Train ticket pries, does this make sense?

Marvel1

Travelling to Southampton on Saturday 10th November 2012, returning nexy day, viewing:
http://www.thetrainline.com


Out
Saturday 10 Nov 2012, Depart 08:48
Port Talbot Parkway PTA to Southampton Central SOU
£26.50


Return
Sunday 11 Nov 2012, Depart 12:15
Southampton Central SOU to Port Talbot Parkway PTA
£74.00

TOTAL = £100.50
_____________________________________________________
Just to test something:

I did a single one way from Southampton Central SOU to Port Talbot Parkway PTA
Sunday 11 Nov 2012, Depart 12:15
£74.00


So it costs £26.50 up and £74.00 back :shocked:

Can't remember the last time I booked a long journey train but am I missing something?

wealdroam

Yes, you are missing something.

On that Sunday, buses replace trains between Southampton and Salisbury.
Your chosen return trip, and most others, is via Basingstoke and Reading.

Apparently the train operating company does not feel it is appropriate to offer the cheaper Advance Singles on that day, as they don't want to encourage more passengers.

Your outward ticket is an Advance Single at £26.50.
Your return ticket is a Super Off Peak Single at £74.00.

Maybe you could return earlier on the Sunday?
Dep Southampton Central at 09:20 by bus to Salisbury, and train onwards, arriving at Port Talbot at 14:06.
£26.50 Advance Single is available on that departure only.

If you haven't bought your tickets yet, your best bet is to buy a Super Off Peak Return at £75.00.

Oh... and avoid the trainline and avoid their fees.
You can get exactly the same tickets from most train operators without any fees.
I'd use Southern Railway, because they will offer a money back guarantee on that Super Off Peak Return.

thelawnet

You can also get the Anytime Return 'via Salisbury'. for £52.30.

Totally flexible.

This would require you to take the Southampton - Salisbury bus replacement coming back.

redux

Also, sometimes it's worthwhile to split the ticket purchases, to and from an intermediate station, and it certainly helps here. You don't necessarily change trains there, but the ticket must be to a place it will stop.

All advance single tickets:

Outward at those same times on the Saturday
Port Talbot Parkway 0848 - Bristol Temple Meads £13.50
same train
Bristol Temple Meads - Southampton Central 1203 £10

For the return, if you can get that earlier train via Salisbury as above, it only saves about 50p to split, but if going via Reading it's definitely worth it, and by coincidence the timing you mentioned turns out to have the best price.

Southampton Central 1215 - Reading 1304 £9.50
Reading 1313 - Port Talbot Parkway 1532 £17.50

Marvel1

redux wrote: »

Southampton Central 1215 - Reading 1304 £9.50
Reading 1313 - Port Talbot Parkway 1532 £17.50

I love that, saves hassle with the bus and gives us a lie in that Sunday morning from drinking.

Found out the outward train is Wales are playing in Cardiff for the rugby!

wealdroam

Just to point out that it is really important to buy Advance Single tickets as soon as possible.

In the last four days some of the fares mentioned have gone up:

• Port Talbot Parkway 0848 - Bristol Temple Meads £13.50 - now £16.50
• Bristol Temple Meads - Southampton Central 1203 £10 - now £12.50
• Southampton Central 1215 - Reading 1304 £9.50 - still £9.50
• Reading 1313 - Port Talbot Parkway 1532 £17.50- now £21.00

redux

It's a good point that some advance fares go upwards as the time gets closer.

That's a bit of a pain, though PTA to BRI seems to have gone back to £13.

I noticed that leaving PTA half an hour earlier is £9, then wait at Bristol for the other train.

Another possibility is ordinary return to Cardiff for £12.90, then a Freedom of Severn & Solent 3 in 7 days for £42. That would be for any train, though only via Salisbury not Reading, and it would be bus substitute to Salisbury the Sunday, so make a copy of the timetable via there.

I assume this trip is for the football. Is it possible to share a car?

WLM21

redux wrote: »

Also, sometimes it's worthwhile to split the ticket purchases, to and from an intermediate station, and it certainly helps here. You don't necessarily change trains there, but the ticket must be to a place it will stop.

All advance single tickets:

Outward at those same times on the Saturday
Port Talbot Parkway 0848 - Bristol Temple Meads £13.50
same train
Bristol Temple Meads - Southampton Central 1203 £10

For the return, if you can get that earlier train via Salisbury as above, it only saves about 50p to split, but if going via Reading it's definitely worth it, and by coincidence the timing you mentioned turns out to have the best price.

Southampton Central 1215 - Reading 1304 £9.50
Reading 1313 - Port Talbot Parkway 1532 £17.50

No wonder you have had so many thanks ... What great service.
Have another thank you from me

Marvel1

redux wrote: »

I assume this trip is for the football. Is it possible to share a car?

Yes, I did think about that but too much hassle involved:
Parking - where? As it's a night out with some mates from London who are meeting us there.
Sunday morning - not worry if over limit for a long boring drive on the motorway.