Paddington to Worcester direct during engineering works

[shaun]

Hi.

I want to take a ride on a GWR HST on the 7th Feb from Paddington to Worcester, as they're diverted via Westbury and Bristol TM. Am I right in assuming a Super Off Peak single from London to Worcester would still be valid on a direct service seeing as there are no services via Oxford? I cannot purchase a standard ticket online for that particular day, but there is a First Class fare available which is odd.

Thanks in advance.

 

[PermitToTravel]

Tickets are always valid on trains that are diverted to take an unusual route, unless it's a cheaper one that explicitly excludes that route. Booking engines don't always know this (but a super off peak single is the same price on the day of travel so you can buy one then)

 

[shaun]

Tickets are always valid on trains that are diverted to take an unusual route, unless it's a cheaper one that explicitly excludes that route. Booking engines don't always know this (but a super off peak single is the same price on the day of travel so you can buy one then)

Thanks for the quick response.

The tickets usually say 'via Pershore/Stroud', but there are no services via those routes on the 7th Feb. Just the direct ones via Westbury and Bristol TM. I will buy one on the day then, thanks again.

 

[kieron]

With engineering works, it may be easiest to ask the operator whether you can use that ticket on a diverted train then. There may be an announcement that passengers can travel (say) via Bath or Bicester that day, but they're usually at very short notice.

There are rail replacement 'buses from Reading to Oxford and Swindon, but they're intended more for people who would find it harder to divert.

 

[embers25]

Hi.

I want to take a ride on a GWR HST on the 7th Feb from Paddington to Worcester, as they're diverted via Westbury and Bristol TM. Am I right in assuming a Super Off Peak single from London to Worcester would still be valid on a direct service seeing as there are no services via Oxford? I cannot purchase a standard ticket online for that particular day, but there is a First Class fare available which is odd.

Thanks in advance.

They are only diverting in one direction it seems. I assume network cards will be valid that way too on the three through trains. What about on other trains that way changing at Bristol to avoid the buses?

 

[father_jack]

For some reason it shows 1st Advances only and no standard advances- and absolutely no flexible tickets at all, presumably because the train doesn't pass through any on the points on a "normal" routing between London Terminals and Worcester which would say "Evesham/Stroud".

You'll need to contact GWR because if you buy a ticket on the day it will always say Evesham/Stroud in spite of any direct train always being a vaild route.

 

[Mag_seven]

Hi.

I want to take a ride on a GWR HST on the 7th Feb from Paddington to Worcester, as they're diverted via Westbury and Bristol TM. Am I right in assuming a Super Off Peak single from London to Worcester would still be valid on a direct service seeing as there are no services via Oxford? I cannot purchase a standard ticket online for that particular day, but there is a First Class fare available which is odd.

Thanks in advance.

There are only a limited no of through services between Paddington and Worcester on this date diverted via Bath. the bulk are Padd- Bristol and Padd South Wales services. I would contact GWR and ask if you could use one of those services changing where necessary (Bristol TM?) for Worcester.

 

[father_jack]

There are only a limited no of through services between Paddington and Worcester on this date diverted via Bath. the bulk are Padd- Bristol and Padd South Wales services. I would contact GWR and ask if you could use one of those services changing where necessary (Bristol TM?) for Worcester.

Seems like they are 1CXX services PAD-BRI extended to Worcester to get HSTs up for the next morning. The train planners and routing/reservation people are maybe not singing from the one hymn sheet !!! The OP wants to do the journey for the fact that it's different, I never remember PAD WOS via the B & H ever before.

 

[shaun]

Seems like they are 1CXX services PAD-BRI extended to Worcester to get HSTs up for the next morning. The train planners and routing/reservation people are maybe not singing from the one hymn sheet !!! The OP wants to do the journey for the fact that it's different, I never remember PAD WOS via the B & H ever before.

That's correct, I do intend to use one of the two through services purely because it is an unusual diversion. I could easily get to Worcester via Euston and Birmingham NS.

Thanks for the advice everyone, I will probably contact GWR anyway to ensure I can still purchase a through ticket at Paddington.

 

[OwlMan]

A new easement has been include in the Routeing Guide to allow this

700612: During Engineering works on Sundays 7 and 28 February and 06,13, 20, 27 March 2016 the line between Radley, Didcot and Tilehurst will be closed. Services will use the diversionary route via Newbury. This map easement will allow Customers travelling with tickets on Fare Routes ANY PERMITTED (00000), Via EVESHAM (00805), Via AP EVESHAM (00433), Via LONDON/EVESHAM Fare (00799), Via EVESHAM/STROUD Fare Route (00803), Via LONDON/STROUD/EVESHAM (00827), on journeys that would normally only be permitted to travel along the closed route to travel via Swindon, Chippenham and Newbury to and via Reading. This easement will apply in both directions

 

[455driver]

No mention of travel via Bristol being allowed though!

 

[shaun]

A new easement has been include in the Routeing Guide to allow this

Thanks for this.

That seems to suggest the valid route is Paddington to Swindon direct via Newbury, then via Stroud to Gloucester onwards. That is one long detour! Can't see them forcing me that way if I opt for the direct service via Bristol though. Will find out next Sunday I guess!