Manchester-Didcot-Earlestown, routes and costs

[hairyhandedfool]

Normally I don't ask for advice/help or such on here for this sort of thing, but I couldn't believe my eyes when I checked this one, it is as they say, "to good to be true", so I just would like it all double checked incase I missed something. Also if there are other options I'd like to hear them.

The basics are that I may be travelling from Manchester to Didcot (ideally via Stoke) and back the next day to Earlestown (not via Stoke) sometime before Christmas, and I need the cheapest fare I can get. I was looking at using my Northern Staff Pass to get into Manchester, but I also considered using it to Stoke-On-Trent. It was at this point, as I was fiddling with various options, that I came across this unusual split which I think is valid for my journey....

Wilmslow-Shrewsbury Priv Anytime Single £2.45* (Maps CM+CA)
(Wilmslow-Manchester-Stockport-Stoke On Trent-Wolverhampton-Shrewsbury)

Wolverhampton-Worcester Priv Anytime Return £3.70 (Maps MW+CE)
(OUT:Wolverhampton-Birmingham-Banbury-Didcot-Swindon-Cheltenham-Worcester)
(RTN:Worcester-Cheltenham-Swindon-Didcot-Banbury-Birmingham-Wolverhampton)

Wolverhampton-Worcester Priv Anytime Single £3.00* (Maps LM+CE)
(Wolverhampton-Stafford-Crewe-Warrington-Earlestown-Wigan-Bolton-Manchester-Stoke On Trent-Rugeley-Nuneaton-Birmingham-Smethwick/Cheltenham-Worcester)

*I could use my Northern Staff pass to get to Earlestown and start my journey there on a Worcester-Wolverhampton Priv Anytime Return in place of the two singles (£3.70 instead of £5.45) using the reverse journey of the return leg.

Total cost for a through ticket for Joe Public - £60 (Off-Peak Return)
Total cost for a through ticket on Priv - £31.75

Split tickets for Joe Public - £32.40
Split tickets on Priv - £9.15 (or £7.40)

Can someone double check and/or suggest alternatives please?

 

[First class]

edit

didnt read properly

Are you sure that a £3 Wolverhampton-Worcester ticket is valid via Crewe and Manchester? WebTIS won't allow it.

 

[hairyhandedfool]

Well, Fastis always wants to route me via Manchester, then Warrington, then back south, which isn't allowed (you pass through Stafford twice), it stubbornly refuses to visit Warrington first (thus avoiding Stafford the second time), but I haven't seen an easement to forbid it.

 

[sonic2009]

Normally I don't ask for advice/help or such on here for this sort of thing, but I couldn't believe my eyes when I checked this one, it is as they say, "to good to be true", so I just would like it all double checked incase I missed something. Also if there are other options I'd like to hear them.



The basics are that I may be travelling from Manchester to Didcot (ideally via Stoke) and back the next day to Earlestown (not via Stoke) sometime before Christmas, and I need the cheapest fare I can get. I was looking at using my Northern Staff Pass to get into Manchester, but I also considered using it to Stoke-On-Trent. It was at this point, as I was fiddling with various options, that I came across this unusual split which I think is valid for my journey....

Wilmslow-Shrewsbury Priv Anytime Single £2.45* (Maps CM+CA)
(Wilmslow-Manchester-Stockport-Stoke On Trent-Wolverhampton-Shrewsbury)

Wolverhampton-Worcester Priv Anytime Return £3.70 (Maps MW+CE)
(OUT:Wolverhampton-Birmingham-Banbury-Didcot-Swindon-Cheltenham-Worcester)
(RTN:Worcester-Cheltenham-Swindon-Didcot-Banbury-Birmingham-Wolverhampton)

Wolverhampton-Worcester Priv Anytime Single £3.00* (Maps LM+CE)
(Wolverhampton-Stafford-Crewe-Warrington-Earlestown-Wigan-Bolton-Manchester-Stoke On Trent-Rugeley-Nuneaton-Birmingham-Smethwick/Cheltenham-Worcester)

*I could use my Northern Staff pass to get to Earlestown and start my journey there on a Worcester-Wolverhampton Priv Anytime Return in place of the two singles (£3.70 instead of £5.45) using the reverse journey of the return leg.

Total cost for a through ticket for Joe Public - £60 (Off-Peak Return)
Total cost for a through ticket on Priv - £31.75

Split tickets for Joe Public - £32.40
Split tickets on Priv - £9.15 (or £7.40)

Can someone double check and/or suggest alternatives please?

Would a fares check not apply??

 

[hairyhandedfool]

Wolverhampton and Worcester are routeing points so the fares check rule does not apply