A small change in plans

[Fermiboson]

For tomorrow, I have previously purchased two advance singles from GWR from Oxford to London Paddington and back.

I still plan to make that trip, but for various reasons have decided to stop by Reading on the way back. I understand that advance single tickets do not allow breaks of journey, but is there an efficient manner to buy a ticket that covers part of the journey (For example, could I buy a Reading to Oxford single, use my advance single from Paddington to Reading, and the newly purchased single the rest of the way?), or would I have to repurchase the entire return leg to make a stop?

 

[JonathanH]

would I have to repurchase the entire return leg to make a stop?

Unfortunately, your original ticket is only valid to travel on the booked train from Paddington to Oxford. It can't be used for part of the journey even if on the booked train.

Given you are breaking the journey at Reading, you may find Contactless from Paddington to Reading, and a single from Reading to Oxford the cheapest way to make the single journey on the return leg. Otherwise, the single fare is only 10p cheaper than an off-peak day return that would have provided more flexibility in the first place.

 

[MrJeeves]

For tomorrow, I have previously purchased two advance singles from GWR from Oxford to London Paddington and back.

I still plan to make that trip, but for various reasons have decided to stop by Reading on the way back. I understand that advance single tickets do not allow breaks of journey, but is there an efficient manner to buy a ticket that covers part of the journey (For example, could I buy a Reading to Oxford single, use my advance single from Paddington to Reading, and the newly purchased single the rest of the way?), or would I have to repurchase the entire return leg to make a stop?

It might be useful to know how much you paid for the singles.

It could work out more economical to excess the outbound ticket to the single for a fee of £10, plus the difference in price rather than buy a new ticket outright.

 

[JonathanH]

It could work out more economical to excess the outbound ticket to the single for a fee of £10, plus the difference in price rather than buy a new ticket outright.

When the off-peak day single from London to Oxford is £31.70 and the off-peak day return from Oxford to London is £31.80, I don't see how any attempt to change the single ticket in the direction where a break of journey is required could be advantageous.

 

[Watershed]

When the off-peak day single from London to Oxford is £31.70 and the off-peak day return from Oxford to London is £31.80, I don't see how any attempt to change the single ticket in the direction where a break of journey is required could be advantageous.

The difference (plus any applicable admin fee) may still be less than the cost of a contactless single to Reading and an Off-Peak Day Single from Reading to Oxford.

Worth noting, for the OP's benefit, that not all retailers charge the full £10 admin fee or indeed a fee at all.

 

[Fermiboson]

It might be useful to know how much you paid for the singles.

It could work out more economical to excess the outbound ticket to the single for a fee of £10, plus the difference in price rather than buy a new ticket outright.

I booked directly from the GWR website, 3.95 pounds either way. This is with railcard prices so I assume all prices mentioned here should be multiplied by 2/3?

 

[Watershed]

I booked directly from the GWR website, 3.95 pounds either way.

In that case, the tickets are effectively lost money since GWR (in their capacity as a retailer) charges a £10 admin fee for changes to tickets.

 

[Fermiboson]

In that case, the tickets are effectively lost money since GWR (in their capacity as a retailer) charges a £10 admin fee for changes to tickets.

I see, thank you. I am still allowed to make the outward (Oxford > Paddington) leg with the advance single, right?

 

[JonathanH]

I see, thank you. I am still allowed to make the outward (Oxford > Paddington) leg with the advance single, right?

Yes