Best price Thatcham to Cardiff day return 1st November

[whole diary]

[BerkshireBugsy]

Hi all - we are thinking of taking the train to Cardiff on Friday 1st November, in this case "we" means 2 adults and two kids (9 and 24 years)

We would like to arrive no later than 11am and come back about 7 at the latest on the same day.

We don't yet gave a family railcard

What options do we have to keep the cost down?

Thanks in advance

Davel

[BerkshireBugsy]

FYI^▸ (for your information) thetrainline came up with ^120 which doesn't sound too bad to me

[Chris from Nailsea]

Have you considered GroupSave - there is a fairly detailed discussion of the benefits / savings to be made, at http://www.firstgreatwestern.info/coffeeshop/index.php?topic=4235.0 

[BerkshireBugsy]

Have you considered GroupSave - there is a fairly detailed discussion of the benefits / savings to be made, at http://www.firstgreatwestern.info/coffeeshop/index.php?topic=4235.0 

Thanks CfN will look into that

[JayMac]

Not sure 24 can be classed as a 'kid' for rail fares.   Assuming that's not a typo....

At the moment, your cheapest option is probably Advance Purchase (AP).

Looking at your dates and times and using FGWs^▸ (First Great Western) booking site (online discount for AP) cheapest I've found:

1st November
0802 Thatcham - Cardiff Central 1023 (change Reading) 3 adults 1 child AP ^78.80 (3x ^22.50 1x ^11.30)
1825 Cardiff Central - Thatcham 2103 (change Reading 3 adults 1 child AP ^47.30 (3x 13.50 1x ^6.80)

Total ^126.10

If you had a Family & Friends Railcard that would come down to a total of ^78.30, so the ^30* outlay for the Railcard would still show a saving on this one journey alone. If you do decide to go for the discounted APs there's nothing stopping you buying them online now whilst waiting for the F&F Railcard (should you purchase) to arrive. Plenty of time between now and travel date.

All prices correct as at 1300 21/09/2013. As I've quoted AP prices, they are liable to change.

*You can buy a F&F Railcard online for ^27 at the moment using promo codes LEAFLET3 or FAMILY10 (see here)
* If you have ^15 of Tesco Clubcard Vouchers you can get a F&F Railcard for 'free' (see here)

Whatever you decide, and if it really is 2 adults 2 children (which means I'll have to re-quote  ), don't use the thetrainline.com for FGW Advance Purchase fares. Buy direct from firstgreatwestern.co.uk. First, you'll get FGWs online discount for APs, and second, FGW won't charge you booking or card fees.

[BerkshireBugsy]

Bugger - fat fingers...I meant 14

[BerkshireBugsy]

Sorry forgot my manners - thank you BNM

[JayMac]

Right then.... not to busy at the moment, so I'll re-quote  :

Purchasing Advance Purchase tickets (AP) from firstgreatwestern.co.uk:

1st November
0802 Thatcham - Cardiff Central 1023 (change Reading) 2 adults 2 children AP ^67.60 (2x ^22.50 2x ^11.30)
1825 Cardiff Central - Thatcham 2103 (change Reading) 2 adults 2 children AP ^40.60 (2x 13.50 2x ^6.80)

Total ^108.20

If you had a Family & Friends Railcard that would come down to a total of ^61.40, so the ^30* outlay for the Railcard would still show a saving on this one journey alone. If you do decide to go for the discounted APs there's nothing stopping you buying them online now whilst waiting for the F&F Railcard (should you purchase) to arrive. Plenty of time between now and travel date.

All prices correct as at 1325 21/09/2013 and based on purchase via firstgreatwestern.co.uk. As I've quoted AP prices, they are liable to change.

*You can buy a F&F Railcard online for ^27 at the moment using promo codes LEAFLET3 or FAMILY10 (see here)
* If you have ^15 of Tesco Clubcard Vouchers you can get a F&F Railcard for 'free' (see here)

Whatever you decide don't use the thetrainline.com for FGW^▸ (First Great Western) Advance Purchase fares. Buy direct from firstgreatwestern.co.uk. First, you'll get FGWs online discount for APs, and second, FGW won't charge you booking or card fees.

[Chris from Nailsea]

Thanks very much for your work on that one, bignosemac!

I'll shut up about simply suggesting GroupSave, then. 

[JayMac]

No worries. 

GroupSave was a fair shout Chris, and one I investigated following your suggestion. The major problem is the need for BB & Co to be in Cardiff by 1100 on a weekday. That means a start in the 'peak' from Thatcham, and GroupSave is only available on Off Peak fares*. I looked at splits, including the classic one of Didcot, but the time through Didcot was also still in the peak for a pre 1100 arrival at Cardiff.

I also looked at travel via Westbury, and whilst there was a slightly cheaper walk-up option with splits, it meant a much earlier start from Thatcham, two changes, longer journey times, and on the return a tight 5 minute connection at Westbury into what would be the last train of the day. Plus another half hour wait at Newbury if the connection was made. Not great if the incoming service is delayed and you have to sort onward travel with two children in tow.

*Except on flows where there is no Off Peak Day fare. Then GroupSave is valid on Anytime Day fares.

[BerkshireBugsy]

Guys - as always you have come up trumps

Many tnanks

Dave

[Chris from Nailsea]

No problem, Dave - as always, full credit to Justin 'bignosemac' for his sterling efforts in answering such ticketing posers on the Coffee Shop forum. 

Chris.