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Heathrow to Bath by train - cheapest/most efficient way

I need to get from Terminal 5 to Bath for a funeral in January and having been out of the loop in terms of National Rail for years since moving up to Skye find myself in need of some advice, which might hopefully help others making similar journeys.

It seems from National Rail that the cheapest way for 2 of us to make this journey is likely to be rail with changes at Hayes & Harlington and Reading, and using a Two Together Railcard. We would be travelling late afternoon on Sunday 12th January from T5 to Bath and then back again late evening on Monday 13th January. The Two Together price seems to be about £113 for the two of us with the rail card, much cheaper than the regular standard class rail fare for two of £170. The rail card seems to cost £30, so even if we never use it again we will have saved money. And the route via H&H and Reading seems considerably cheaper than going into Paddington and back out again.

I feel so out of date and have considerable empathy with visitors trying to navigate all this! Hopefully Nigel and/or isn31c will step in to advise whether I have this right and whether there's a better way!

Thanks so much
Jacqui (Skyegirl)

Posted by
1305 posts

Dates don’t work for Inverness to Bristol flights.

Posted by
8126 posts

Jacqui,

This feels a bit surreal, one Brit advising another. This is one question which always seems to get so complicated and divide the room, the worst question on this forum bar none.

You've missed the £10 Early bird HEX fares so via Paddington is out.

Yes the Railcard is £30 until March. The Rail Air coach to Reading then train comes out for those dates and times as £147 return.

So I agree with £113.90 via Hayes and H, then Reading as being the best fare on a Super Off Peak Return so totally flexible.

It's too late at night to go and look at the TVM's, but at least on Northern's website this has to be issued as manually split tickets- Heathrow to Hayes and H return, then Hayes and H to Bath Super Off Peak return

I can't get either Scotrail or GWR to issue this as one ticket- both insist on taking me to Paddington to issue as one ticket.

There is a really clever way to get those fares down to £100.30 but it's not worth such a small saving (Air Coach to Basingstoke, then Basingstoke to Bath by train changing at Salisbury).

Posted by
1305 posts

Surreal indeed but you and Nigel are the most knowledgeable people I know regarding trains, so hopefully allowable. Thanks so much for your advice. And I’m reassured that I found the appropriate tickets.

Posted by
33986 posts

I haven't had the spade out and tried to ferret out the very best on those specific days, but I think you've hit the nail on the head, Jacqui. That's what I would have looked at in your shoes.

My only concern is your wandering H&H late evening on your return. I haven't used the station in the quiet hours so couldn't say. But I do visit Hayes by car from time to time and it is mostly commercial and industrial with some housing. Probably talking through my hat but wondering if I, in your shoes might prefer returning via Paddington or coach from Reading right back tio the airport. Just mulling.

Sorry for your loss.

I have to attend a memorial on Sunday evening, day after tomorrow - at least mine is on Zoom and I can visit from the comfort of a warm house.

Safe and trouble free travel to you...

Posted by
1305 posts

Thank you Nigel. I reckon we should be OK at Hayes and Harlington. It won’t be the wee small hours and my husband will be with me.

Posted by
5466 posts

You can force GWR to sell the H&H - Reading route on one ticket by setting "Avoid" to Paddington (other sellers probably the same if they have this option).

They will pretty much always try to sell their Advance Singles at a few pounds less by default so you need to select the super off peak return from the alternative fares.