Clapham Jct <-> Bristol TM breaking at Basingstoke

[splashsquelch]

Hello Fare Gods,

I would like to minimise my fare for the following itinerary, and I have a Gold Card (from an unrelated route):

Fri 14th: Clapham Jct -> Bristol Temple Meads, departing around 09.45/10.00, breaking journey at Basingstoke for the day, then resuming my journey and arriving BRI at around 19.00 (flexible). This roughly means leaving BSK at 16.30 - 17.00ish. Via Reading or Salisbury is fine.

Sun 16th: Bristol Temple Meads -> Clapham Jct, after about 2pm. I don't much mind the route, although if the fares are similar then faster is better. If the outward route pins me via BSK, that's ok if necessary.

It appears there is a clever BSK-DID-BRI ticket split on the Friday evening, i.e via Reading, which is far (far) (far) cheaper than just buying BSK-BRI at the same time. If this can be sensibly combined with other tickets, it looks faster than BSK-SAL-BRI for maybe a small fare increment.

Any fare minimisation help would be much appreciated - the many options are making my head spin!

So far, my best guess is:

1. Gold Card open return CLJ - BSK
2. Gold Card single BSK - DID
3. Open return DID - BRI
4. Gold card single DID-BSK (and then return portion of #1).

But I think there are some single splits that might help between DID and BRI... and maybe I can avoid having to go back via BSK on 14th with only a minor fare increase (maybe an excess?) to allow me replace the DID-BSK option with a DID-CLJ, via RDG or PAD.
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Actually, now I am thinking that this looks good:

Fri 14th
1. CLJ - BSK gold card single (after 9.45) : £12.55
2. BSK - DID gold card single around 17.00 : £5.80
3. DID - BRI open return £33.50

Sun 14th
(return portion of #3)
4. DID - CLJ via RDG/AP : £15.60 / 16.20

Total £67.45 / £68.05.

Whereas the option I mentioned above appears to come in at £64.55, but forces me back unnecessarily via BSK.

 

[MyFriendMary]

I've not looked at all but I know on that route there is/would be a SWT direct service. It does, though, take the long way around to BRI

 

[Be3G]

Unless there's something I'm missing (which is quite possible), I think you're overcomplicating things in an effort to get some use from your gold card discount. An off-peak return from CLJ to BRI route Warminster/Salisbury is only £54.30 without a railcard, and would allow you to break your outward journey for a few hours as you desire. It permits travel from Clapham from 0910 onwards.

There might of course be yet cheaper options, but I thought that'd make a good starting point… unless, as I say, I'm missing something!

 

[Hadders]

Clapham Junction-Severn Beach routealisbury/Warminster is £44 for a SVR. Finish short at Bristol Temple Meads.

You could always do a change of route excess on the return portion if you want to return on the faster FGW trains. This would cost you £4.50 as the SSR would be the appropriate fare.

 

[splashsquelch]

The trouble with the Warminster/Salisbury return ticket is that, at least according to NRE, I only have one train back the whole of Sunday at 1604. Which might be fine in fact, but is very inflexible.

 

[Hadders]

That's why I would suggest you get a change of route excess for the return portion to the +Any Permitted fare which will allow travel into Paddington.

Apologies I miscalculated, the excess is be £7.50, not £4.50. I have done this previously and managed to obtain the excess at Temple Meads with little faff. Alternatively it can be done on-board for the same price.

 

[Be3G]

The trouble with the Warminster/Salisbury return ticket is that, at least according to NRE, I only have one train back the whole of Sunday at 1604. Which might be fine in fact, but is very inflexible.

Trains depart to Salisbury from Bristol every hour or so on Sunday, it's just that NRE finds quicker routes so it tends to not show that option. If you tell it to find you a journey from Bristol to Clapham via Andover, you'll see you've got more choice in trains than just the one direct one a day!

 

[splashsquelch]

Clapham Junction-Severn Beach routealisbury/Warminster is £44 for a SVR. Finish short at Bristol Temple Meads.

You could always do a change of route excess on the return portion if you want to return on the faster FGW trains. This would cost you £4.50 as the SSR would be the appropriate fare.

This is a great idea, I think this is what I will probably do.

Trains depart to Salisbury from Bristol every hour or so on Sunday, it's just that NRE finds quicker routes so it tends to not show that option. If you tell it to find you a journey from Bristol to Clapham via Andover, you'll see you've got more choice in trains than just the one direct one a day!

This is also a top tip, and would have made my life somewhat cheaper and easier several times in the past had I known about Andover! The advantage is also that it gives me the choice on the spot as to whether to take the excess fare option or not, knowing there are other non-excess-fare trains available.

Thank you both for your help!

 

[Be3G]

No problem. Just to explain by the way, there's nothing particularly special about Andover (e.g. Whitchurch or Grately should work just as well) – the main point is that by forcing NRE to find journeys via those stations, you're telling it that the journey must include the stretch of track between Salisbury and Basingstoke, which is the critical bit to finding trains you want which're valid on the ticket being discussed.