Didcot Parkway/Cholsey-Cambridge

[GWRjake]

Does anyone know of a way of travelling from Didcot Parkway or Cholsey to Cambridge with a 16-25 railcard for less than around £65 with these time constraints: Arriving at Peterhouse College for an event (400 yards away) by 11:15 on Thursday 9th April. Returning after 15:30 on Friday 10th April. ?
Thanks!

 

[bb21]

The first X5 leaves Oxford at 0700 and arrives at Cambridge at 1040, so could be a cheap option.

 

[Romilly]

For travel between Oxford and Cambridge it's often hard to beat the X5 bus. So the following would be a possibility:

Didcot dep 0606 or 0625
Oxford arr 0619 or 0643
Fare: £6.10 anytime day single

Oxford dep 0700 or 0730
Cambridge arr 1040 or 1110
Fare: £20 period return (or £15 with an NUS card) [plus some pence]

Cambridge dep 1540 or 1640 or 1740
Oxford arr 1925 or 2015 or 2115

Oxford-Didcot offpeak day single £3.95

Total: under £31 (or under £26 with an NUS card)

 

[jopsuk]

It should take about twenty minutes to walk from the station to somewhere near Peterhouse.

I looked at Greater Anglia (from Liverpool Street) advances. On the way, a ticket on the 0858 (arriving Cambridge 1009) would be £6 (booked train only), on the 0928 (arriving 1051- might be a little close!) it would be £9. For the return, the 1621 (arr LST 1744) and 1640 (1746!) would each be £6.

But Didcot (especially) and Cholsey into London for peak time (you would need to be arriving at, say, 0815) is not cheap. I'm not sure my split actually helps, and it certainly removes flexibility, takes you longer.

 

[Deerfold]

Oxford dep 0700 or 0730
Cambridge arr 1040 or 1110
Fare: £20 period return (or £15 with an NUS card) [plus some pence]

Cambridge dep 1540 or 1640 or 1740
Oxford arr 1925 or 2015 or 2115

If the OP can commit to one bus, the 0700 is currently available for £1, the 0730 for £5.

Returning the 1540 is £1 and the 1740 is £5. Plus 50p per booking, all on megabus.com. 10% off with NUS Extra.

 

[GWRjake]

Thank you everyone for your advice. In the end we opted for Anytime Day Singles between Cholsey and Liverpool Street (2x£16.95) and Advance Singles between Liverpool Street and Cambridge (2x£3.95), coming out at a tidy £41.80 a head.