Cardiff to Gatwick

[mrmartin]

Got two together Railcard, for 2 people. Have a stupidly early flight (5am on 1st april) from Gatwick so pointless getting a hotel as I'm a night owl anyway and wouldn't be able to get more than a couple of hours sleep.

Going out is "fine", but coming back is a problem (8th April) Was going to do Cardiff Paddington super off peak return then contactless to Gatwick, getting one of the later Cardiff trains.

However, flight is estimated to get in at 2pm which means won't make the super off peak back. Don't really mind having a few hours in London and getting the 1918 but just wondering if anyone has any clever ideas or workarounds? I could get an off peak return but if the flight is further delayed it would be pointless.

There is the route via Westbury but it takes forever (not too bothered about that tbh) and slightly concerned about a connection getting cancelled on the way there and missing the flight somewhere.

Prefer flexible tickets in general - but open to ideas!

 

[Envoy]

Check for Off Peak Return Cardiff to Swindon and Super Off Peak Return from Swindon to Gatwick (not via London) - change at Reading for direct train to/from Gatwick.

 

[sonic2009]

Check for Off Peak Return Cardiff to Swindon and Super Off Peak Return from Swindon to Gatwick (not via London) - change at Reading for direct train to/from Gatwick.

The Super Off Peak Return Swindon to Gatwick (not via London) carries restriction code XC - so wouldn't be valid for any train departing Reading towards Swindon until after 1901.

 

[mrmartin]

I can't see the Not via london fare on BRFares? Just the Guildford Reading one (is that the same thing?). Going via Guildford adds significantly to the time.

Ignore the above, getting confused with Salisbury. Not a bad option, could get some food in Reading for a couple of hours if noone else has any better options! I assume that we could get any train from gatwick on the way back, and can get on the first super off peak reading train? Assuming I "aimed" to get the 3.30 from Gatwick airport to Reading, I'd get into Reading at 5pm or so. If there was any delays then the layover time at reading would be even less.

 

[Zamalek]

Or you could get the direct National Express coach that does Garwick-Cardiff every two hours. It takes 5hrs, but given your plan to 'stop-over' at Reading, the door-to-door time wouldn't be much more - and would be less than £30 .....

 

[paul1609]

Or you could get the direct National Express coach that does Garwick-Cardiff every two hours. It takes 5hrs, but given your plan to 'stop-over' at Reading, the door-to-door time wouldn't be much more - and would be less than £30 .....

Id do Flixbus Gatwick to Cardiff quicker and generally cheaper than NatEX. If you require a local train in South Wales go to Newport and change there the bus stop is outside the station and it avoids the long crawl in to Cardiff around all those industrial estate roundabouts to Cardiff Bay.

 

[mrmartin]

Doesn't really work, the "last" flixbus is at 16:45 which is too early. NatEx last direct one is 16:30 which has the same problem, otherwise you are looking at a change in London which is extremely unappealing compared to the train (which goes back via heathrow first).

 

[signed]

Doesn't really work, the "last" flixbus is at 16:45 which is too early. NatEx last direct one is 16:30 which has the same problem, otherwise you are looking at a change in London which is extremely unappealing compared to the train (which goes back via heathrow first).

Is there a later Cardiff to Heathrow by chance? You would then change to Airline to Gatwick. But that is still unappealing compared to the train

 

[sonic2009]

@mrmartin What time do you plan on leaving towards Gatwick Airport on the 31st March?

 

[paul1609]

Doesn't really work, the "last" flixbus is at 16:45 which is too early. NatEx last direct one is 16:30 which has the same problem, otherwise you are looking at a change in London which is extremely unappealing compared to the train (which goes back via heathrow first).

Im confused, this is what Im seeing for 8th Apil

 

[Zamalek]

Likewise confused - there are direct National Express from Gatwick to Cardiff at:

16:05
18:25
21:20
23:05

 

[mrmartin]

I mean on the way out TO Gatwick - I won't finish work by 4.30

== Doublepost prevention - post automatically merged: 24 Mar 2025 ==

@mrmartin What time do you plan on leaving towards Gatwick Airport on the 31st March?

As late as possible really, but no earlier than say 6

 

[mrmartin]

Hi, so my flight was delayed and I'm current heading towards reading. Potentially could make the 1911 from reading (ex 1848 paddington). Would it be valid? Got th

Not valid on trains timed to depart:

London Paddington after 04:29 and before 10:10 and after 15:04 and before 19:01;
Reading after 04:29 and before 10:30 and after 15:31 and before 19:01;
London Waterloo after 04:29 and before 08:15 and after 15:59 and before 19:01;
Birmingham New Street after 04:29 and before 10:30.

It is after 1901 for reading but departed Paddington before 1901.

== Doublepost prevention - post automatically merged: 8 Apr 2025 ==

For context using super off peak Swindon Gatwick route reading Guildford.

 

[Watershed]

Hi, so my flight was delayed and I'm current heading towards reading. Potentially could make the 1911 from reading (ex 1848 paddington). Would it be valid? Got th

Not valid on trains timed to depart:

London Paddington after 04:29 and before 10:10 and after 15:04 and before 19:01;
Reading after 04:29 and before 10:30 and after 15:31 and before 19:01;
London Waterloo after 04:29 and before 08:15 and after 15:59 and before 19:01;
Birmingham New Street after 04:29 and before 10:30.

It is after 1901 for reading but departed Paddington before 1901.

== Doublepost prevention - post automatically merged: 8 Apr 2025 ==

For context using super off peak Swindon Gatwick route reading Guildford.

I realise it's now a moot point as this was yesterday, but for future reference, this is a regulated fare so they cannot apply time restrictions after 19:00. The wording of the restrictions reflects this, as the Reading restrictions are stated as only applying until 19:00.

I appreciate what you're saying about the train having left Paddington before 19:00, but generally speaking such restrictions are interpreted as only applying at the station where you board a train, not later down the line. The fact that there are separate Reading restrictions makes it clear that this isn't intended to be the case here.

If a TOC wanted origin-based restrictions want to apply throughout the train's journey, they would say something like "regardless of where you board or leave the train", as is done in restriction code L4 for example.

So yes, you could validly take the 19:11. Did you encounter any difficulties when doing so, or did you take another train?

 

[mrmartin]

No issues getting on it - ticket scanned fine on it. I managed to get national rail to do an itinerary with it; but that's good to know about regulated fares.