London to Bristol, with return via Andover

[northken]

Hello, could I please have some advice on the correct ticket to purchase for the following itinerary?

30 December 2024: 09.30 GWR London Paddington to Bristol Temple Meads
31 December: 07.30 Bristol Temple Meads to Bath Spa (break of journey) then 11.35 from Bath Spa to Andover via Trowbridge and Salisbury (with a rail replacement bus)
1 January 2025: 15.03 Andover to Reading, then onto London Paddington.

Two passengers, each with a 16-25 Railcard.

Would I be right in thinking a Super Off-Peak open Return from London Terminals to Bristol via Warminster-Salisbury, excessed on the outbound to Any Permitted, would be the cheapest ticket, and an Any Permitted Super Off-Peak return from London Terminals to Bristol ticket would be equally valid but easier?

Thanks in advance for any help!

 

[Watershed]

Your proposal sounds fine; either option would be valid.

London <-> Bristol permitted routes include via Salisbury and Andover, though if you go that way you would normally only be allowed to continue via Woking into the former "Southern region" London Terminals.

However, with the existence of a "Warminster-Salisbury" routed fare, you can conduct the 'split route check', which adds additional validity in this case. In other words you can use both the London-Bristol permitted routes that pass through Warminster & Salisbury, as well as any combination of the permitted routes for London-Salisbury, Salisbury-Warminster and Warminster-Bristol.

London-Salisbury is permitted from Paddington via both Reading and Basingstoke, so your proposed routing is fine on the "Warminster-Salisbury" routed fare.

It'd also be permitted with the more expensive "Any Permitted" fare, since the Routeing Guide says you can follow any route permitted by a cheaper route of fare.

 

[northken]

Your proposal sounds fine; either option would be valid.

London <-> Bristol permitted routes include via Salisbury and Andover, though if you go that way you would normally only be allowed to continue via Woking into the former "Southern region" London Terminals.

However, with the existence of a "Warminster-Salisbury" routed fare, you can conduct the 'split route check', which adds additional validity in this case. In other words you can use both the London-Bristol permitted routes that pass through Warminster & Salisbury, as well as any combination of the permitted routes for London-Salisbury, Salisbury-Warminster and Warminster-Bristol.

London-Salisbury is permitted from Paddington via both Reading and Basingstoke, so your proposed routing is fine on the "Warminster-Salisbury" routed fare.

It'd also be permitted with the more expensive "Any Permitted" fare, since the Routeing Guide says you can follow any route permitted by a cheaper route of fare.

That's brilliant - thank you so much!