help with split ticket please

[Northerner]

My partner is travelling from
Swindon on the 27th of December mid morning Stockport and making the return journey on Jan 1st mid afternoon,
Can any of you fine ticket bunnies, find me a cheap ticket for her

Kind regards
Andy

 

[yorkie]

If the through ticket cost is too costly and price (not speed) is a big factor, then she could make use of the London - Stoke LM Only fares, which are very reasonably priced. The Super Off Peak (OPR) should suffice. Stoke-Stockport is cheaper with a Virgin Trains Only SOR fare (2 trains per hour).

 

[razor89]

Still advance fares for 12:38 depart Swindon on 27/12/13 and 15:16 depart Stockport on 1/1/14, £35 each way. Can't find any cheaper way myself but I'm not a true expert!

 

[SickyNicky]

She can do it on flexible tickets for £71.70 (saving £8) as follows:

SWINDON (WILTS). to STAFFORD
OFF-PEAK R Return £51.20
(outbound: VALID ON ANY TRAIN AFTER 0930 M-F )
(return: VALID ON ANY TRAIN AFTER 0930 M-F )
Route: NOT VIA LONDON .
Restriction code 2V

STAFFORD to STOCKPORT.
ANYTIME R Return £20.50
Route: ANY PERMITTED .
Valid at any time.

She would need to travel via either Bristol or Oxford (but not via London).

 

[Squaddie]

If the through ticket cost is too costly and price (not speed) is a big factor, then she could make use of the London - Stoke LM Only fares, which are very reasonably priced. The Super Off Peak (OPR) should suffice. Stoke-Stockport is cheaper with a Virgin Trains Only SOR fare (2 trains per hour).

The conditions for that ticket resemble a logic puzzle.

Not valid for travel on London Midland services timed to ARRIVE London Terminals before 1300. Not valid for travel on northbound London Midland services timed to DEPART London Terminals or any other station, before 1030. Not valid for travel on London Midland services timed to DEPART the origin station on the ticket between 1630 and 1930 in either direction except for travel on the 1805 service for customers holding tickets from London Euston for stations between Norton Bridge and Liverpool Lime Street inclusive and on the 1846 Saturday service from London Euston to stations between Nuneaton and Crewe inclusive. An easement also applies southwards on the 1902 Crewe to Northampton service. A connecting service can be used to complete a journey begun at a valid time.

Even with a pretty good understanding of our ticketing system, I've almost given up travelling with LM because I'm not confident of booking a ticket that is valid for my intended journey. How is a normal person trying to get from A to B expected to understand such conditions?

 

[Northerner]

Cheers gents much appreciated

 

[dtaylor84]

[Snip brainteaser]
How is a normal person trying to get from A to B expected to understand such conditions?

A normal person trying to get from A to B is unlikely to even be aware of such conditions...