Round Trip (via London one direction)

[Fyldeboy]

So, if I wanted to go

SWA - CDF - BRI - PAD
STP - SHF
SHF - BPW - SWA

Swansea - Cardiff Class 800
Cardiff - Bristol TM GWR Castle HST
Bristol TM - Paddington Class 800

St. Pancras - Sheffield EMR HST

Sheffield - Bristol PW XC HST
Bristol PW - Swansea Class 800

Could I do that on a Swansea - Sheffield (route via London) return ticket?

I'd be looking at specific weekday trains BUT need a little flexibility in case of last minute diagram changes (Class 43 tour )

As it's essentially different routes there and back, I assume a split-ticketing site wouldn't be much use?

 

[Hadders]

Unfortunately tickets from Swansea to Sheffield are routed 'via Shrewsbury' or 'Not via London', so travel via London isn't allowed.

Bristol to Sheffield is valid via London, there are tickets routed 'Not via London', '+via Chesterfield' and '+Any Permitted'. I would purchase a 'Not via London' return ticket and obtain a change of route excess for the outward portion to '+via Chesterfield'. This costs half the difference between the appropriate fares. You would also need a separate return ticket from Swansea to Bristol.

There will probably be other combinations that are cheaper and I would look at whether Advance tickets offer better value, especially as you will be travelling on specific trains. Certainly worth looking at Trainsplit as it's possible to specify different via points on the outward and return journeys.

 

[kieron]

Could I do that on a Swansea - Sheffield (route via London) return ticket?

No, but you could on a Swansea-Worksop (route +any permitted) one.

The tickets let you start or finish your journey at Sheffield, and are valid on either route. If the off peak restrictions suit you, it's cheaper than splitting at Bristol.

In many cases, though, "split your ticket at Bristol" is a good idea if you need to go somewhere via London. For some reason, far fewer tickets from South Wales are valid that way.

 

[robbeech]

Indeed many of those stations that (this) way on should allow this, although they are more expensive as you’d expect.

 

[Hugo3000]

I take it this journey is either after the lockdown has been lifted as a 'class 43 tour' or imminent, but for essential reasons that just happen to coincide with lots of rides on HSTs?