Preston to Swindon - valid via Newport?

[SSp]

Hi all, first post. I’m travelling from Preston to Swindon on Friday 4th November, coming back on Sunday 6th November.

I’m sure in the past when going instead from Manchester, it has been valid to go via Newport (South Wales) but it is not being shown on itineraries. Travelling via Reading is being suggested but this is going just as far east as Newport is west...! I’m trying to avoid as much travelling on Cross Country as possible and I know the Welsh Marches route is normally much more pleasant on a Friday.

Coming back on Sunday 6th there also seems to be a problem east of Swindon, and travelling via Newport on the 09:10 would also seem preferable to avoid buses and loads of changes, but again isn’t suggested - is this valid given the diversions in place?

One outbound alternative could be to get a Preston to Swindon "not via London" but then excess the outward journey to be valid via London. If I do this, what journey restriction code does the outward ticket hold – the original restriction code not via London, or the new (and more restrictive in terms of timings - from permitted travel at first train of 08:17 instead 09:58) one via London?

 

[yorkie]

Welcome to the forum

Hi all, first post. I’m travelling from Preston to Swindon on Friday 4th November, coming back on Sunday 6th November.

I’m sure in the past when going instead from Manchester, it has been valid to go via Newport (South Wales) but it is not being shown on itineraries. Travelling via Reading is being suggested but this is going just as far east as Newport is west...! I’m trying to avoid as much travelling on Cross Country as possible and I know the Welsh Marches route is normally much more pleasant on a Friday.

Coming back on Sunday 6th there also seems to be a problem east of Swindon, and travelling via Newport on the 09:10 would also seem preferable to avoid buses and loads of changes, but again isn’t suggested - is this valid given the diversions in place?

There does not appear to be a mapped route via Newport. Perhaps someone can look at whether it was ever valid that way. There may well be an alternative destination you can book to, that would allow it.

One outbound alternative could be to get a Preston to Swindon "not via London" but then excess the outward journey to be valid via London. If I do this, what journey restriction code does the outward ticket hold – the original restriction code not via London, or the new (and more restrictive in terms of timings - from permitted travel at first train of 08:17 instead 09:58) one via London?

The new conditions apply.

 

[DaiGog]

Swindon to Shrewsbury / Wrexham / Chester / Liverpool / Runcorn East is showing as valid via Newport, but Swindon to or anywhere via Crewe / Warrington / Manchester is not.

Maybe split your tickets at Shrewsbury or Newport if you want to travel via Crewe and Newport?

 

[John @ home]

The cheapest flexible through Preston Lancs - Swindon Wilts return ticket is the £84.90 Off-Peak Return route Not Via London (£56.05 if SSp has a Railcard) but, as yorkie points out, this is not valid via Newport S Wales. This ticket is valid by all trains except those timed to depart Mon-Fri 0430-0753.

The cheapest combination of flexible tickets I've found which would allow a Preston Lancs - Swindon Wilts return journey via Newport S Wales costs £99.00 (£65.35 with a Railcard):

• £38.60 (Railcard £25.50) Off-Peak Return Preston Lancs - Shrewsbury (valid by any train)
• £32.60 (Railcard £21.50) Off-Peak Return Shrewsbury - Abergavenny (valid by any train; no break of outward leg of journey)
• £27.80 (Railcard £18.35) Anytime Return Abergavenny - Swindon Wilts

If using this combination of tickets, you need to use trains which call at Shrewsbury and Abergavenny. All relevant trains call at Shrewsbury. All except the 0810 Mon-Fri departure from Shrewsbury call at Abergavenny.

 

[SickyNicky]

I believe that you could use this combination of tickets, which at £89.60 is marginally cheaper. However, you would need to ensure that your trains stop at Leominster, and they don't all. So I suppose it's a question of whether it's worth the inflexibility for the saving.

OFF-PEAK R - PRESTON LANCS to LEOMINSTER
ANY PERMITTED £49.40

ANYTIME R - LEOMINSTER to SWINDON (WILTS)
ANY PERMITTED £40.20

 

[Paul Kelly]

Another option which only requires a stop at Shrewsbury, and is a few pounds cheaper than John@Home's example, is:
Off-Peak Return Preston to Shrewsbury £38.60 (valid any time)
Super Off-Peak Return Shrewsbury to Didcot Parkway route VIA NEWPORT £58
The second ticket is valid to stop short at Swindon and the only time restriction on the outward portion seems to be that you can't depart Newport before 10:00, which shouldn't be an issue if you're coming all the way from Preston.
Total Price £96.60

 

[SSp]

Thanks for all the suggestions. One thing I was thinking of was a return to Bristol Parkway (valid via Newport) and starting the return leg on 4th and completing on 6th... but I doubt this is OK and means I'd not be able to go back via Newport on the Sunday, enforcing some north or eastbound bustitution!

 

[lightning76]

There does not appear to be a mapped route via Newport. Perhaps someone can look at whether it was ever valid that way.

Although I cannot provide any evidence, I do remember reading, many years ago - before joining this forum or being aware of the routeing guide etc. - that journeys from Paddington (and points west) to the North West via Newport were considered "reasonable" by BR, I believe due to some sort of historical Western Region / GWR (the proper one!) validity.

Whilst this doesn't cut any ice today, it does support the view of the OP that such a route would have been valid at some point in the past.

 

[PermitToTravel]

Didn't the Great Way Round go via the East side of the Severn?

 

[island]

Although I cannot provide any evidence, I do remember reading, many years ago - before joining this forum or being aware of the routeing guide etc. - that journeys from Paddington (and points west) to the North West via Newport were considered "reasonable" by BR, I believe due to some sort of historical Western Region / GWR (the proper one!) validity.

Whilst this doesn't cut any ice today, it does support the view of the OP that such a route would have been valid at some point in the past.

I know London to Oxford was at one point valid via Newport S Wales!

 

[319321]

Hi all, first post. I’m travelling from Preston to Swindon on Friday 4th November, coming back on Sunday 6th November.

I’m sure in the past when going instead from Manchester, it has been valid to go via Newport (South Wales) but it is not being shown on itineraries. Travelling via Reading is being suggested but this is going just as far east as Newport is west...! I’m trying to avoid as much travelling on Cross Country as possible and I know the Welsh Marches route is normally much more pleasant on a Friday.

I have checked the 1997 Routeing Guide and Manchester (Routeing Point) to Swindon (Routeing Point) was permitted via Swindon using map BD. Preston (Routeing Point to Swindon (Routeing Point) was not permitted via Newbury at that time.