Triangular journey Ashford - Gillingham - Canterbury

[Medicy]

Hi all, help appreciated for a triangular journey after a recent house move!

I have a season ticket between Canterburys Stns and Ashford International. I'm looking to travel to Gillingham (Kent) straight from Ashford, then return that night to Canterbury.

Looking at the individual journeys, on NRE I'm routed Ashford - Ebbsfleet - Gillingham (route EBSFLET+HSNOTLON) outbound. Return I'm routed direct Gillingham - Canterbury East.

What's the cheapest ticket(s) for this journey? I'm unclear whether getting a Ashford - Gillingham ticket + my season ticket would cover me for the return to Canterbury East. I'd prefer to avoid going the long way round via the high-speed line on the return journey, unless this is unavoidable?

Also, weirdly, a Canterbury Stns - Gillingham route EBSFLET+HSNOTLON ticket is only available First Class Anytime, even though HS trains don't have first class seating. I expect not many people would use that route, so that's why it's been overlooked!

 

[button_boxer]

Both Canterbury stations have Ashford as an associated routeing point, so it looks like your season would only cover the shortest route between Ashford and Canterbury. For Ashford to Gillingham the only applicable map is HS, which means travelling via Ebbsfleet, so it doesn't look like the two tickets together could cover returning via the direct route.

But a ticket from Canterbury Stations to Ebbsfleet routed +HS might be an option - start short at Ashford on the outward portion, switch from outward to return at Ebbsfleet and break your return journey at Gillingham.

 

[Medicy]

Ah brilliant, that looks like it works - thank you very much! Knew it'd need someone's good lateral thinking!