Bristol to Nottingham Fares Advice

[StarCrossing]

Hi folks,

I have five adults looking to travel Bristol Parkway to Nottingham - outward on Friday 20th May, return on Sunday 22nd May.

Ideally looking to leave at about lunchtime on both days, but might be able to leave earlier if the price is significantly better. Happy to be tied to specific trains. Probably wouldn't want a journey time of over 3.5 hours in either direction.

No railcards held, and no eligibility for any of the restricted-eligibility railcards (e.g. 26-30 railcard).

My starting point is the following:

• Buy 2 two together railcards, so we pay two-thirds price on four of the journeys and leave one person with a full-priced journey.
• Off peak day singles between Bristol and Cheltenham in each direction.
• Off peak returns between Cheltenham and Nottingham.
• Total cost = £345.30, or an average of £69.06 per person.

Can anyone suggest anything better please? Many thanks in advance.

 

[ChrisC]

Certainly any journeys I make from Nottingham to anywhere in the South West of England always works out considerably cheaper by splitting tickets at Cheltenham. If you are going to use flexible Off Peak tickets splitting at Cheltenham is a definite yes.

Next month, I’m going down from Nottingham to Plymouth for a few days and I will be using Trainsplit and splitting tickets at Cheltenham, Bristol and Tiverton Parkway. If anyone knows of anything even better I will also be pleased to hear. I think I did once hear of a split at Worcester Parkway but that restricts the trains you can use.

 

[Class800]

Would not recommend Worcestershire Pathway split as fewer trains serve there. Without looking up this specific journey, Cheltenham Spa, Bristol Temple Meads and Bristol Parkway are worth looking at as potential split points, probably only use one of the Bristols

 

[ChrisC]

Would not recommend Worcestershire Pathway split as fewer trains serve there. Without looking up this specific journey, Cheltenham Spa, Bristol Temple Meads and Bristol Parkway are worth looking at as potential split points, probably only use one of the Bristols

That’s why I have never considered splitting at Worcestershire Parkway. Trainsplit always split my journeys to the SW at Cheltenham, Bristol Parkway and Tiverton Parkway.

 

[Class800]

That’s why I have never considered splitting at Worcestershire Parkway. Trainsplit always split my journeys to the SW at Cheltenham, Bristol Parkway and Tiverton Parkway.

Tiverton Parkway is a bit of a tricky one. The XC services call there. But the GWR services don't always - so depends if you are breaking journey/changing in Bristol Temple Meads.

 

[ChrisC]

Tiverton Parkway is a bit of a tricky one. The XC services call there. But the GWR services don't always - so depends if you are breaking journey/changing in Bristol Temple Meads.

I almost always use a through XC train from Derby so no problems. As much as I dislike the Voyagers lack of luggage space.

 

[alistairlees]

Hi folks,

I have five adults looking to travel Bristol Parkway to Nottingham - outward on Friday 20th May, return on Sunday 22nd May.

Ideally looking to leave at about lunchtime on both days, but might be able to leave earlier if the price is significantly better. Happy to be tied to specific trains. Probably wouldn't want a journey time of over 3.5 hours in either direction.

No railcards held, and no eligibility for any of the restricted-eligibility railcards (e.g. 26-30 railcard).

My starting point is the following:

• Buy 2 two together railcards, so we pay two-thirds price on four of the journeys and leave one person with a full-priced journey.
• Off peak day singles between Bristol and Cheltenham in each direction.
• Off peak returns between Cheltenham and Nottingham.
• Total cost = £345.30, or an average of £69.06 per person.

Can anyone suggest anything better please? Many thanks in advance.

If you are prepared to travel earlier, and to go via London with a journey time of 3h 50m (roughly), and to get Advances, then you can do this for £127.40 each way (assuming you buy the two Two Together Railcards as you mentioned). Total £254.80, without splitting.

See https://tickets.railsmartr.co.uk/fa...adults=5&children=0&railcards=2TR,2TR&limit=5 for example.

There might still be better value with splitting, of course; I haven't looked.

 

[StarCrossing]

If you are prepared to travel earlier, and to go via London with a journey time of 3h 50m (roughly), and to get Advances, then you can do this for £127.40 each way (assuming you buy the two Two Together Railcards as you mentioned). Total £254.80, without splitting.

See https://tickets.railsmartr.co.uk/fa...adults=5&children=0&railcards=2TR,2TR&limit=5 for example.

There might still be better value with splitting, of course; I haven't looked.

Thanks for that. The journey time might rule this option out, but it's good to know!