London-Cheltenham

[postye]

I need to travel from London-Cheltenham Spa on Saturday arriving by 14:00 and coming back the same day after 17:30

I want a degree of flexibility so don't really want to do advance tickets. The Super Off Peak Return is 48.50, but it looks like it could be cheaper with splitting tickets?

I have an annual Z1-4 travelcard/Gold Card, so was thinking about the following

Boundary Z4- Reading Goldcard Off Peak return - is this ticket available?
I was told by a booking office yesterday that I would need 2 Anytime singles which would appear to be more expensive than a Paddington-Reading OP Day Rtn @ £11.35.

Reading - Didcot £3.85 OP Day Rtn
Didcot - Swindon £10.30 OP Day Rtn
Swindon - Cheltenham £8.50 OP Day Rtn

Is this splits OK?

Thanks

 

[bb21]

Boundary Zone 4 - Reading Off-Peak Day Return Route Via Slough is £7.75 and valid after 0930. Off-Peak Return is £15.25 and the evening restrictions do not affect you.

Your splits are fine. As you have one season and the rest non-seasons, you can travel on any train regardless of whether it stops at your split points. You just need to make sure that you pass through your split points (for simplicity's sake).

 

[postye]

Thanks for that BB21.
With the Zone4-Reading via Slough, could I use on a fast Paddington-Reading or does it need to stop at Slough?

 

[bb21]

It does not need to stop at Slough. The routing restriction on a ticket merely means that you have to travel through that point.

 

[soil]

Best splits on this route are:

Southall/BZ4 - Cholsey/Didcot Parkway CDR £9.55 with railcard (some cheaper loophole fares available, but not really worth bothering with....)
Cholsey/Didcot Parkway - Swindon CDR £10.30
Swindon - Cheltenham Spa via Stroud CDR £8.50

Note that you must take the direct train from Swindon to Cheltenham - you can't go via Bristol Parkway