Cheaper train tickets going through Didcot

matth1j

Hi

I commute regularly from Reading (Earley) to Bath. If I book a few weeks in advance, and know which train I'm going to get, it can be as cheap as £20.50 for 2 singles. But that ties you to specific trains - there's a £10 rearrangement fee if you end up having to take another.

However, on or near the day, a normal return costs £75.

But if I split the journey into Reading/Didcot Parkway and Didcot P./Bath, I can get a ticket(s) on the day for £25 (£7 + £18), and that's not limited to specific trains. This is something to do with Didcot marking the boundary of 'London' travel, which is more expensive.

You don't actually have to change at Didcot, but the train does have to stop there, which reduces the trains I can catch from every half hour to every hour.

Don't know if something similar applies to other routes out of London.

Cheers,
John

rdwarr

Yes, there are many routes where splitting the ticket saves a lot of money. Lincoln to Stevenage via Peterborough is one. Either £33 or £15 + £8.
Always check the train fare sites (qjump. thetrainline etc.) for these options before you commit to a price.

looby75

Kilmarnock to carlise, carlise to Durham is another one as I found out yesterday

a ticket from Kilmarnock to Durham £42.70

or

A ticket from Kilmarnock to carlise £12.10
and one from Carlise to Durham £12.90