Spalding[SPA]/Peterborough[PBO] to Reading[RDG] (Day return Sat 07 April)

[SouthStand]

Hoping to watch the whites away at the Madejski, just wondered if anyone had any suggestions to beat the day return price.

NOTE: the return leg can be just as far as Peterborough if necessary.

As always, thanks for the suggestions!

 

[LexyBoy]

Do you have any Railcards? Are you happy to have a longer journey if cheaper?

edit: some easy savings:

From Peterborough:

Through fares:
Peterborough-Reading Super Off Peak Return £54.80
Spalding-Reading Super Off Peak Return £61.60

Splitting at London:
Peterborough-London FCC Only Super Off Peak Day Return £18.00
London-Reading Off Peak Day Return £16.50
2 x Oyster PAYG singles on the Tube £4 (bus - the 205 - would be £2.70)
Total: £38.50

If you hold a Network Railcard or Gold Card, splitting at Huntingdon as well gives a small benefit:
Peterborough-Huntingdon £5.80 Off Peak Day Return
Huntingdon-London £17.00 (NSE £11.20) Off Peak Day Return
London-Reading £16.50 (NSE £10.90) Off Peak Day Return
2 x Oyster PAYG singles on the Tube £4 (bus - the 205 - would be £2.70)
Total (NSE): £31.90

You'll need to take FCC between Peterborough and Kings Cross, obviously. Any train from Paddington to Reading.

If you want to go from Spalding, add on the (rather expensive!) £7.50 Off Peak Day Return fare.

 

[extendedpaul]

A day return from Huntingdon to Reading is £25.10 with a Network Railcard without the need to split or use oyster. £12.70 day return from Spalding to Huntingdon via Peterborough.

 

[SouthStand]

Thanks guys, food for thought.

 

[jkdd77]

If you do want to be able to use the "fast" East Coast services between Peterborough to London, consider buying a Spalding- Peterborough Off-Peak Day Return, a Peterborough- London Zones 1-6 Off-Peak Day Travelcard, plus a Boundary Zone 6- Reading Off Peak Day Return (estimated at around £53 in total, although I don't have the exact figure to hand).

Personally, I don't think the extra cost is worth it, but it's up to you.

 

[island]

If you do want to be able to use the "fast" East Coast services between Peterborough to London, consider buying a Spalding- Peterborough Off-Peak Day Return,

£7.50 ANY PERMITTED

a Peterborough- London Zones 1-6 Off-Peak Day Travelcard,

£34.50 ANY PERMITTED

plus a Boundary Zone 6- Reading Off Peak Day Return (estimated at around £53 in total, although I don't have the exact figure to hand).

£10.50 VIA SLOUGH

Total £52.50, good estimate!
--- old post above --- --- new post below ---

If you hold a Network Railcard or Gold Card, splitting at Huntingdon as well gives a small benefit:
[snip]
2 x Oyster PAYG singles on the Tube £4 (bus - the 205 - would be £2.70)

With a Gold Card the Oyster PAYG singles are £1.30 each

 

[jkdd77]

Thanks for the figures island.

If East Coast services are indeed desired, for an even cheaper option, Spalding- Reading advance singles for 7 April currently appear to be available on the 09:02 from Spalding (arr. Reading 12:48) and the 18:02 from Reading (arr. Spalding 20:54) for £20 each way.

With these tickets, stopping short at Peterborough would not be permitted; if you wished to finish your journey there rather than continue to Spalding, you would need a Reading- Peterborough advance single on the 18:02 (arr. Peterborough 20:19) at £17.50 instead.

If it was my money, and I didn't have any railcard, I'd probably buy:
Spalding- Peterborough Off Peak Day Return rte Any Permitted £7.50
Peterborough- London Zones 1-6 FCC Only Super Off Peak Day Travelcard £24.00
(which, as I understand it, is valid on any operator's service within the Travelcard zones)
Boundary Zone 6- Reading Off Peak Day Return rte Slough £10.50
Total: £42.00