Birmingham [BHM] to Reading [RDG]

[Old Timer]

One for the clever chaps.

Can anyone suggest the best split ticket options for the above journey, please ?

Travel outwards prior to 09:00 returning after 16:00 same day, possibly after one or two day break. Regular journey for a couple of weeks.

 

[Eagle]

Banbury, definitely. I've just looked at it for a day return (so not exactly what you want, but the price structure should be similar).

Birmingham Stations–Reading is £75 return

Birmingham Stations–Banbury is £18.10 return
Banbury–Reading is £20 return
Total £38.10, net saving £36.90

 

[MidnightFlyer]

Indeed, though in some cases, it may be cheaper to split at both Coventry and Banbury, it depends on when you are travelling.
--- old post above --- --- new post below ---
With an Anytime Return it is cheaper to split twice (as above), but with all other tickets it is cheaper just to split at Banbury only.

 

[David Goddard]

There appears to be no Returns for this route that let you return after a period of time. Only the Day return, therefore you may have to book singles if unsure when you will return.
For the day return then split as above.

 

[Old Timer]

Thank you chaps. I am very much obliged to you.

What a tangled web for fares structure we now have - maybe the phrase "fares structure" is a non sequitur

 

[route:oxford]

Banbury, definitely for split tickets.

If you're doing the journey week commencing 22nd August...

A 7 day season ticket between Birmingham Moor Street and London Marylebone at £127.00 *might* work, change at Didcot Parkway for the Chiltern Service.

Someone with a comprehensive understanding of the NFM and easements during engineering works will be able to confirm for sure.

 

[Eagle]

What a tangled web for fares structure we now have - maybe the phrase "fares structure" is a non sequitur

Luckily there is a website that's usually quite good with finding the best fares for a variety of complex journeys.

I think the address is http://railforums.co.uk/ :roll:

 

[Paul Kelly]

Depending on how early you need to be in Reading, it may be worth splitting again to take advantage of the times at which the CDR becomes available. E.g. Banbury - Reading and Oxford-Reading CDRs become available at 0900, but Banbury - Oxford CDR becomes available at 0845. So if you got, for example, the 0803 from Birmingham New Street (arr Reading 0939), which departs Banbury 0855 and Oxford at 0916, it would be worth spltting:

BHM-BAN SDR @ £18.10
BAN-OXF CDR @ £5.30
OXF-RDG CDR @ £7.90

Total £31.30
--- old post above --- --- new post below ---

A 7 day season ticket between Birmingham Moor Street and London Marylebone at £127.00 *might* work

A weekly season Birmingham to Reading is 40p cheaper at £126.60...

 

[route:oxford]

Depending on how early you need to be in Reading, it may be worth splitting again to take advantage of the times at which the CDR becomes available. E.g. Banbury - Reading and Oxford-Reading CDRs become available at 0900, but Banbury - Oxford CDR becomes available at 0845. So if you got, for example, the 0803 from Birmingham New Street (arr Reading 0939), which departs Banbury 0855 and Oxford at 0916, it would be worth spltting:

BHM-BAN SDR @ £18.10
BAN-OXF CDR @ £5.30
OXF-RDG CDR @ £7.90

Total £31.30
--- old post above --- --- new post below ---

A weekly season Birmingham to Reading is 40p cheaper at £126.60...

I didn't even look...

That's far cheaper than I was expecting!

 

[Paul Kelly]

Well it's a regulated fare, so CrossCountry can't whack it up as they'd like to I suppose!

 

[route:oxford]

Well it's a regulated fare, so CrossCountry can't whack it up as they'd like to I suppose!

That's odd. When I went to look at it just now, it's coming up as £273 for a 7 day pass from Brum to Reading.

 

[John @ home]

That's odd. When I went to look at it just now, it's coming up as £273 for a 7 day pass from Brum to Reading.

£273 is the First Class 7-day season ticket price Birmingham - Reading route Oxford.

It is evident that CrossCountry are keen to increase prices on this flow, to the extent that they are allowed to.

Birmingham Stations - Reading route Oxford

NFM07 Sep 2010 - Jan 2011
7-day Standard season £116.30
No First Class fare.

NFM08 Jan-May 2011
7-day Standard season £126.60
7-day First Class season £248.80

NFM09 May-Sep 2011
7-day Standard season £126.60
7-day First Class season £273.00

NFM10 Sep 2011 - Jan 2012
7-day Standard season £126.60
7-day First Class season £273.00

 

[wintonian]

When using XC on the Bournemouth to Birmingham route split ticketing at nearly every routing point on the way can be the cheapest option depending on what you want.

It best to avoid paying any fare priced by XC as there will almost certainly be a cheaper option, however I also find some of FGW's fare rather pricy so a split at Basingstoke is almost inevitable when leaving SWT land.

Via London options (mostly priced by VWC) where they exist are cheaper or only slightly more expensive than those priced by XC and are to be recommended in order to boycott overcrowding and poor service.

 

[route:oxford]

£273 is the First Class 7-day season ticket price Birmingham - Reading route Oxford.

It is evident that CrossCountry are keen to increase prices on this flow, to the extent that they are allowed to.

That's very odd. I was searching for various combinations of Oxford-Bicester-Bicester-Brum at the time. Positive that I didn't select 1st class.

Ah well, the fares match up now, I must have chosen 1st.

 

[bb21]

£273 is the First Class 7-day season ticket price Birmingham - Reading route Oxford.

It is evident that CrossCountry are keen to increase prices on this flow, to the extent that they are allowed to.

Avantix gives NFM07 First Class weekly fare as £248.80. Indeed the same prices for Standard and First apply to NFM05 and 06.

 

[David Goddard]

When using XC on the Bournemouth to Birmingham route split ticketing at nearly every routing point on the way can be the cheapest option depending on what you want.

It best to avoid paying any fare priced by XC as there will almost certainly be a cheaper option.

I did that for a friend that wanted to travel from Reading to Liverpool the other Saturday. Got a £74.20 fare down to £47.00, albeit with a combination of four tickets, one of which was a day ranger- the saving was half of his match ticket!