Great Western Coffee Shop

I will be driving someone from Southampton to Exeter in their car on Sunday so am faced with unusually for me buying a single Exeter St Davids to Newbury. If I have read the options right traveling back on the 16.45 or 18.47 both direct to Newbury I have the choice of:-

Super Off Peak Single - ^24.50 walk up fare so doesn't matter which train I catch (which might be difficult to predict with traffic). This seems to fit my needs with no advance booking and no limitation on which train I get.

Advance Single - ^27.00 book one day in advance, must travel on booked train (tricky as could get caught in traffic and miss it or be waiting around because I arrive early).

Off Peak single - ^29.50 walk up fare any train (provided as with other fares not via Reading) - the safe bet

I am confused as I would expect the cheapest fare to have the most restrictions so can't understand why the cheapest doesn't. Please could someone enlighten  me - have I missed something. I wasn't worried about the extra ^5 so as not to be caught up with to many restrictions but it seems I can walk up and buy a ticket at the cheapest price and catch either train.

 If it's Sunday then there are no restrictions, (except route). Get the Super Off Peak single. You have highlighted the one advantage of the new off peak fares structure. Singles are now half the price of returns instead of just ^1 less. Seems a bit silly that your enquiry gave the option of a more expensive Advance single though.

However, in view of engineering works taking place, I'd be inclined to check (and then check again!) that the trains will actually be running.

Just as an aside, there were interminable pre-recorded announcements at Bristol Temple Meads this morning about engineering works happening this weekend, all over the place (I lost the will to live, after listening to the first few of them!) but it is worth checking, if you are planning a specific journey!

C.  :o