Oxf/reading to Peterborough - tickets

[orpine]

Hi All,
So I was wondering if anyone could help with the following a return journey

Outward:
From either Oxford or Reading (ideally Reading) to Peterborough via London.
Date: friday 28th (after 16:00) or Saturday 29th (morning).

Return:
Sunday 30th (afternoon).

Offpeak return: £58.50 from Reading, or two advances (£23 each) for £46.

I've tried trainsplit, but it came up with nothing. I can get cheapish advances from KX to Peterborough, but nothing to KX in the first place (and the subtotal is still around £40).
If I travel at unreasonable times (there are connecting buses at each end; so painful) I can get web-only advance fares from East Coast for 17.15 each way
Any cheaper way to do this journey?

 

[sonic2009]

You could consider the X5 coach from Oxford - St Neots, then a train to Peterborough, but the coach takes around 3-4 hours.

 

[orpine]

3hrs precisely apparently, for about 60miles. That's absurdly slow. :-/ Good suggestion, but does highlight why reinstituting a rail-line there would be actually-useful.
All told that's about the same time as Oxford to Peterborough Via Birmingham (the XC services).

So no alternative train fares I take it then?

 

[David Goddard]

Or change to the X4 at Milton Keynes

 

[CockneySparrow]

3hrs precisely apparently, for about 60miles. That's absurdly slow. :-/ Good suggestion, but does highlight why reinstituting a rail-line there would be actually-useful.
All told that's about the same time as Oxford to Peterborough Via Birmingham (the XC services).

So no alternative train fares I take it then?

Coach fare on the X5 is about a tenner for this journey

 

[Deerfold]

Coach fare on the X5 is about a tenner for this journey

Or using megabus.com, if you can commit to specific services, from £2.50 return.

 

[David57]

X5 from Oxford, change to X4 at MK.
East DayriderGold is £13.20.

 

[CockneySparrow]

X5 from Oxford, change to X4 at MK.
East DayriderGold is £13.20.

Sounds about right, I did say about a tenner, that was 3-4 years ago

 

[extendedpaul]

Or using megabus.com, if you can commit to specific services, from £2.50 return.

You can certainly travel from Oxford to Cambridge on megabus for £2.50 return but I don't think they serve Peterborough or Reading other than for Silverstone.

 

[Deerfold]

You can certainly travel from Oxford to Cambridge on megabus for £2.50 return but I don't think they serve Peterborough or Reading other than for Silverstone.

No - my comment only concerned the X5 service that Cockney Sparrow referred to.

 

[orpine]

Thanks for the options. Seems I've got a choice between expensive (train = double to triple the cost) and dead-slow (bus = double the time).
A middle ground would be nice, but hey, public transport right.