Worcester Foregate Street to Cheltenham Spa

[SephenWorceste]

I am looking to travel early morning from Worcester Foregate Street to Cheltenham Spa and to return in the afternoon. I am travelling on Saturday the 20th of December. I am using the site booking service.

If I look at the 8:52 it offers me an Off-Peak Day Return as the cheapest option. When I click on the i symbol next to the ticket it, says

"Off-Peak Day Return​

Only valid on booked Great Western Railway services and required connecting Great Western Railway services."

I thought I would have some flexibility but it suggests I can only use the train I book. Please could I ask does, this mean that if I need any flexibility I will have to book the Anytime Day Return.

I also thoght there was a limited number of Cross Country trains on the last part of the route from Aschurch for Tewkesbury to Cheltenham. If I wanted a break of journey could I use one of the Cross Country trains. I am sure I have mixed train companies in the past on other journeys on other routes with an Off-Peak Day Return. I hope that was not illegal.

Thank you in advance, Stephen.

 

[hexagon789]

I am looking to travel early morning from Worcester Foregate Street to Cheltenham Spa and to return in the afternoon. I am travelling on Saturday the 20th of December. I am using the site booking service.

If I look at the 8:52 it offers me an Off-Peak Day Return as the cheapest option. When I click on the i symbol next to the ticket it, says

"Off-Peak Day Return​

Only valid on booked Great Western Railway services and required connecting Great Western Railway services."

I thought I would have some flexibility but it suggests I can only use the train I book. Please could I ask does, this mean that if I need any flexibility I will have to book the Anytime Day Return.

I also thoght there was a limited number of Cross Country trains on the last part of the route from Aschurch for Tewkesbury to Cheltenham. If I wanted a break of journey could I use one of the Cross Country trains. I am sure I have mixed train companies in the past on other journeys on other routes with an Off-Peak Day Return. I hope that was not illegal.

Thank you in advance, Stephen.

The Off-Peak Day Return is valid on any GWR service after 0814 Mon-Fri, no evening or weekend restrictions.

Purchase flexible walk-up fares for any British train journey

Purchase flexible single/return tickets & Travelcards – in 3 clicks. Full details of all British rail fares shown, with built-in Season Ticket Calculator.

www.brfares.com

Outward Travel & Return Travel​
Restriction Code: W6 Restricted Days: Monday to Friday Mondays to Fridays​
Not valid on trains timed to depart after 04:29 and before 08:15.

Only the Anytime fare permits use of CrossCountry services as well though.

 

[Mcr Warrior]

I also tho(u)ght there was a limited number of Cross Country trains on the last part of the route from Aschurch for Tewkesbury to Cheltenham. If I wanted a break of journey could I use one of the Cross Country trains. I am sure I have mixed train companies in the past on other journeys on other routes with an Off-Peak Day Return. I hope that was not illegal.

On a route "GWR Only" (Worcester SH/FS to/from Cheltenham Spa) Off Peak Day Return ticket, whilst you can, if you so wish, break your journey intermediately at Ashchurch for Tewkesbury, you can only do so when travelling using GWR services, not XC. For other journeys/station pairs, what would be o.k., (or not, as the case may be), will obviously depend on what exact ticket(s) you held.

 

[Kite159]

I guess the 'GWR only' restriction also rules out the option of using a London train from Worcester to change at Worcestershire Parkway for a XC towards Cheltenham, especially when there are 2tph these days

 

[SephenWorceste]

Thank you for all your advice regarding this ticket it is very much appreciated. The Off Peak Day Return will give me the flexibility I need and save money over the Anytime.

I think the booked service wording used by the booking site is misleading and would without this forum caused me to buy a more expensive ticket than I need. To me that is not right but perhaps the is just me.

It is interesting about the GWR Only aspect of the ticket. I am not sure I have had this before except for advances. I have had via a station tickets before that I think are designed to keep you away from or on a particular company. Worcester to London via Evesham if I remember. I will have to be a bit careful.

Thank you again. The insights, interest and information in these forums makes rail travel a real pleasure.

Best wishes, Stephen.

== Doublepost prevention - post automatically merged: 12 Dec 2025 ==

I guess the 'GWR only' restriction also rules out the option of using a London train from Worcester to change at Worcestershire Parkway for a XC towards Cheltenham, especially when there are 2tph these days

True. I had not thought of that route. I did not know it was 2 trains an hour now. That is much better.

It would also exclude West Midlands Railways to Shrubhill and then Great Wester to Cheltenham. That often made a good connection for me when a Cheltenham train stared from Shrubhill. I have done that route in the past to ride on a HST. I am not sure there are any Worcester Shrubhill to London via Cheltenham trains left running.

Thank you, Stephen.

 

[Watershed]

The problem is that GWR have used a route code (00820) for this Off-Peak ticket which is generally only used for Advance tickets. That's why the description says "only valid on booked GWR services...".

They should have come up with a new route code for walk-up tickets, with an accurate description.

 

[Doctor Fegg]

Two weeks ago I asked the Shrub Hill ticket office for a day return to Cheltenham Spa. I was (without asking) sold a GWR-only ticket. I only realised this looking at the ticket on the way back - at which point I was already on an XC service to Worcestershire Parkway. Fortunately the ticket wasn’t checked, but I am unimpressed both with the ticketing situation and with Shrub Hill for selling this without advising.

