Usually for this route I get a nice advance 1st from Oxford to Southampton then a standard fare from Southampton with Southern. As XC advances seem to have tripled in price at the moment (for 1st class) I find that a basic off peak return is now cheaper overall even in standard class and gives flexibility. Routing on national rail is either via Guildford or Winchester depending on departure time and 88 miles and 90 miles respectively so presumably falls into the shortest distance or less than 3 miles extra category and depending on departure are pretty much the same journey time, between 2h30 and 2h55. However, I noted that using XC and changing at Winchester as per national rail I then take exactly the same Southern train from Fareham to Havant as I would if I were able to continue to Southampton with XC and change there. It is however 7 miles further but of course only 1 change and less time waiting on station platforms with a 2tph service from Southampton to Havant versus a 1tph out of Winchester to Fareham if I am delayed for any reason. Routing via Southampton gives a journey time of 2h30 to 2h40 so at times is actually the quicker route. I am not leaving the station at Southampton so is there any real reason why a passenger (sorry showing my age, I mean customer) could not travel via Southampton and change just once as its certainly less hassle and at times, actually quicker. All the ticket says is "not via London", no mention of any particular route.
-
Our new ticketing site is now live! Using either this or the original site (both powered by TrainSplit) helps support the running of the forum with every ticket purchase! Find out more and ask any questions/give us feedback in this thread!
Oxford to Havant routing
- Thread starter Graham H
- Start date
- Status
Sponsor Post - registered members do not see these adverts; click here to register, or click here to log in
R
RailUK Forums
peterblue
Member
Chances are it'll usually get accepted by staff is the route is sensible.
That's right - it's not a permitted route. If you start Bedhampton (1 Km to the west) you're starting from Portsmouth Group and then you will get routes via Southampton on map RB. I don't know why Havant misses out.
Yes - it's perfectly reasonable - I would expect it to be accepted without question.
Thanks. Yes I checked and Oxford to Bedhampton is the same off peak return fare and the journey is via Southampton Central as predicted. Also valid via Guildford and due to lack of direct services from SOU stopping at Bedhampton that is generally the quicker route. Just to make it more of a farce any via SOU actually send you down to Fratton and back (which I know is a valid option for many trips in the area) which add 8 miles so that actually makes the travel distance to Bedhampton longer than to Havant. If I go that route then I will simply ask if I can change at SOU and see what happens as common sense might prevail.
That's true although I know the train I got last time is due to terminate in platform 2 (from Newcastle) and the connecting service pulls in right behind it at Southampton so no need for the stairs.
Just to add a little more interest, by specifying via Guildford and travelling from Didcot Parkway and travelling to Emsworth ( a couple of miles from Havant), the national rail site offers the service via Gatwick Airport which clearly blows out the distance rules I would have thought. Seems to be valid on at least the 11:57 and 13:57 from Didcot on 22nd January and those departures both show a 3 change option (via Reading/Guildford/Havant) or stay on the train at Guildford and change at Gatwick which takes 28 minutes longer. I wouldn't pretend to understand the logic that you can go all the way round via Gatwick to save one train change and I would have thought any ticket check would raise at least an eyebrow !
Just to add a little more interest, by specifying via Guildford and travelling from Didcot Parkway and travelling to Emsworth ( a couple of miles from Havant), the national rail site offers the service via Gatwick Airport which clearly blows out the distance rules I would have thought. Seems to be valid on at least the 11:57 and 13:57 from Didcot on 22nd January and those departures both show a 3 change option (via Reading/Guildford/Havant) or stay on the train at Guildford and change at Gatwick which takes 28 minutes longer. I wouldn't pretend to understand the logic that you can go all the way round via Gatwick to save one train change and I would have thought any ticket check would raise at least an eyebrow !
Last edited:
4COR
Member
Isn't this to do with the easement as below?
So travelling Didcot>Ford is on map XB, which has route through Didcot, Reading, Guildford, Gatwick, Three Bridges, Horsham etc. I presume this overrides the fare check which would otherwise appear to prevent using Ford as a routing point for Emsworth?
OK that would explain it, more logical easement the nearer to Ford you get I suppose. Reality says Emsworth to Havant (2miles) and then Havant to Guildford (36 miles) so 38 miles and 45 minutes travel time ignoring waits for connections. Compared to 83 miles from Emsworth to Guildford via Ford and Gatwick with travel time of 1h 52m plus connection time. Would make a nice day out though ! I can understand it offered as part of a longer journey where better connection times might reduce the overall time difference but would a return from Emsworth just to Guildford also be valid via that route despite the huge disparity in distance. Pulborough and beyond would cover a multitude of destinations...………...to infinity and beyond ! map XB looks like a hangover from the days cross country used to run to Brighton via Reading so Gatwick would be a sensible connection from one of those limited stop services for the south coast.
Edit...yes Emsworth to Guildford via Horsham comes up on the National Rail site with the same off peak return fare as the sensible route via Havant and up the Portsmouth Direct line. I wonder how many other quirky routes can be done.
Last edited:
- Status