London Paddington - Tenby

[autotank]

4 Adults travelling out on Friday 26th on the 1245, returning on Sunday 28th on the 1223. No railcards.

Can you get a groupsave for this journey? 2 x SSR = £155? Can't seem to get any of the online booking sites to offer this though.

Thanks in advance!

 

[bb21]

I can't see any reason why it is not valid, as your trains are not among the barred list. You might have to drag yourself down to a station booking office to get that ticket if none of the booking engines have been correctly programmed.

 

[John @ home]

Can we get a groupsave for this journey?

No. For both outward and return legs of the proposed journey, Paddington - Swansea is by FGW who operate GroupSave but Swansea - Tenby is by ATW who don't. They have their own Small Group Day Scheme giving 30% off Off-Peak Day Returns only.

Paddington - Swansea tickets would be eligible for GroupSave on these trains, but I'm struggling to find a booking site which currently offers that discount online. When I booked GroupSave to and from Tenby in 2011, it was available online from FGW on the Saturday through trains only. Since then, First Group have abandoned thetrainline and moved to the WebTIS booking engine.

 

[bnm]

Paddington - Swansea tickets would be eligible for GroupSave on these trains, but I'm struggling to find a booking site which currently offers that discount online. When I booked GroupSave to and from Tenby in 2011, it was available online from FGW on the Saturday through trains only. Since then, First Group have abandoned thetrainline and moved to the WebTIS booking engine.

FGW's WebTIS booking engine offers GroupSave for Paddington-Swansea. Enter '4 Adults' and the booking engine will apply the discount automatically on valid services, with a 'G' in the relevant fare box.

I suspect this will still be the cheapest option, combined with 4x Off Peak Returns at £19.40 each, between Swansea-Tenby.

 

[autotank]

So the best option would be:

Group save Paddington - Swansea return SSR £76 x 2 = £152

Small group day return Swansea - Tenby 8 x 11.20 = £89.6

Total £241.6 - can anyone do better then that?

 

[jkdd77]

The relevant franchise agreements, and Ticketing and Settlement Agreements, appear to specify that TOCs must accept inter-available walk-up tickets in accordance with the NRCoC, and further provide that the NRCoC is incorporated into the contract for travel.

Some people take the view that the supposed prohibition on Groupsave tickets on ATW services (or, more accurately, the restriction of Groupsave to those TOCs participating in the Groupsave scheme) is not compatible with Condition 10 of the NRCoC, since it is not shown on the ticket:
http://www.nationalrail.co.uk/static/documents/content/NRCOC.pdf

Tickets valid only in trains of particular Train Companies
The validity of a ticket may:
a) be restricted to; or
b) prohibit
travel in the trains of a particular Train Company or Train Companies. Any such restriction or prohibition will be shown on the ticket.

Assuming the OP does not wish to face the hassle, stress and risk of arguing this out with ATW, 4 Swansea- Tenby SVRs would be £19.40 each (so £77.60), plus the aforementioned 4 London- Swansea SSRs with Groupsave.

If the OP and friends are determined to get the cheapest ticket, a London- Swansea 'rte Salisbury & Warminster' SVR would be £113 with Groupsave, but would be very slow indeed.

 

[lemonic]

So the best option would be:

Group save Paddington - Swansea return SSR £76 x 2 = £152

Small group day return Swansea - Tenby 8 x 11.20 = £89.6

Total £241.6 - can anyone do better then that?

As jkdd77 says above me, it is slightly cheaper for the second ticket to get

Off Peak Return Swansea - Tenby 4 x 19.40 = £77.60.

But otherwise, I think what you have suggested is probably the best option.