Reading to Aldershot

[taxidave]

Please excuse me if this subject has been discussed before but it is my first post on this forum.
On Saturday October 2nd I will be travelling from my home town Cheltenham to Aldershot for football, I have an advance ticket from Cheltenham to Reading, from where I want to get a day return to Aldershot but going via Basingstoke and Woking. I have checked the SWT website and it does appear to be possible but just wondered if you "experts" could verify that it is ok to take this route; with a senior railcard it looks like it will cost me £5.35 return.

 

[Solent&Wessex]

Please excuse me if this subject has been discussed before but it is my first post on this forum.
On Saturday October 2nd I will be travelling from my home town Cheltenham to Aldershot for football, I have an advance ticket from Cheltenham to Reading, from where I want to get a day return to Aldershot but going via Basingstoke and Woking. I have checked the SWT website and it does appear to be possible but just wondered if you "experts" could verify that it is ok to take this route; with a senior railcard it looks like it will cost me £5.35 return.

I would say No, it is not valid that way.

Aldershot has 3 potential routeing points - Ash Vale, Farnborough Group and Guildford. The fares check rule rules out Guildford. The permitted routes from Reading to Ash Vale are via map WW only. This only allows travel via Wokingham, Ascot and Camberley. Thence you are allowed to travel via the shortest route from Ash Vale to Aldershot. Or using Farnborough, the permitted routes from Reading to Farnborough group are shown on map MW only. This allows travel direct via Wokingham and Blackwater only, then direct via the shortest route from Farnborough (in this case North) to Aldershot. I suspect this is going to Ash then changing for Aldershot there. Either way, going via Basingstoke or Woking is not valid.

 

[John @ home]

I have checked the SWT website and it does appear to be possible but just wondered if you "experts" could verify that it is ok to take this route.

I agree with kwvr45. I can't find a mapped route Reading - Basingstoke - Woking - Aldershot.

But it is certainly the case that if you enter Reading to Aldershot via Basingstoke the SWT site offers journeys via Basingstoke and Woking.

So, if I wanted to make this journey, and wanted to travel via Basingstoke and Woking in order to avoid the walk between North Camp and Ash Vale which is suggested for many journeys if you don't enter a via location, I would book online with SWT, print the itinerary via Basingstoke and Woking and carry it with me on my journey. In that way I would be able to demonstrate to any ticket inspector that the route forms part of the contract for travel.

 

[DJ737]

But it is certainly the case that if you enter Reading to Aldershot via Basingstoke the SWT site offers journeys via Basingstoke and Woking.

G'day there
The East Coast website routes Reading-Basingstoke-Brookwood-Aldershot for the same GBP 5.35 fare.

Cheers
DJ737
Melbourne, Australia

 

[t0ffeeman]

There is a potential problem if changing at Ash. The only way from the Guildford bound platform to the Aldershot one is by crossing a level crossing. The gates will be down to let your Guildford bound train leave and may stay down to let the next Aldershot one in. So any connections of less than 5 mins may not happen, unless your friendly guard notices a turbo bound for Guildford and a mad rush of five people running over the crossing as your Aldershot train pulls in.

 

[John @ home]

There is a potential problem if changing at Ash. ... any connections of less than 5 mins may not happen

Perhaps that's why the SWT journey planner suggests walking North Camp - Ash Vale. It often allows 22 minutes for the walk.

 

[Magicake]

There is a potential problem if changing at Ash. The only way from the Guildford bound platform to the Aldershot one is by crossing a level crossing. The gates will be down to let your Guildford bound train leave and may stay down to let the next Aldershot one in. So any connections of less than 5 mins may not happen, unless your friendly guard notices a turbo bound for Guildford and a mad rush of five people running over the crossing as your Aldershot train pulls in.

I've done this journey before for an aldershot match! The gates did stay down but there were about 10 aldershot fans who were doing the same thing as me and the guard was happy to wait for us all to run across. I assume they all do this for every match.

 

[Solent&Wessex]

G'day there
The East Coast website routes Reading-Basingstoke-Brookwood-Aldershot for the same GBP 5.35 fare.

Cheers
DJ737
Melbourne, Australia

Indeed it does, although I can't find any reason why this would be valid.

Another one of life's mysteries!!

 

[taxidave]

So, if I wanted to make this journey, and wanted to travel via Basingstoke and Woking in order to avoid the walk between North Camp and Ash Vale which is suggested for many journeys if you don't enter a via location, I would book online with SWT, print the itinerary via Basingstoke and Woking and carry it with me on my journey. In that way I would be able to demonstrate to any ticket inspector that the route forms part of the contract for travel.

Thank you john@home for the above advice, I have booked through the SWT website and have a confirmation e-mail (for my ticket collection) showing my route so hopefully everything will be ok next Saturday.
I will keep you all informed

 

[bb21]

Wouldn't going via Woking involve doubling-back between Brookwood and Woking anyway? Can't find any easements on that one so another reason to say it's not valid.

 

[taxidave]

Below is a copy of the e-mail I received from SWT in confirmation of my booking, I shall carry it with me on Saturday :roll:

Dear Mr Andrews,

Thank you for buying your train tickets with SouthWestTrains.

With guaranteed site security, your payment has been securely processed.
Please take a moment to check your delivery address, travel details and cost breakdown.
We have also provided answers to Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs) at the bottom of the e-mail. If these fail to answer your questions why not go to our help facility.

Wishing you a safe and pleasant journey.

Kind regards,
SouthWestTrains

Please note - if you are collecting your tickets at the station, you must bring with you the same debit or credit card that you used to make your booking.

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Journey Information
Getting your tickets: Self-Service Ticket Machine
Collection ref: KLKG9G5J
Tickets will be available to pick-up at CHELTENHAM SPA station from any self-service ticket machines 2 hours after booking.

To collect your tickets, use the same payment card used to book your tickets and key in your collection reference.

Journey 1: READING STATION to ALDERSHOT
Travel on Saturday 02 October 2010 returning on Saturday 02 October 2010
Departs Arrives By Reservations

10:07 - reading station 10:31 - basingstoke Train (FIRST GREAT WESTERN) No seats reserved.
10:57 - basingstoke 11:15 - woking (main) Train (SOUTH WEST TRAINS) No seats reserved.
11:30 - woking (main) 11:49 - aldershot Train (SOUTH WEST TRAINS) No seats reserved.
18:00 - aldershot 18:04 - ash vale Train (SOUTH WEST TRAINS) No seats reserved.
18:04 - ash vale 18:23 - north camp PlatformChange No seats reserved.
18:23 - north camp 18:54 - reading station Train (FIRST GREAT WESTERN) No seats reserved.

Ticket details
Passengers: 1 Adult(s)

Ticket Type: OFF-PEAK DAY RETURN

Route: This ticket allows travel on any permitted route.

Railcards/Discounts:
SENIOR RAILCARD You will need to show your railcard(s) at some point during your journey.

 

[Bill Badger]

18:04 - ash vale 18:23 - north camp PlatformChange No seats reserved.

Pleased to see you seem to have a seat for this leg of the journey, even if you haven't got one reserved!

 

[taxidave]

Wouldn't going via Woking involve doubling-back between Brookwood and Woking anyway? Can't find any easements on that one so another reason to say it's not valid.

Just to let you all know my journey went smoothly on Saturday, I even left both Basingstoke and Woking stations without any problems.
The reason you can double back between Woking and Brookwood is because the Basingstoke to Woking train does not stop at Brookwood.
Thank you once again for all your help.