Six Nations Rugby Padd - Cardiff

[VauxhallandI]

Looking to get a few returns for the above

Out - Sat 15 March
Return Sun 16 March

Price at the moment is circa £70 return, I'm sure I've done this journey for nearer £50 in the past.

I am dreaming there should snap up tickets now?

 

[John @ home]

The Super Off-Peak Return (2014: £72.50) is indeed the cheapest flexible fare valid via Slough. A cheaper flexible ticket is available, the £54.80 Off-Peak Return London Terminals - Cardiff Central via Warminster & Salisbury, but the journey is much longer.

GroupSave is usually available between Paddington and Cardiff Central, but this is withdrawn for international rugby Saturdays.

 

[VauxhallandI]

The Super Off-Peak Return (2014: £72.50) is indeed the cheapest flexible fare valid via Slough. A cheaper flexible ticket is available, the £54.80 Off-Peak Return London Terminals - Cardiff Central via Warminster & Salisbury, but the journey is much longer.

GroupSave is usually available between Paddington and Cardiff Central, but this is withdrawn for international rugby Saturdays.

The Super Off. Peak would also give us some flexibility on which train we get which could be handy on the way back especially!

 

[sonic2009]

I don't know how much travelling via Coach would appeal to you, but currently Megabus is offering £5 each way from London to Cardiff & return, it's on the Megabus Gold services, which offer WiFi and free refreshments.

3hr 30mins is the journey time.

 

[VauxhallandI]

I don't know how much travelling via Coach would appeal to you, but currently Megabus is offering £5 each way from London to Cardiff & return, it's on the Megabus Gold services, which offer WiFi and free refreshments.

3hr 30mins is the journey time.

Not my bag but thanks for the info. At over 2m tall coaches and buses are a no no.

What are the super off-peak restrictions, I can't find any info on times.

Am I right in understanding I could just walk up and pay the £72 for the super off peak on the day?

It would save me coughing up for three tickets and getting the cash back for the other two.

With a Super off peak can we reserve seats on a particular service? Then tough luck if we get a different train?

 

[sonic2009]

The restrictions for the Super Off Peak ticket only apply Mon-Fri, on Saturday & Sunday you will be allowed to take any train from London - Cardiff & Return.

You can purchase the ticket on the day, but you wouldn't be able to get seat reservations.

If you require seat reservations you would have up until 1800 the day before to get seat reservations.

 

[bnm]

If there's 3 or 4 of you then you can buy Super Off Peak Returns, London Terminals - Newport (S. Wales) online now for those dates and GroupSave is available. £134 for four people or £33.50 each. For three it would be £132.60 or £44.20 each.

Then add on £9.20 per person for Newport - Cardiff Central Anytime Day Single tickets at £4.60 each on Saturday and Sunday.
--- old post above --- --- new post below ---
Slight correction to last post. Cannot edit as I'm still on moderation.

What's needed between Newport and Cardiff are:

SAT: Newport - Cardiff Central Anytime Day Single @£4.60 ea
SUN: Cardiff Central - Newport Anytime Day Single @£4.60 ea

 

[John @ home]

Here are the detailed conditions and restrictions for a Super Off-Peak Return London Terminals - Cardiff Central route Any Permitted. As sonic2009 says, you may travel "by any train on Saturdays, Sundays and Bank Holidays".

You may also wish to consider Weekend First, at £15 single per person for Paddington - Cardiff. For FGW Weekend First, upgrades may be purchased in advance at any ticket office which can issue reservations. I would not expect any Weekend First seats to remain available on the train on a rugby international Saturday.

 

[bnm]

For FGW Weekend First, upgrades may be purchased in advance at any ticket office which can issue reservations.

FGW's Weekend First is no longer available to purchase ahead of travel from a station. It is now only sold on board subject to available space.

From the FGW website:

Buy your Weekend First upgrade on board any First Great Western service which has First Class accommodation. Please note Weekend First is not available to purchase at ticket offices.

And from The Manual:

FGW Weekend First is only available to purchase on board, and is subject to availability of accommodation.

