Westbury to Gatwick Airport - December 2023

[whole diary]

[WSW Frome]

[I thought I was familar with rail tickets and pricing but I can now see why the public are so confused. Recently I planned a trip to London from FRO^» (Frome - next trains)/WSB^» (Westbury - next trains). There are probably 4 versions of (normal) routing and pricing. Unless one buys an anytime fare, I was amazed to find that selection of various journey pairs produces a wide variety of price variations, even within the same peak/off-peak slots. The route selections also generally make the journey route specific.]

So to the future, I need tickets WSB to GTW for 12 December out mid-morning and 27 December back mid/late afternoon. There are a plethora of routings available, including via Southampton, which is quite attractive apart from a bus replacement on the return!

Now peak time restrictions are lifted after Christmas which helps the price situation. Since there will be uncertainty about airlines/airports on the return I will avoid any trickery with fixed split tickets or shorter distance advance fares. This leads me to consider outward:

10.47WSB SOP^▸ (Standard Operating Instructions) fare £45.80 via RDG^▸ (Rail Delivery Group, or Reading station, depending on context)/GLD, or
11.44WSB OP^▸ (Original Poster / topic starter, or Off Peak, depending on context) fare £45.50 via SAL/CLJ

(Both railcard prices. Changes only at RDG or CLJ, in spite of certain journey planner information).

These fares appear route specific so I am wondering if there is any ticket that allows greater flexibility, such as use of the alternative routing above on the return, or travel via Central London. I would rule out the cost of Anytime via London. Suggestions on the use of flexible split tickets might also be useful but there will probably be little benefit there.

Alternatively I would hope that a change of route would be allowed by payment of the excess (as happened in the olden days). The excess being calculated by payment of any higher cost attributable to 50% of the return fare? No doubt it might be a challenge to get such a change duly processed - however, we live in hope.

Colleagues - I would welcome your thoughts and suggestions.


 

     

[grahame]

There are 8 standard class walk up return fares (7 singles) but no "Any permitted". There are also 71 Advance single fares.

At £80.60 (£53.20 with a railcard), there is a super off peak via London, including the underground. Or change at Paddington and Farringdon?

[bobm]

Paddington main line station is closed on the 27th December as work at Old Oak Common for HS2^▸ (The next High Speed line(s)) ramps up.

[LiskeardRich]

Personally with Paddington closed, I’d choose via Salisbury and Clapham junction. Reading will I expect be chaotic.

(From down here in Cornwall i always choose via honiton and Clapham junction when travelling to Gatwick) personal preference