BHM-London Paddington Via Reading

[37401]

Hi all

im thinking about going to London via Reading so I can get a HST.

I shall be leaving New Street 0730-0800 and arriving back at about 1700-1730

I was wondering what is the cheapest I can do this for? im looking for under £25 idealy.

also option 2 is going direct whats the cheapest from BHM-EUS and Snow hill-Marylebone (arriving/departing around the same time)

I am willing to get split tickets and am looking into travelling soon, Next week maybe on a weekday


Thanks in advance

Ian

 

[Mojo]

HSTs don't run on the XC line to Reading, it's only the routes to the South West. Unless you were just thinking of the halfhour journey from Reading to Paddington?

 

[37401]

Unless you were just thinking of the halfhour journey from Reading to Paddington?

yup I was

 

[route:oxford]

Why not go for a bit of variety?

Head out to Tame Bridge Parkway then get the loco-hauled Wrexham and Shropshire service to London Marylebone. Advance purchase singles for around 16.00

HST from Paddington to Oxford - Advance purchase singles from around 4.00

Then Voyager from Oxford back up to Birmingham Advance purchase around 12.00.

Because of the competition of the Espress & Tube between Oxford and London, the advance purchase fares to Oxford are far cheaper than those to Reading off-peak.

 

[37401]

Why not go for a bit of variety?

Head out to Tame Bridge Parkway then get the loco-hauled Wrexham and Shropshire service to London Marylebone. Advance purchase singles for around 16.00

HST from Paddington to Oxford - Advance purchase singles from around 4.00

Then Voyager from Oxford back up to Birmingham Advance purchase around 12.00.

Because of the competition of the Espress & Tube between Oxford and London, the advance purchase fares to Oxford are far cheaper than those to Reading off-peak.

hmm intresting stuff but a rtn on the day would be cheaper avoiding the 67 bash

 

[devon_metro]

Why not do Birmingham - Reading, via Temple Meads (if its a valid route)

Get a XC tram to Parkway or Meads and then FGW HST along the GWML to Reading. Reading to London isnt that spectacul as you will probably be in a queue of HSTs into London as everytime I travel along there there is some kind of mega farce!

Otherwise, get off vomit at Oxford for an HST to London

 

[37401]

hmm might do

anyone got any ideas on a Direct service using split tix?

BHM-EUS
or
Snow Hill-Marylebone

 

[Techniquest]

You could, if wanting to save money, go to London on a Super Off Peak Return from Birmingham to London. London Midland do one for £15, Chiltern for £19.50. You can also get one from Tame Bridge Parkway to London for use on WSMR, also £19.50. Although obviously you'd have to be careful to check the validity times.

As for getting a HST to London, you could also do an AXC HST to Cheltenham Spa and FGW HST from Cheltenham to Paddington. No idea on routing validity here mind, but there was a mother and child travelling from Worcester to London via Birmingham on Tuesday so I can't really see a problem in using a Birmingham to London ticket via Cheltenham Spa.

Another option would be requiring additional ticketing but you could do:

0942 Birmingham New Street to Cheltenham Spa (or whatever HST you plan to get)
1048 Cheltenham Spa to Worcester Shrub Hill
Then whatever time the next HST is then (I can't recall right now) down to London via Evesham. The bonus here is that you can get a Route Evesham ticket for WOS > PAD, which isn't terribly expensive.

Like devon_metro says, another good alternative (although probably would need to split) would be BHM > BPW > PAD. Nice long sections of 125mph running then too.

 

[mathmo]

Valid routes Birmingham - London are on maps BP+TV, CS, GC and TV.

BP+TV allows Birmingham > Nuneaton > Rugby > London Euston (and the routes just on TV, see later).

CS allows Birmingham > Leamington Spa > Banbury > London Marylebone, Birmingham > Leamington Spa > Banbury > Reading > Slough > London Paddington and (bizarrely) Birmingham > Leamington Spa > Banbury > Reading > Redhill > Kensington Olympia > Hayes and Harlington > London Paddington (if this is actually possible: I haven't checked!).

GC allows Birmingham > Banbury > London Marylebone (as on CS) and Birmingham > Banbury > High Wycombe > Greenford > London Paddington (for the once-daily one-direction Chiltern service).

TV allows Birmingham > Coventry > Rugby > London Euston.

So via Cheltenham Spa or via Temple Meads aren't valid, and I'd agree with a guard for excessing you if you tried to go those ways.

 

[37401]

cheers for the GEN guys may do CS

 

[glynn80]

... and (bizarrely) Birmingham > Leamington Spa > Banbury > Reading > Redhill > Kensington Olympia > Hayes and Harlington > London Paddington (if this is actually possible: I haven't checked!).

Well first of all this route is not actually permitted due to the fact the OP would be doubling back between Ealing Broadway and Hayes & Harlington. Remember that it isn't doubling back between routeing points listed on the maps within the guide that is prohibited, it is doubling back through all stations.

What would be permitted however is:

Birmingham > Leamington Spa > Banbury > Reading > Redhill > Kensington Olympia > Ealing Broadway > London Paddington (if this is actually possible: I haven't checked!).

This is route is possible using the once a week bus service that Arriva XC run between Kensington Olympia and Ealing Broadway that is in situ after it ceased to operate its Brighton services.