Off-peak Return Train ticket

ChrisA95

I need to get from Reading to University Station (Birmingham) but I want to go from Reading to Worchester Forgate Street than to Birmingham University Station, on the way back I want to go from Birmingham Uni to Birmingham New street, than onto Bristol Parkway than from Bristol to Reading. Can I do that with an Off-peak return ticket or do I need to get an Anytime ticket.

Also if my tickets says "Via Oxford" does that mean both trips need to stop at or go through Oxford to and form Birmingham or can I, on the way from Birmingham stop at Bristol to get a train to Reading, without the need to stop at or go through Oxford? sorry if this sounds like silly question I find ticket limitations and conditions confusing, and I don't travel by train much.

Thanks

timbo58

Via Oxford means via Oxford whether it's a stopping train or not.
Bristol Parkway or TM are not on this route, so yes, if you have a return via Oxford it is not valid via Bristol.

To go from Birmingham to Bristol to get to Reading is not a permitted route at all AFAIAA?
I.e you would need to have a ticket to Bristol stations then another from Bristol to Reading, or if buying the via Oxford return ticket is still cheaper than a single, then the return half of that ticket would be valid from Didcot Parkway to Reading.

If you draw the map out it is most definitely not a straightforward return route, resembling much more of a triangle than anything else.

I am sure there are some more au fait with the permitted routes nowadays than me as my knowledge is 5+ years old.
I doubt it's changed that much though!

Iceweasel

Is there any particular reason that you posted this on the Motoring Forum.

Train tickets, routing and timetabling is not a common subject here.

ChrisA95

Iceweasel wrote: »

Is there any particular reason that you posted this on the Motoring Forum.

Train tickets, routing and timetabling is not a common subject here.

Oh sorry, I have only used this site on 1 other occasion, haven't got used to putting posts in correct forums, etc.

Iceweasel

ChrisA95 wrote: »

Oh sorry, I have only used this site on 1 other occasion, haven't got used to putting posts in correct forums, etc.

No need to be sorry at all - anyone can make a mistake and we all have had to learn at one time or another.

I suggest you post this again in the Public Transport Forum.

Good luck.

AdrianC

You want to travel via Worcester, particularly. Do you want to actually get off the train at Worcester? Will you just have a wander around the station, or will you leave the station?

InsideInsurance

Anytime -v- Off Peak will make no difference to the routes you can take nor your ability to break your journey but just the times of train you can take.

If you can go the routes you want to, and even more so if you can leave the stations, is a different matter and one for others to answer on.

timbo58

AdrianC wrote: »

You want to travel via Worcester, particularly. Do you want to actually get off the train at Worcester? Will you just have a wander around the station, or will you leave the station?

In which case there are 2 routes back from Worcester -neither are via Bristol stations via the main line to Reading.

Worcester SH - Cheltenham spa then down via Kemble to Swindon and then Swindon -Reading (if the line below Worcester was blocked this is where you would go on a diversion)
AND
Worcester-Reading via Oxford.

I think you need a single ticket Reading -Birmingham stations via Oxford and another Birmingham to Bristol stations and then a 3rd Bristol stations -Reading.

It is definitely worth checking to see if returns for any/all of these legs are cheaper than the single fare.