FYI: Chiltern Only vs via High Wycombe Fares

[whole diary]

[Brucey]

More of just an information post, rather than anything else.

Chiltern offer a Super Off Peak Return fare from London to Birmingham for ^27.50, route Chiltern Only.  However, there is also a "Via High Wycombe" fare for exactly the same price.

I'd always recommend getting the via fare, rather than Chiltern Only as this allows you to use other services on the route.  E.g. change at Banbury for XC^▸ (Cross Country Trains (franchise)) to Birmingham New Street.  Change at Coventry for a Virgin service.

Also worth remembering this fare if/when Virgin services divert via High Wycombe during engineering blockades.

[ChrisB]

Are you sure Via High Wycombe fares would be accepted on diverted Pendos? Coz I wouldn't chance it.

I thought only usually accpted fares were usable on diverted trains unless a specific easement were created?

[paul7575]

If the diverted train is following the specific route through High Wycombe like this, then the via High Wycombe route specific ticket becomes valid on the diverted train.  Virgin had attempted to prevent this in the past but were wrong.

It is basically just the same principle as when people quite correctly use 'route Warminster/Salisbury' tickets on FGW^▸ (First Great Western)'s diversions into Waterloo.

Paul

[trainer]

It is basically just the same principle as when people quite correctly use 'route Westminster/Salisbury' tickets on FGW^▸ (First Great Western)'s diversions into Waterloo.

Are HSTs^▸ (High Speed Train) compatible with TfL^» (Transport for London - about) Underground or could that have been a typo for Warminster? 

[paul7575]

 

Oh no...

Paul