London - Bath - Bristol with outward BOJ?

[urpert]

Evening all,

I've never paid much attention to the rules about Break of Journey but am suddenly interested. Mrs.urpert and I are going for a weekend away on 11th/12th March and will be travelling from London (probably 9ish from Paddington or at a push Waterloo), stopping off in Bath for a good few hours, and travelling on to Bristol in the late evening. The next day we will be coming back at around lunchtime from Bristol and ideally would like to get in our seats at Bristol TM and stay in them all the way to London.

Speed of journey isn't a huge issue - in the past we have used very cheap tickets on the Waterloo - Bristol train with a weekend first supplement. But I can't work out the best way of breaking our journey on the way out then travelling all the way back from Bristol on the return.

The only relevant railcard we have (in the case of Waterloo) is a Network Railcard. We are happy to be limited to Advance fares. First class would be nice, at least on the outward journey. Any suggestions?

Edit : it occurs to me that this might be a stupid question if the obvious option is advance singles London - Bath and Bristol - London plus buying singles Bath - Bristol at whatever time we turn up in the evening. But still interested to hear if there are better ideas!

 

[Romilly]

London-Bristol Temple Meads super offpeak returns at £57.50 each have no time restrictions on a Saturday and no restrictions on break of journey, and would therefore do what you want.

But you could get Advances at £14.50 each on the 0827 to Bath arriving at 10am (but no more standard Advances until the afternoon), Advances at £15 each on the 1305 back from Bristol the next day, and Bath-Bristol singles at £7.50 each for the Saturday evening. So your afterthought seems much the best idea.

Edit: on the Saturday, you could get Advances at £12.20 each on the 0920 from Waterloo arriving in Bath at 1146. Or £20.30 each to go 1st class on that train, although others are better able to advise whether the extra for first class on South West Trains on a Saturday is worth paying for.

 

[urpert]

Thanks. I've snapped up some cheap Advances - £14 each in First the long way round 0920 Waterloo - Bath and £15 each on the suggested 1305.

 

[Romilly]

I can't find £14 first class Advances for Waterloo-Bath: are you sure that's what you've bought?

 

[urpert]

You're quite right, it's something called a Promo Day Single, which I've never heard of before.

 

[Romilly]

It's a South West trains special offer, but valid in standard class on any train between Waterloo and Bath (via Salisbury) on the day specified.

 

[urpert]

Having now collected them, you're absolutely right - I must have misread/misclicked. Might still do the Weekend First upgrade though as I like First on 159s.

 

[AlterEgo]

Having now collected them, you're absolutely right - I must have misread/misclicked. Might still do the Weekend First upgrade though as I like First on 159s.

SWT's policy is no upgrades on Advances or special promo tickets, or at least that's how it reads.

http://www.nationalrail.co.uk/times_fares/ticket_types/46557.aspx#Weekend_First

 

[urpert]

They are, however, refundable so that's what I've done (and bought the First Advance singles I actually wanted for £40.60).

Thanks to all for sharp eyes.

 

[Kite159]

SWT's policy is no upgrades on Advances or special promo tickets, or at least that's how it reads.

http://www.nationalrail.co.uk/times_fares/ticket_types/46557.aspx#Weekend_First

Although I'm sure some of the guards won't turn down the chance for additional commission selling weekend first (IIRC would be £15).