

 

[island]

With a normal return ticket it would be possible to purchase the via Basingstoke fare and pay an excess to go via Reading on the outbound leg.

I am not sure whether this is possible on a Travelcard however.

 

[mangyiscute]

I think I'm right in saying that you can travel a route not specified on the ticket if that route is cheaper, so you could buy the via Basingstoke travelcard, and travel via Reading since the via Reading ticket is cheaper anyway.

 

[jfollows]

I think I'm right in saying that you can travel a route not specified on the ticket if that route is cheaper, so you could buy the via Basingstoke travelcard, and travel via Reading since the via Reading ticket is cheaper anyway.

If the ticket is explicitly “via Basingstoke” then it is not valid via Reading.
Yes it is, see below.

 

[mangyiscute]

If the ticket is explicitly “via Basingstoke” then it is not valid via Reading.

But you would just be liable to pay an excess between the via Basingstoke fare and the via Reading fare. As the via Reading fare is cheaper, this excess fare is effectively zero, so you do not have to pay anything - this is stated in NRCoT 13.2:

If you make a journey by a route that is not valid you will be liable to pay an excess fare. The price for this will be the difference between the amount paid for the Ticket you hold and the lowest price Ticket available for immediate travel that would have entitled you to travel by that route.

 

[tspaul26]

I think I'm right in saying that you can travel a route not specified on the ticket if that route is cheaper, so you could buy the via Basingstoke travelcard, and travel via Reading since the via Reading ticket is cheaper anyway.

As long as the equivalent via Reading fare is cheaper then yes, the via Basingstoke fare is valid that way.

If the ticket is explicitly “via Basingstoke” then it is not valid via Reading.

This is incorrect, as set out in Section A of the National Routeing Guide.

 

[mangyiscute]

As long as the equivalent via Reading fare is cheaper then yes, the via Basingstoke fare is valid that way.

Yeah, for off peak day travelcards, which is what op would presumably need, via Reading is £20.70, via basingstoke is £26.10 (with the disabled railcard). so that £26.10 fare is valid for both routes.

 

[jfollows]

As long as the equivalent via Reading fare is cheaper then yes, the via Basingstoke fare is valid that way.

This is incorrect, as set out in Section A of the National Routeing Guide.

Fair enough, thanks.

 

[island]

Fair points. And as it's a Travelcard the Paddington gateline, who have a reputation for making up rules, can't easily refuse it for being wrong route either.

 

[fandroid]

And you can travel on the Waterloo to Reading line on those tickets (if time has no value to you).

Fair points. And as it's a Travelcard the Paddington gateline, who have a reputation for making up rules, can't easily refuse it for being wrong route either.

I think the OP desired to use the Elizabeth Line, so the Paddington gateline is going to be avoided anyway

 

[mangyiscute]

If you wanted to do the Waterloo to Reading line, you can do that on a via Reading ticket, which is just £20.70 - I think op just expressed the desire to return via Waterloo, but going via Basingstoke is going to be much quicker

 

[Edg]

Just wanted to say thank you all for the detailed and helpful responses!!

Looks like it is achievable (will just need to be prepared to quote the relevant codes/sections if challenged!)

 

[mangyiscute]

Just wanted to say thank you all for the detailed and helpful responses!!

Looks like it is achievable (will just need to be prepared to quote the relevant codes/sections if challenged!)

If you're taking the elizabeth line straight from Reading into London, I highly doubt you'll be stopped by anyone