Coventry to Oxford return commute

[phcov]

Hi,
I will be commuting to Oxford from Coventry for the next 8 months beginning March. I am looking to see if there are any cheaper ways than the standard ticket prices. I will be travelling more or less at peak times (8 - 4 or 9 - 5 work day) although I have some flexibility. I will only be going three days/week so weekly or monthly passes don't seem to be worth it. The best I can come up with at present is on Cross Country splitting tickets at Banbury.This gives me 13.80 + 12.00 = £25.80 return/day (anytime tickets). My closest stations are Canley and Coventry.
I have a student card but not the NUS extra card - I note that there is a 10% discount with this for advance tickets but doesn't appear to be any better than the above split ticket price and with less flexibility.
Any suggestions appreciated.

 

[leymoo]

Hi,
I will be commuting to Oxford from Coventry for the next 8 months beginning March. I am looking to see if there are any cheaper ways than the standard ticket prices. I will be travelling more or less at peak times (8 - 4 or 9 - 5 work day) although I have some flexibility. I will only be going three days/week so weekly or monthly passes don't seem to be worth it. The best I can come up with at present is on Cross Country splitting tickets at Banbury.This gives me 13.80 + 12.00 = £25.80 return/day (anytime tickets). My closest stations are Canley and Coventry.
I have a student card but not the NUS extra card - I note that there is a 10% discount with this for advance tickets but doesn't appear to be any better than the above split ticket price and with less flexibility.
Any suggestions appreciated.

I can get lower by splitting into singles (without splitting) and using the following fares:
http://www.brfares.com/#faredetail?orig=COV&dest=OXF&rlc=NGC&rte=452&ldn=1&tkt=VES
http://www.brfares.com/#faredetail?orig=OXF&dest=COV&rlc=YNG&rte=452&ldn=1&tkt=VES
That is including a 16-25 railcard.
But you're then limiting yourself to Virgin Trains only, and committing to finding available fares before others do.

You can also not bother with the railcard and go for a weekly season, at £109:
http://www.brfares.com/#faredetail?orig=COV&dest=OXF&rte=267&tkt=7DS
Assuming 5 days a week that's the fare down to £21.80/day.

I've discovered that the long distance XC seasons are all inherently reasonable compared to their anytime single fares, so I've often used them when making very similar sorts of journeys in the same week, tagging on day singles or returns as appropriate.

 

[Romilly]

This gives me 13.80 + 12.00 = £25.80 return/day (anytime tickets). My closest stations are Canley and Coventry. I have a student card

If by "student card" the OP means a 16-25 Railcard, then the fares on the OP's proposed split will be £12 + £12 = £24 per day, because the OP can use their railcard during the morning peak to reduce the £13.80 for a Coventry-Banbury Anytime Day Return to the £12 minimum fare for a morning-peak ticket discounted with a 16-25 railcard. During July and August, there is no minimum fare, so the daily price will be £9.10 + £12 = £21.10.

I cannot think of any cheaper way of doing this using flexible tickets given that the OP will travelling only 3 days per week.

 

[kieron]

You could buy a season ticket between Tackley and Oxford for £108/month. Then, if you buy Coventry (or Canley)-Tackley day returns (£13.80 w/o railcard, £12 with), you could catch a train each way which does not stop at Tackley. If you work 12 days a month, this would be an average of £22.80 a day without a railcard, or £21 with.

You could reduce the cost a bit by buying season tickets to start at the beginning of one work week and finish at the end of another.

It would definitely be worth you buying a 16-25 railcard if you are eligible for one, and having a student card suggests that you are eligible for it.

 

[phcov]

Thanks very much for the suggestions. Unfortunately, too old for a 16-25 railcard. And will only be travelling 3 days/week so any cost reductions based on 5 days/week travelling don't work either. Will check out the other suggestions. Any other advice gratefully appreciated.

 

[LuSiVe]

Thanks very much for the suggestions. Unfortunately, too old for a 16-25 railcard. And will only be travelling 3 days/week so any cost reductions based on 5 days/week travelling don't work either. Will check out the other suggestions. Any other advice gratefully appreciated.

Are you in full time education though?

http://www.16-25railcard.co.uk/help/railcard-terms-conditions/

You must be aged 16-25 years old to purchase Railcard. Mature students are also eligible to purchase the 1-year Railcard if over 25 years old and in full time education (with valid proof). 3-year 16-25 Railcards are available online only and may be purchased up until the day before your 24th birthday.

 

[phcov]

You could buy a season ticket between Tackley and Oxford for £108/month. Then, if you buy Coventry (or Canley)-Tackley day returns (£13.80 w/o railcard, £12 with), you could catch a train each way which does not stop at Tackley. If you work 12 days a month, this would be an average of £22.80 a day without a railcard, or £21 with.

You could reduce the cost a bit by buying season tickets to start at the beginning of one work week and finish at the end of another.

Hi kieron, how exactly does this work? I am not clear how I am covered for the Banbury-Oxford stretch of the route.

 

[67018]

Hi kieron, how exactly does this work? I am not clear how I am covered for the Banbury-Oxford stretch of the route.

Tackley is between Banbury and Oxford. The Coventry-Tackley return covers you for the Coventry-Banbury-Tackley section, and the season for the remaining section into Oxford. Because one of the two tickets you are using is a season ticket, the train does not need to stop at the station (Tackley) where you change from one ticket to the other.

 

[phcov]

Thank you for the explanation and also to everyone who mentioned 16-25 railcard. Didnt realise they were valid for all full time students. Had previously dismissed them as I was out of the age bracket and had never bothered to look at the full criteria. Have now applied for it.
Many thanks!
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You could buy a season ticket between Tackley and Oxford for £108/month. Then, if you buy Coventry (or Canley)-Tackley day returns (£13.80 w/o railcard, £12 with), you could catch a train each way which does not stop at Tackley. If you work 12 days a month, this would be an average of £22.80 a day without a railcard, or £21 with.

Was Tackley the best option for this or is it worth looking at other stations as well?

 

[Paul Kelly]

I think it's unlikely there'd be anywhere better - the day return fare from Coventry to Tackley is the same as to Banbury, yet Tackley is only one stop from Oxford so there won't be any cheaper season available (season fares tend not to exhibit anomalies in the same way as single and return fares, because they are so tightly regulated).