Ruabon to Cheltenham

[JamesM]

Hi guys,

This might be a challenge - Ruabon to Cheltenham seems a whopping £55 return.

Could someone advice me splitting or getting it cheaper somehow?

I could also go to Chester, Shrewsbury, Gobowen or Crewe if it's really going to save a lot.

I'd generally want to go and come back the next day at the weekend, but if there's a cheap day ticket I'd consider it.

Much obliged!

James

 

[yorkie]

Best thing to do is look at a map and find places that are between the points (preferably principle stations where most, if not all, trains call) and look at the fares to those points.

e.g.
Ruabon to Birmingham £14.10 CDR or £28.30 SVR.
The CDR is valid M-F from 0900, return by any train that day.
The SVR is valid any train, return within one month.

Birmingham to Cheltenham £20.50 CDR or £21.10 SVR
The CDR is valid for outward & rtn travel after 0930 but not valid between 1530 and 1815, return same day.
The SVR is valid for outward & rtn travel after 0930, return within one month.

However splitting at Shifnal is even better:

Ruabon to Shifnal £10.20 SDR or £14.10 SVR.
The SDR is valid any train, return same day.
The SVR is valid any train, return within one month.

Shifnal to Cheltenham £21.10 SVR
The SVR is valid for outward & rtn travel after 0930, return within one month.

Give other places a try and you may find an even better deal, it can sometimes be cheaper to do even more splits and/or buying further (or combinations of these methods).

 

[JamesM]

Excellent - but won't the trains actually need to stop at Shifnal?

 

[yorkie]

Yes, they will. If not, then split at somewhere else, the price rises the further East you split, but choose the first station after Shifnal where the trains you wish to take call. In a worst case that would be Wolverhampton. The £21.10 SVR fare to Cheltenham is the same from anywhere between Shifnal & Brum, but the fare from Ruabon increases the further East you go.

 

[tony_mac]

there is an easement allowing tickets from Bromsgrove via Cheltenham to travel via New St. e.g. Bromsgrove to Gloucester off-peak return is a little cheaper than Birmingham to Cheltenham, but probably not worth the hassle.

There is also a London Midland super off-peak from Crewe to Rugby, that is valid via Birmingham.
As there is apparently no break of journey allowed on the outward, you could go from Crewe to Rugby, then back to Birmingham, and it would be valid. maybe if your train to Rugby was delayed, you could just turn round at Birmingham anyway