Great Western Coffee Shop

Any split ticket ideas for Swindon to Esher and back in a day? Off peak give only a very short time there.

Do you hold a railcard??    Some initial thoughts ...

Swindon to Esher
42.60

Swindon to Didcot + Didcot to Esher
12.50 + 26.70 = 39.20

Swindon to Didcot + Didcot to Esher if you hold a Network Railcard
12.50 + 26.70 * 0.66 = 30.10

Swindon to Esher with a Senior, disabled, forces or similar railcard
42.60 * 0.66 = 28.10

Swindon to Didcot + Didcot to Esher with a Senior, disabled, forces or similar railcard
(12.50 + 26.70) * 0.66  = 25.90

Edit to Add

Also look at a further split at Virginia Water ... reduce the 26.70 element ...
>>> 17.50 + 6.80
24.3
>>>
An appropriate railcard discount could be applied.  Note the minimum fare though on each Network Railcard ticket. Without and railcards, down to 36.80

I suspect BigNoseMac may find better ...

Departure time? Return time? Railcards?

Good questions - I misread the detail as "Off peak as only a very short time needed there" which is, of course, very different to what was asked.

Sorry  - need to be there before 11 and leave at about 4.  Old codgers railcard

Beware of the time restrictions during the morning peak within the old NSE area on the railcard for journeys starting within that area.  This could make split ticketing more expensive than a through ticket which would not be affected as the journey starts outside the NSE area.

In practice, I think that works the other way. The obvious split is at Reading, since the ticket from there to Esher is an SWR one and isn't weighted by being from Swindon. A CDR (with card) is all of £13.85, and anytime little more - but not needed since peak only applies to trains that get to Clapham before 1000. I assume the best choice of tickets to get to Reading at that time is familiar.

Prices with Senior Railcard and taking the 0842 from Swindon, changing at Reading, Virginia Water and Weybridge, arriving Esher 1052.

Swindon - Didcot Parkway Anytime Day Single: £16.75
Didcot - Esher Off Peak Day Return (not via London): £17.65*
Didcot - Swindon Super Off Peak Single: £7.55

Total £41.95

*You'll be departing Didcot at 0901 with this ticket. Off Peak Day Returns are valid from 0859. Consequently you won't fall foul of the Network Area rule for Senior Railcards. Said rule is that the Railcard discount is only valid at Off Peak times for journeys wholly in the Network Area.

The return journey can be done at your leisure. No time restrictions with these tickets. Just remember to take a train from Reading that calls Didcot. For example, 1618 from Esher, changing Weybridge, Virginia Water and Reading, arrives Swindon 1829.

Thank you all.  I think the best bet is to split at Didcot and Reading

So it is

Anytime Single Swindon to Didcot £16.75
Anytime Return Didcot to Reading £10.80
Off peak return Reading to Esher £13.85
Off Peak Single Didcot to Swindon £7.55

Total £48.95

If you look at the cost per mile of each ticket then you realise how stupid out ticket system is!

Correction - Now I just see that BNM has a better idea.  Thanks BNM