Horsham to Bath - via Reading or Southampton?

[SouthEastBuses]

From Horsham to Bath, Which way is quicker and cheaper? Via Southampton or via Reading?

 

[Techniquest]

If I was to do that, I'd go via Southampton. I haven't any fares advice, but it feels to me that despite Reading to Bath being fast you have to endure the slow route via Gatwick Airport first.

Via Southampton is the same number of changes (2 unless there's through trains from Horsham to Southampton, but I think those go via Hove), but you have the benefit of not dealing with the large and busy Reading. I think it's also a little quicker to go via Southampton.

 

[Kite159]

If I was to do that, I'd go via Southampton. I haven't any fares advice, but it feels to me that despite Reading to Bath being fast you have to endure the slow route via Gatwick Airport first.

Via Southampton is the same number of changes (2 unless there's through trains from Horsham to Southampton, but I think those go via Hove), but you have the benefit of not dealing with the large and busy Reading. I think it's also a little quicker to go via Southampton.

Unless it's a Sunday then there should be an hourly train from Horsham to Southampton, which from memory gives a good connection into the GWR service, stepping back at Cosham/Fareham for a same platform change.

Fare wise, might be worth putting it into a train splitting website to see if it suggests any splits over the standard 'not via London' ticket.

 

[Snow1964]

There are also variations which might be quicker at certain times of day, eg Horsham to Clapham Junction, then Salisbury to Bath

I am not sure if journey planners allow the walk at Dorking to Dorking Deepdene as a valid connection if you took the direct Horsham-Dorking train and walk to North Downs line.

 

[mrcheek]

For me this would be easy: via Reading. If you go via Soton, then you will have to endure the Portsmouth-Cardiff service, with its frequent cancellations and short forming leading to overcrowding

 

[30907]

There are also variations which might be quicker at certain times of day, eg Horsham to Clapham Junction, then Salisbury to Bath

I am not sure if journey planners allow the walk at Dorking to Dorking Deepdene as a valid connection if you took the direct Horsham-Dorking train and walk to North Downs line.

The flexible fares are simply NOT LONDON which allows via Deepdene (the obvious route if the connection is tolerable) or CLJ to Reading.
There are no Advance fares via Fareham but I'd check for splits that way.

 

[SouthEastBuses]

Unless it's a Sunday then there should be an hourly train from Horsham to Southampton, which from memory gives a good connection into the GWR service, stepping back at Cosham/Fareham for a same platform change.

Fare wise, might be worth putting it into a train splitting website to see if it suggests any splits over the standard 'not via London' ticket.

Correct, there still is a hourly train from Horsham to Southampton Monday to Saturdays from 06:00 to 21:00 (last train out of Southampton is at 21:33 but only goes as far as Gatwick Airport, which isn't an issue for me though as the journey terminates after Horsham).