Open Return to Lewes to Brockley

[JamesTT]

What is the best option for a friend that needs to do the following journey?
I want an off-peak open return to Brockley, travelling on 8.48 from Lewes (first off-peak), breaking the journey at Croydon, so not arriving in Brockley till after 6pm. And returning the following day (also breaking journey in Croydon). What's my best option?

Thank you in advance

 

[Romilly]

There's a £30.10 offpeak return from Lewes to Brockley but, unlike the offpeak day tickets, it is not valid before 0930 with the result that the first outbound train it could be used on would be the 0950. That ticket has restriction 4B which means that there are no restrictions on break the journey in either direction.

I will think about whether it might be better to split tickets at East Croydon. EDIT: the answer is, there's not obviously anything to gain. However, trainsplit.com suggests, if it is essential to travel out on the 0848, the following combination: £25 offpeak day single Lewes-Brockley; £17 anytime day single Brockley-Cooksbridge; £2.60 Cooksbridge-Lewes anytime day single. But the return journey would have to use a train timetabled to stop at Cooksbridge.

 

[JamesTT]

Thank you for the reply.
On the return journey would it be ok to get a train that doesnt stop at Cooksbridge, as long as once he is south of Plumpton he is on a train that does?

 

[Romilly]

Yes, that will be fine, i.e. change no later than Plumpton [EDIT: in practice, no later than Wivelsfield, since evening trains seem to stop at both or neither of Plumpton and Cooksbridge] for a train that stops at Cooksbridge if not already on a train that stops at Cooksbridge. (Although obviously this is not necessary if travelling on the Lewes-Brockley offpeak return.) Or, if that's a pain, just pay slightly more for a Brockley-Lewes ticket for the return journey.