Glasgow to Cheltenham

[taxidave]

I am planning a trip to Glasgow in March and would like to go up via West Coast and back via East Coast.
On my outward bound journey I propose to leave Cheltenham at 8.12, change at New St and pick up the Virgin train at 9.20 arriving in Glasgow at 13.17. My first question is can I use an "off peak return" on XC even though I want to start before 9.30.
On my return journey I would like to get the 13.06 XC train from Edinburgh as I believe this is an HST. My question is can I use my Glasgow to Cheltenham ticket to get from Glasgow to Edinburgh to join this train also how would I book seats on the 13.06 because it is a long way to have to stand if the train is full.

 

[sonic2009]

Is it an Off Peak Return route Not London costing £89.05 you are purchasing?

in answer to question 1. Yes your ticket would be valid on the 0812 changing into the 0920 Virgin Service.

Question 2. Yes your ticket would be valid via Edinburgh to connect into the 1308 XC Service. Do bear in Mind this Train is a HST on Friday's Only.

If you leave Glasgow Queen Street at 1200 on the Scotrail Service, you will arrive Edinburgh 1252, leaving you the minimum connection Time at Edinburgh for the 1308. Although you can take an earlier train.

 

[LexyBoy]

Cheltenham (CNM) - Glasgow (GLC) SVR Route:Not London, £134.90, restriction code 2T, by any train except those timed to depart M-F before 0415. So effectively no restrictions. So your outward is fine.

On the return, I doubt you'd be able to go via Edinburgh, but I'll go check it up...

Cheltenham-Glasgow has mapped routes according to CE+BS, CE+BS+ZZ, CE+BS+ZZ+FK, and CE+ER; maps are reversed on the return leg. ER+CE allows Glasgow-Edinburgh-York(change maps)-Birmingham-Cheltenham, so your proposed return route is permitted.

You would be able to get reservations at any manned ticket office, either when buying your ticket or at any time up to the day of travel. I would doubt that the train would be full from Edinburgh though, I think most of the XC services are fairly quiet north of Newcastle.

 

[sonic2009]

On the return, I doubt you'd be able to go via Edinburgh, but I'll go check it up...

If you weren't allowed to go via Edinburgh I'd be surprised because it offers the same fare for the Direct XC service via the ECML and Edinburgh before it goes via Carstairs to Glasgow. And Vice Versa

 

[taxidave]

Is it an Off Peak Return route Not London costing £89.05 you are purchasing?

Yes, with senior railcard.

 

[button_boxer]

If you weren't allowed to go via Edinburgh I'd be surprised because it offers the same fare for the Direct XC service via the ECML and Edinburgh before it goes via Carstairs to Glasgow. And Vice Versa

Direct trains from Glasgow to Cheltenham would be valid even if the route were not allowed by the maps, so it is a valid question to ask if you intend to change trains at Edinburgh.

 

[LexyBoy]

If you weren't allowed to go via Edinburgh I'd be surprised because it offers the same fare for the Direct XC service via the ECML and Edinburgh before it goes via Carstairs to Glasgow. And Vice Versa

I'd forgotten about the direct XC to Glasgow (which would of course always be permitted). I think that in my head Edinburgh is further from Glasgow than it really is! - it seemed like a bit of an easterly detour but of course there's very little difference in distance.

Anyway, it's mapped via Falkirk, Shotts or Carstairs anyway

 

[button_boxer]

Anyway, it's mapped via Falkirk, Shotts or Carstairs anyway

But not via Bathgate AFAICT.

 

[taxidave]

I have now discovered that there is a 10.59 XC service from Glasgow Central to Edinburgh arriving at 12.02, which in fact calls at Cheltenham on its way to Penzance so I could use that for my journey from Glasgow to Edinburgh and then have an hour to spare before the train I want to catch.