 

[bnm]

Slight correction to last post. Cannot edit as I'm still on moderation.

What's needed between Newport and Cardiff are:

SAT: Newport - Cardiff Central Anytime Day Single @£4.60 ea
SUN: Cardiff Central - Newport Anytime Day Single @£4.60 ea

Apologies again. Quoted 2013 prices there. The London - Newport GroupSave prices quoted earlier are 2014.

SAT: Newport - Cardiff Central Anytime Day Single @£4.80 ea
SUN: Cardiff Central - Newport Anytime Day Single @£4.80 ea

 

[jkdd77]

A (period) First Off-Peak Return is available between Newport and Cardiff for £10.50 per person, which is only slightly more than the two standard day singles (with no standard class period return being available on this flow).

However, I understand that Weekend First is available per journey rather than per ticket, so if the OP wishes to use this on both legs, then he/she might as well buy the standard class singles.

 

[John @ home]

FGW's Weekend First is no longer available to purchase ahead of travel from a station. It is now only sold on board subject to available space.

From the FGW website:

Buy your Weekend First upgrade on board any First Great Western service which has First Class accommodation. Please note Weekend First is not available to purchase at ticket offices.

And from The Manual:

FGW Weekend First is only available to purchase on board, and is subject to availability of accommodation.

Both the quotations above contradict the information provided by "the definitive source of customer information for all passenger rail services on the National Rail network in England, Wales and Scotland."

Weekend First

First Great Western

Upgrade from Standard to First Class on most routes at weekends and Bank Holidays on payment of a supplement of £5, £10, £15 or £20 dependant on the journey being made.

You can buy in advance at ticket offices or on board High Speed service.

Weekend First is not available in advance to holders of advance tickets, these tickets can be upgraded on the train, subject to availability.

http://www.nationalrail.co.uk/times_fares/pr3744bcc35ce7410024862c7ece4649.aspx

It would be interesting if those forum members who work in non-FGW ticket offices could advise us whether a passenger already holding a valid ticket is still able to obtain an FGW Weekend First upgrade upon presentation of the ticket and the appropriate fee.

 

[island]

If there's 3 or 4 of you then you can buy Super Off Peak Returns, London Terminals - Newport (S. Wales) online now for those dates and GroupSave is available. £134 for four people or £33.50 each. For three it would be £132.60 or £44.20 each.

Then add on £9.20 per person for Newport - Cardiff Central Anytime Day Single tickets at £4.60 each on Saturday and Sunday.
--- old post above --- --- new post below ---
Slight correction to last post. Cannot edit as I'm still on moderation.

What's needed between Newport and Cardiff are:

SAT: Newport - Cardiff Central Anytime Day Single @£4.60 ea
SUN: Cardiff Central - Newport Anytime Day Single @£4.60 ea

Apologies again. Quoted 2013 prices there. The London - Newport GroupSave prices quoted earlier are 2014.

SAT: Newport - Cardiff Central Anytime Day Single @£4.80 ea
SUN: Cardiff Central - Newport Anytime Day Single @£4.80 ea

GroupSave is normally not allowed on FGW on rugby days to and from Cardiff.

 

[greatkingrat]

GroupSave is normally not allowed on FGW on rugby days to and from Cardiff.

That is why he is suggesting splitting at Newport (which is not covered by the Groupsave restriction).

 

[VauxhallandI]

That is why he is suggesting splitting at Newport (which is not covered by the Groupsave restriction).

Could get a group save to the stop after Cardiff to save me swinging about with multiple tickets and possibly losing our seats to another reservation?

 

[John @ home]

Could get a group save to the stop after Cardiff to save me swinging about with multiple tickets and possibly losing our seats to another reservation?

That would depend on whether the FGW variant of GroupSave permits break of journey (boj). The "Travel as a Group" section on this FGW page doesn't mention any boj restriction, and that's where I'd expect to find it.

 

[bnm]

Both the quotations above contradict the information provided by "the definitive source of customer information for all passenger rail services on the National Rail network in England, Wales and Scotland."