 

[peteb]

Two weeks ago I asked the Shrub Hill ticket office for a day return to Cheltenham Spa. I was (without asking) sold a GWR-only ticket. I only realised this looking at the ticket on the way back - at which point I was already on an XC service to Worcestershire Parkway. Fortunately the ticket wasn’t checked, but I am unimpressed both with the ticketing situation and with Shrub Hill for selling this without advising.

It's just too confusing: roll on the days when a ticket from A to B is just that, and doesn't have all these "hidden" route restrictions: I say hidden because Joe Public won't necessarily research the exact route and train company. He just wants to get from A to B......

 

[Haywain]

oll on the days when a ticket from A to B is just that, and doesn't have all these "hidden" route restrictions:

And has the higher of the two prices.

 

[SephenWorceste]

The problem is that GWR have used a route code (00820) for this Off-Peak ticket which is generally only used for Advance tickets. That's why the description says "only valid on booked GWR services...".

They should have come up with a new route code for walk-up tickets, with an accurate description.

Thank you. That explains it.

== Doublepost prevention - post automatically merged: 13 Dec 2025 ==

Two weeks ago I asked the Shrub Hill ticket office for a day return to Cheltenham Spa. I was (without asking) sold a GWR-only ticket. I only realised this looking at the ticket on the way back - at which point I was already on an XC service to Worcestershire Parkway. Fortunately the ticket wasn’t checked, but I am unimpressed both with the ticketing situation and with Shrub Hill for selling this without advising.

That could be me travelling next week.

 

[fandroid]

Looking at the service and prices for today, I see that it's not a great offer for passengers! Basically an hourly service. The direct GWR service takes half the time of any useful "multiple operators" combination which, as has been pointed out here, has the extra penalty of an Anytime fare only, and the price increase is not insignificant.

 

[Haywain]

Looking at the service and prices for today, I see that it's not a great offer for passengers! Basically an hourly service. The direct GWR service takes half the time of any useful "multiple operators" combination which, as has been pointed out here, has the extra penalty of an Anytime fare only, and the price increase is not insignificant.

For someone without a railcard the Anytime fare is £15.50, against £11.60 fir the GWR only fare. Given we're regularly told on here that TOC only fares shouldn't be allowed if they only save a small amount I think the balance is about right.

 

[Kite159]

Looking at the service and prices for today, I see that it's not a great offer for passengers! Basically an hourly service. The direct GWR service takes half the time of any useful "multiple operators" combination which, as has been pointed out here, has the extra penalty of an Anytime fare only, and the price increase is not insignificant.

Including the option of using GWR from Worcester to Cheltenham Spa and changing onto a XC service which overtakes the GWR when it heads into Gloucester?

 

[SephenWorceste]

Looking at the service and prices for today, I see that it's not a great offer for passengers! Basically an hourly service. The direct GWR service takes half the time of any useful "multiple operators" combination which, as has been pointed out here, has the extra penalty of an Anytime fare only, and the price increase is not insignificant.

I still think some of the trains do not go to or from Foregate Street. The option to use West Midlands Railway from to from Shrubhill might be helpful. That will require the more expensive ticket I believe.

 

[Timbo999]

Long time lurker, first time poster. I think that post 6 above overlooks that XC is the fare setter for this station flow and has chosen not to offer off peak fares. I believe this precludes other TOCs from setting "any permitted" fares between these stations. Possibly GWR could reclassify to "via Ashchurch" but this would raise other issues (revenue sharing, objections from XC, ...).

 

[SephenWorceste]

Please could I ask what the procedure is when the booking sites say "booked train only" but the ticket actually allows off peak flexibility. Is the booking site allowed to give incorrect information that may lead passenger to purchase a more expensive ticket than they need.

Without this forum I would have purchased the more expensive Any Time ticket as this does not say "Booked train only" on the booking sites.

Thank you, Stephen.

 

[alistairlees]

Please could I ask what the procedure is when the booking sites say "booked train only" but the ticket actually allows off peak flexibility. Is the booking site allowed to give incorrect information that may lead passenger to purchase a more expensive ticket than they need.

Without this forum I would have purchased the more expensive Any Time ticket as this does not say "Booked train only" on the booking sites.

Thank you, Stephen.

The booking site is providing correct information. The TOC is providing duff data (to all booking sites).

 

[SephenWorceste]

The booking site is providing correct information. The TOC is providing duff data (to all booking sites).

Thank you. I have contacted GWR. Hopefully they will correct the information.

== Doublepost prevention - post automatically merged: 13 Dec 2025 ==

Long time lurker, first time poster. I think that post 6 above overlooks that XC is the fare setter for this station flow and has chosen not to offer off peak fares. I believe this precludes other TOCs from setting "any permitted" fares between these stations. Possibly GWR could reclassify to "via Ashchurch" but this would raise other issues (revenue sharing, objections from XC, ...).

Railway tickets is such a complicated business. I wonder if when it is one company things might be simpler.

 

[MrJeeves]

I wonder if when it is one company things might be simpler.

It may be, but simpler isn't always better for the passenger unfortunately.

 

[fandroid]

Including the option of using GWR from Worcester to Cheltenham Spa and changing onto a XC service which overtakes the GWR when it heads into Gloucester?

The OP was only looking at the Worcester to Cheltenham journey. If going further then things might be different.

 

[Haywain]

The OP was only looking at the Worcester to Cheltenham journey. If going further then things might be different.

It's safe to say that changing onto a CrossCountry service when your ticket says 'GWR only' still won't be an option.