London to Newport via Bath

[1429]

Hi all

I need to travel to Newport (NWP) and back from London, but I’m planning to start a few days early and stop off in Bath. So the journeys would be e.g:
Day 1 London - Bath
Day 3 Bath - Newport
Day 4 Newport - London

Is there a way of doing this with one return ticket? I’m able to expense a reasonable London - Newport return ticket but hoping I can use this to visit a friend on the way.

 

[30907]

Only with an Anytime fare, as OffPeak fares don't normally allow overnight break of journey on the way out.
If an Anytime is out of the question (because an OffPeak would cover your business trip) then you could do Bath-Newport on an Advance.
Could you stop off on the return?

 

[Benjwri]

Only way to do it in one ticket when the Break of Journey is two nights and on the outbound is if your work would buy you an Anytime Return, which is obviously very expensive. This allows 5 days for the outward journey and a month for the return. Any other ticket would not allow you long enough on the outward to stop in Bath.

Regardless I would check on the rules at your work as expensing a more expensive ticket than required for a work trip, so that you can travel for personal reasons, may put you on difficult ground.

 

[1429]

I was expecting to need to buy an anytime return as it will be early morning journeys both times, but I wasn’t sure if that allowed break of journey at Bath (as the direct route seems to go via Bristol Parkway).

 

[1429]

That’s great, thank you for confirming. If challenged on the route taken or travelling a few days after the date on the ticket, what should I say? (I’ve been reading the disputes and prosecutions board and am a bit nervous about accidentally having an invalid ticket)

 

[Fawkes Cat]

That’s great, thank you for confirming. If challenged on the route taken or travelling a few days after the date on the ticket, what should I say? (I’ve been reading the disputes and prosecutions board and am a bit nervous about accidentally having an invalid ticket)

If you have a paper ticket, then I find that the ticket actually shows its validity dates (start and end) so if the inspector doesn't spot these you can point to them. I use e-tickets less but I guess that the same applies to those.

 

[AlterEgo]

That’s great, thank you for confirming. If challenged on the route taken or travelling a few days after the date on the ticket, what should I say? (I’ve been reading the disputes and prosecutions board and am a bit nervous about accidentally having an invalid ticket)

That the outbound portion of the ticket is valid fof five days, and that it is valid via Bath, and that it allows break of journey. There isn't a magic form of words here, if you get a member of train crew who can't do their job then all you can do is resist politely and tell them they are wrong.

Don't pay anything extra or accept any unpaid fare notice or penalty fare.

 

[1429]

Thanks everyone for the advice. Would the same break of journey over 5 days apply if I got an anytime ticket one way from London to Newport?

 

[AlterEgo]

Thanks everyone for the advice. Would the same break of journey over 5 days apply if I got an anytime ticket one way from London to Newport?

No. Anytime Singles are valid for two days only - the date on the ticket, and the day after.

 

[1429]

Oh very interesting that it differs so much. Thanks all for your help!