Brighton to Didcot parkway (and back)

[waynemorrell]

Hi,

A friend wants to travel from Brighton to Didcot Parkway mans back on a Saturday soon. (Returning on the Sunday.

What’s the cheapest way of doing this? I had a look. Most sites suggesting a return @ £55 via Clapham junction and Reading.

This journey may become more regular so I suggested a railcard - maybe the network railcard would be of use ?

She also travels to Wigan North Western every so often, I know this is out of the railcard area but would the card be any use on even part of the journey ?

Thanks !

 

[Romilly]

Even looking ahead to weekends in March, there's no obvious cheaper alternative to the £55.30 "not via London" offpeak return. That is also valid on the line from Gatwick to Reading that runs via Dorking etc. A network railcard is therefore the best way of saving on the Brighton-Didcot journey. It brings the £55.30 ticket down to £36.50, and brings the more expensive offpeak return that allows travel via London down to £39.25.

To use the Network railcard on journeys to Wigan, your friend would have to buy separate tickets for: (i) a part of the journey wholly in the Network railcard area (e.g. Brighton to London, or Brighton to Milton Keynes if happy to use trains that call at Milton Keynes); and (ii) the other part of the journey.

 

[Wirewiper]

It may be cheaper just to buy an Advance from Brighton to Wigan NW and forget about the Network Card.