Fare experts - Sanity check please

[whole diary]

[grahame]

* Day return next week, Swindon to Weymouth via Yeovil on the 09:22 - ^16.90
(Groupsave OK)

* Day return next week, Swindon to Weymouth via Yeovil on the 08:47 - ^50.50
(no Groupsave)

The 08:47 is a direct (class 150?) train that does not call at Chippenham. 
The 09:22 is "Change Westbury"

Have I read this right? (Kinda hard to encourage newcomers on weekdays at ^50.50 each, or to explain to them the alternative of splitting at Trowbridge which I think is the cheapest option)

[ChrisB]

The earlier train is likely a peak return?

[grahame]

The earlier train is likely a peak return?

In name, yes ... but scarcely in terms of passenger numbers, I would have thought.  A party of 3 adults on the 08:47 at ^151.50 or on the 09:22 at ^33.80 seems - well - a bit over the top in the circumstances.  At ^12 a head, it's a bargain. At ^20 pounds a head it's saleable.  At over ^50 a head I cannot sell it as a day trip.

[JayMac]

Heart of Wessex Day Danger at ^19.00 (^12.55 railcard - but not Two Together before 0930). Valid on any train after 0820.

GroupSave can be had from Trowbridge, but non GroupSave Anytime Day Return needed from Swindon to Trowbridge. That split would total ^21.60, so the Day Ranger is the best option and it can be marketed with its hop on, hop off validity.

[grahame]

Heart of Wessex Day Danger at ^19.00 (^12.55 railcard - but not Two Together before 0930). Valid on any train after 0820.

Thanks - I must be slipping.  Can't believe I missed the "Day Danger" trick.

RailEasy says ^35.90 with splits for 1 person and describes it as "cheapest" ... I'm sure the fine print indicates it's the cheapest they could find.  Think that's an any route Swindon - Trowbridge rather than a "via Melksham" and probably a Trowbridge - Weymouth day via Yeovil when a Melksham - Weymouth is actually cheaper.

[ChrisB]

They will always exclude rovers & rangers as the programming can't cope with area validities - so point-to-point fares only

[bobm]

It's a particular bug bear of mine that the usual 08:49 from Swindon to Westbury is a peak train so cheaper tickets and rovers are not valid - especially as the next one is not for two hours.

Furthermore the 08:27 to Paignton and 08:54 to Gloucester are in the list of before 9am trains for the Freedom of South West rover.