Bath Spa to London

[VisualAcid]

Hi, I'm looking for a day in London and found the cheapest split to be Bath to Freshford, Freshford to Theale and Theale to London off peak.

I'm no good with the permitted routes and stuff, is it possible to stop short at Reading from Westbury avoiding Theale? Or even better "stop short" and go to Reading on the GWML?

Thanks

 

[yorkie]

Are you asking if Westbury - Theale is valid via Reading?

And, if it is, whether a Westbury - Theale Off Peak Day Return (CDR) permits break of journey?

To answer the first question, check out the Routeing Guide on the ATOC website (if you get stuck; check out our Fares Guide and ask on here for any clarification).

To answer the second question, yes break of journey is permitted.

 

[VisualAcid]

Sweet 22 quid down from 39 odd for railcard day return is pretty good! Thankyou

 

[bb21]

Travel via Reading is not permitted, however travel via Reading West is.

Customers travelling from Theale, Aldermaston, Midgham, Thatcham and Newbury Racecourse via Newbury may travel via Reading West. This easement applies in both directions.

 

[VisualAcid]

Travel via Reading is not permitted, however travel via Reading West is.

Oh right, I was going by the 10:16 freshford to theale on RSH involving a change at reading

 

[bb21]

Sorry. I got confused. I was going by yorkie's post of Westbury - Theale, which is coincidentally also £16.

Freshford - Theale is also not permitted via Reading by the Routeing Guide. National Rail Enquiries says neither Freshford nor Westbury to Theale is permitted via Reading.

However if you book that ticket with an itinerary via Reading, then I expect the itinerary be honoured.

 

[VisualAcid]

Okay, thanks for the help.

 

[bnm]

You are severely limiting your journey options by splitting your tickets at both Freshford and Theale.

Another option would be Bath Spa - Cholsey CDR (£11.90 railcard) which has an easement permitting travel via Reading, where you can stop 'short'. Then a Reading - Hanwell CDR (£9.05 railcard) which also has an easement, permitting travel via Paddington, where you can again stop 'short'.

Travel is then wholly via the quicker GWML.

Best with this combination to actually alight at Reading in each direction (plenty of HSTs call - on the return I use a South Wales bound service off Paddington, then change onto the following Bristol Temple Meads service 15 minutes behind) and remember the evening peak restrictions from Paddington if travelling on a weekday.

Some might say that you can't stop short when using an easement, but there's nothing in the ticket restrictions or Conditions of Carriage that forbids it. You've been given an additional right to the route you can take. That hasn't removed the rights to start, end, or break and resume your journey at an intermediate station provided your ticket type allows (which is so in the case of the CDRs I've mentioned). Reading has become an intermediate station on your routes thanks to the easements.

 

[BestWestern]

Wow!

Just get online and book a first class advance, relax and enjoy a hassle free journey! If it's a day out do you really want all that aggo?!

 

[VisualAcid]

It's for short notice job interviews where I'm not guaranteed the job nor expenses in some cases!