BHM - HOK out via London, return via Oxford

[robertbishop]

Hi all,

I'm looking to travel from Birmingham New Street to Hook and return over the next couple of days. I'd like to leave Birmingham tomorrow morning (Sunday) such that I can be in St Pancras by 11:35, and then travel on to Hook in the evening. Then, on Monday, I'd like to travel from Hook to Birmingham via Oxford (or whichever is the quickest way possible).

I've had a look on brfares.com, and there are no 'Any Permitted' fares, which I gather means that this won't be simple. I've read on these forums that one can travel outwards using a ticket on one route/restriction, and then purchase an 'excess' at their destination, such that they can travel back on a different route/restriction.

The best way of getting to St Pancras by 11:35 tomorrow is the 08:55 BMO - MYB (the 09:15 BMO - MYB and 09:30 BHM - EUS both being too late). Should I therefore buy an Off Peak Return routed via Chiltern, then excess the ticket to CrossCountry at the Hook ticket office for use on Monday? Would I have to make sure to buy an Off Peak Chiltern ticket rather than a Super Off Peak one, given that there is no Super Off Peak CrossCountry ticket to excess 'to'?

Any help much appreciated!

Robert

Edit: I will be up early tomorrow morning to check if there any replies, FYI. Thanks!

 

[gray1404]

The routing on the tickets you are looking at are not defined by train company (e.g. CrossCountry or Virgin) but rather a geographical place name.

So for your journey tomorrow I would get the ✠VIA HIGH WYCOMBE ticket, which will also include your underground transfer. Then for your return journey you need to get an excess to the VIA OXFORD fare.

Depending on the exact ticket you want then there may or may not be an amount to pay. However, as you are travelling Sunday when there are no time restrictions you can get a Super Off Peak Return Route via High Wycombe at £30.70. Then on Sunday you can excess it to an Off Peak Return Route via Oxford (there are no Super Off Peak fares with a via Oxford routing). The difference in fare is £12.20. The excess would in effect turn your ticket into an Off Peak Return that is only valid after 09:30 Monday to Friday. If you wanted to travel before 09.30 you would need to excess it to an Anytime return (Route via Oxford) which would cost a lot more.

 

[robertbishop]

Hi gray1404,

Thank you very much for your reply - that is useful. I'm glad to hear it is possible!

Robert