Cardiff 2014- Trains Back To Reading/london After?

[WestBerksPalace]

I wonder if those who have been to the GP in recent years can share their experience.

I went to the first 10 Cardiff GPs, until 2010, not since, but have purchased a ticket for this year.

 

The last time I went by train from Reading, getting home, frankly, was a mare. Even though booked on a train that should have got me home in good time. We were kept behind a barrier outside the station for ages, like 1 hr plus, then when we did get on the station platform, the direct service to Reading/London had finished, and we were sent via Bristol, then had to change trains, this service was on a very slow train.

 

This year, there is an 20:25 dirrect service back to Reading/London.

Will I be able to walk onto it, if I pre-book my seat on that service?

 

As I say, wanting others to share experience over the last few years. I know about other options, and I have driven 9 of the 10 years. So, just wondering if they have sorted this shambles out now?

 

Many Thanks, Shaun.

[racers and royals]

My advice would be-as soon as the final is run - leg it and you should be ok.

[severnsider]

There were similar problems of people being kept behind barriers & not getting on pre booked trains at the Heineken Cup Final two weeks ago

[SCB]

I'd not bank on it. Everyone has to queue, if you're at the back then you're waiting. Ticket or not.

[JT]

It's farcical that you have to go to these lengths when you've already paid a fortune for the ticket, but in my experience the Crewe queue is nearly always empty. I've looked at the route from Cardiff to Crewe and it goes via Cwmbran, Abergavenny, Hereford etc.

Just to be sure, I'd buy a ticket for a town on the other side of the border (Hereford) and you should be let straight through. Just swap tickets (and platforms) when you're inside and you should be able to catch your desired London train. You'll be £11 worse off (see ticket link below), but it's probably a small price to pay for inconvenience of waiting around.

I can't promise it will work, but it may be worth a try!

http://www.thetrainline.com/buytickets/combinedmatrix.aspx?Command=TimeTable#Journey/CDF/HFD/12/07/14/20/15/Dep//////Dep/1/0//0;0;0

JT.

Edited June 4, 2014 by JT

[J-D]

worth also checking about split ticket fares:

 

Example:

 

Train Tickets From Reading to Cardiff:

 

Ordinary Fares Type Ticket Type Price Restrictions Main Fare Super Off Peak Return £59.50 Any Permitted Route Main Fare Off Peak Return £75.00 Any Permitted Route Main Fare Anytime Single £88.50 Any Permitted Route Main Fare Anytime Return £177.00 Any Permitted Route

 

Split Fares - Peak Journeys From To Price Ticket Type Restrictions 4. Reading Didcot £9.40 Anytime Day Return Any Permitted Route 5. Didcot Swindon £41.80 Anytime Day Return Any Permitted Route 6. Swindon Bristol £20.50 Anytime Day Return Any Permitted Route 7. Bristol Cardiff £16.60 Anytime Day Return Any Permitted Route Total Split Price £88.30 Main Fares Saving £88.70

Information last checked/updated: 14 October 2013

Split Fares - Off-Peak Journeys From To Price Ticket Type Restrictions 1. Reading Didcot £5.80 Off Peak Day Return Any Permitted Route 2. Didcot Swindon £10.30 Off Peak Day Return Any Permitted Route 3. Swindon Cardiff £19.30 Off Peak Day Return Any Permitted Route Total Split Price £35.40 Main Fares Saving £24.10

Information last checked/updated: 14 October 2013

 

Edited June 4, 2014 by J-D