Pass Validity
Passes are valid from 09:20 - 00:00 on a chosen day of travel, except for departures from Paddington 16:40 - 19:16 inclusive Monday – Friday (not public holidays).
Discounts
Children (aged 5-15 inclusive) – 50%, Railcard Holders – 10% (applies to 16-25, Family, HM Forces, Senior, Disabled Persons and Two Together Railcards – where Child discounts apply under a Railcard scheme the Child receives a 55% discount off the Adult fare). No further discounts apply, including for holders of PRIV / FIP / TADA facilities – these customers should buy an appropriate discount rail ticket and pay separately for bus travel.
Upgrading
Holders of Adult / Child Standard Class passes or tickets may travel in First Class accommodation on payment of the difference between the First Class and Standard Class full fare of the journey being made.
Seat Reservations
Reservations for particular journeys are not compulsory, but for busy trains are advisable (i.e. mainlines in peak hours). It is not necessary to validate a pass in order to reserve a seat in advance. Normal fees are payable (where charged).
First Class and Standard Class
Many local trains have Standard Class accommodation only. This has been accounted for in the price of the First Class Passes.
Purchase Restrictions
The Great West Way ticket is non-transferable and must only be used by the person or persons specified on the ticket.
Exclusions
The Great West Way pass is not valid on CrossCountry Trains services, special excursions, privately owned railways, steam services, London Underground trains, buses (other than those listed), nor any other services not mentioned.
Prices
The partners reserve the right to change prices without notice whether such changes are related or not to alterations in the rates of exchange.
Refunds will be granted if:
Full refunds are permitted (minus a £10 admin fee per booking, not per ticket) until 23:59 the day before the start date of the ticket. No refunds are permitted on or after the start date of the ticket. Customers are advised to ensure that they have appropriate Travel Insurance to cover the cost of unused tickets, where they are unable to use the ticket or claim a refund on unused or partially used tickets.
Where a Pass forms part of an inclusive Tour Package, it is not separately refundable. Where no other cancellation charges are specified by travel agent, the cancellation charge will be a minimum of 15%. Special offers are not refundable. Neither the Participating Operators nor their Agents can accept any responsibility for any failure in the provision of any special offers included. Refunds should not be returned to the Freepost address listed on this ticket cover but to the agent you originally purchased it through. Seat and Sleeper reservations are non-refundable.
Lost tickets
GWR is not responsible for tickets or vouchers, which are lost, stolen, mutilated or destroyed. Refunds cannot be authorised in such cases. Therefore, travel insurance is recommended.
Routes
The Great West Way Discoverer pass is valid on the following train and bus routes, subject to change or alteration.
Great West Way Discoverer routes – Global
All routes included in East and West regions
Great West Way Discoverer routes – East
Train routes:
- London Paddington – Swindon via Didcot Parkway and Westbury via Pewsey
- London Waterloo – Westbury via Salisbury using GWR or SWR services
- Thames Valley branch lines east of Reading, except services to Greenford
Bus routes:
- X2 and X32 Oxford and Wantage via Didcot Parkway – Thames Travel, Connector service
- X38/X39 & X40, Reading, Henley, Wallingford, Oxford – Thames Travel, River Rapids service
- X5 Salisbury, Amesbury, Pewsey, Marlborough, Swindon – Salisbury Reds service
- Green Line services 702 and 703 between Heathrow, Windsor and LEGOLAND Windsor Resort
- Reading Buses services, excluding Greenwave, Kennections, football and special event services
Discounts on the following services:
Great West Way Discoverer routes – West
Train routes:
- Bristol Temple Meads – Swindon via Chippenham
- Bristol Temple Meads – Salisbury via Westbury
- Chippenham – Trowbridge via Melksham
- Westbury – Pewsey
- Westbury – Frome
Bus routes:
- X5 Salisbury, Amesbury, Pewsey, Marlborough, Swindon – Salisbury Reds service
- 49 Trans-Wilts-Express, Swindon, Trowbridge – Stagecoach West service
- 55 Swindon, Royal Wootton Bassett, Chippenham – Stagecoach West GOLD service
- S6 Swindon, Faringdon, Oxford – Stagecoach West GOLD service
- 80/81 Swindon – Marlborough – Stagecoach West service
- All First West of England services, except the Bristol Flyer services at present
Local bus routes are subject to amendment, please check online for latest information.