It would be interesting if those forum members who work in non-FGW ticket offices could advise us whether a passenger already holding a valid ticket is still able to obtain an FGW Weekend First upgrade upon presentation of the ticket and the appropriate fee.

Definitive source is wrong. Not really surprising is that.

Simple fact of the matter is a ticket office (any ticket office) will not sell you one.

 

[island]

Could get a group save to the stop after Cardiff to save me swinging about with multiple tickets and possibly losing our seats to another reservation?

No, the GroupSave restriction is based on your journey not your ticket.

 

[bnm]

Which, I think, leaves the best option being GroupSave as far as Newport, then Day tickets between Newport and Cardiff.

 

[VauxhallandI]

Cheers folks, bought the tickets from Liverpool St on my way home tonight.

Went for the group save to Newport plus the the singles for each day for the last/first leg.

Booked table seats out and back on our preferred trains.

Feels good to have out foxed the group save embargo!

£54 each return over £72 normal Super Off Peak

 

[jkdd77]

No, the GroupSave restriction is based on your journey not your ticket.

In that case, the use of the Newport combination is itself questionable, since the actual journey being made is clearly London- Cardiff, albeit made using two (well, three) tickets.

 

[bnm]

In that case, the use of the Newport combination is itself questionable, since the actual journey being made is clearly London- Cardiff, albeit made using two (well, three) tickets.

Step off at Newport. Step back on again. Simples.

That's if you believe it's questionable. I don't.

 

[VauxhallandI]

In that case, the use of the Newport combination is itself questionable, since the actual journey being made is clearly London- Cardiff, albeit made using two (well, three) tickets.

I've bought them now...

The Newport to Cardiff leg is not on a group save, it is on Anytime Singles.

Different journey?

 

[RJ]

It would be interesting if those forum members who work in non-FGW ticket offices could advise us whether a passenger already holding a valid ticket is still able to obtain an FGW Weekend First upgrade upon presentation of the ticket and the appropriate fee.

It is possible, select and basket through RJIS.

 

[John @ home]

It is possible, select and basket through RJIS.

Thanks, RJ. I thought so.

 

[bnm]

Am told that FGW/ATOC sent an industry wide memo some time ago requesting that ticket offices no longer sell Weekend First and to inform enquiring passenger that WF is only available on board subject to space.

 

[MarlowDonkey]

Am told that FGW/ATOC sent an industry wide memo some time ago requesting that ticket offices no longer sell Weekend First and to inform enquiring passenger that WF is only available on board subject to space.

Stories have been told of passengers sitting in First by accident (as they claim), being given Penalty Fares and worse. But you also have an instruction that passengers should board without having a valid ticket for their seat on the train. No wonder infrequent travellers or even frequent ones are puzzled by the terms and conditions of travel.

 

[anthony263]

Well seems like I know now why Megabus are running a slightly reduced service between Cardiff and London on 15th March the only services I have found appear to all be megabus gold services.

Certainly means I wont be going to the acton depot open day on 15th march now with the rugby on in Cardiff

 

[bnm]

Stories have been told of passengers sitting in First by accident (as they claim), being given Penalty Fares and worse. But you also have an instruction that passengers should board without having a valid ticket for their seat on the train. No wonder infrequent travellers or even frequent ones are puzzled by the terms and conditions of travel.

Any link to these 'stories'?

It has always been the case that Weekend First is available on board FGW services, with the option previously of purchase ahead of travel. Second option is no longer officially available.

Anyone getting a Penalty Fare (or worse) for sitting in 1st Class and requesting Weekend First has be incorrectly penalised and needs to take this up with FGW as a matter of urgency.

However, if someone sits in First Class at the weekend and refuses to pay the upgrade then they can rightly be PF'd or prosecuted.

 

[Goatboy]

His point is that people have it drummed into them that you should not board without a valid ticket for the accomodation you are travelling in or face a penalty fare/prosecution if you do, if there are ticket purchasing facilities.

Except of course in those occasions where you should board the train without a valid ticket for the accomodation you are travelling in, even when there are ticket purchasing facilities.

Whether his point has any substance is of course anyones guess!