Bedford-Bletchley line to Guildford

[googolplex]

It looks like I might have to travel to Guildford next week from my parents house. I've been looking at how best to get there, and think it could be via Bletchley and Clapham Junction on the hourly MK - East Croydon service (probably the 08:17).
I don't think I'll be able to get a lift to Bletchley at that time, but should be able to make it to Lidlington.

However, looking on the East Coast website for pricing info, it doesn't offer services from Lidlington via Bletchley and Clapham Junction, instead offering via Bedford and central London. I think it could be partly due to the connection onto the MK to Croydon service at Bletchley being 3 minutes, which is less than the minimum connection time, but wanted to be certain.

I was therefore wondering whether anybody capable of understanding the routing guide could let me know whether the £21.80 Off-Peak Day return from Lidlington to Guildford with 16-25 Railcard is valid the way I intend?
Also, if I missed the Croydon service, could I travel via Euston and the tube?

 

[SickyNicky]

It looks like I might have to travel to Guildford next week from my parents house. I've been looking at how best to get there, and think it could be via Bletchley and Clapham Junction on the hourly MK - East Croydon service (probably the 08:17).
I don't think I'll be able to get a lift to Bletchley at that time, but should be able to make it to Lidlington.

However, looking on the East Coast website for pricing info, it doesn't offer services from Lidlington via Bletchley and Clapham Junction, instead offering via Bedford and central London. I think it could be partly due to the connection onto the MK to Croydon service at Bletchley being 3 minutes, which is less than the minimum connection time, but wanted to be certain.

I was therefore wondering whether anybody capable of understanding the routing guide could let me know whether the £21.80 Off-Peak Day return from Lidlington to Guildford with 16-25 Railcard is valid the way I intend?
Also, if I missed the Croydon service, could I travel via Euston and the tube?

Lidlington to Guildford fails the fares rule via Bletchley. However, since it is the shortest route via Bletchley, Kensington and Clapham, it's fine.

Via Euston is technically not valid because Bletchley fails the fares rule and the route is more than +3 miles from the shortest.

If you need to travel in the peak, consider a SDR to Aldershot, which is £2 cheaper than to Guildford.

 

[googolplex]

Thanks for the info. Interestingly the East Coast website offers via central London as a viable option after about 9am (with the search set to avoid Bedford).

It now looks as if the meeting will be in the afternoon, so I won't need to travel in the times defined as "peak" (even though the restrictions only apply to the Thameslink route)

Actually, on second thoughts, does restriction code TS apply to journeys on the Bedford to Bletchley line if they depart Bedford before 09:10?

OUTWARD TRAVEL
Valid on the train shown and
all later trains:

Bedford 0910
Flitwick 0920
Harlington 0924
Leagrave 0929
Luton 0914*
Luton Airport Parkway 0916
Harpenden 0922
St Albans 0929
Radlett 0934
Elstree & Borehamwood 0938
Mill Hill Broadway 0943
Hendon 0931
Cricklewood 0935
West Hampstead Thameslink 0939
Kentish Town 0943
London St Pancras
International 0930
Farringdon 0935
City Thameslink 0932
London Blackfriars 0934
London Bridge 0942

* NOT valid on the 0919_East
Midlands Train service.