Train ticket pries, does this make sense?

A question about : Train ticket pries, does this make sense?

Travelling to Southampton on Saturday 10th November 2012, returning nexy day, viewing:
https://www.thetrainline.com

Out
Saturday 10 Nov 2012, Depart 08:48
Port Talbot Parkway PTA to Southampton Central SOU
Ј26.50

Return
Sunday 11 Nov 2012, Depart 12:15
Southampton Central SOU to Port Talbot Parkway PTA
Ј74.00

TOTAL = Ј100.50
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Just to test something:

I did a single one way from Southampton Central SOU to Port Talbot Parkway PTA
Sunday 11 Nov 2012, Depart 12:15
Ј74.00

So it costs Ј26.50 up and Ј74.00 back

Can't remember the last time I booked a long journey train but am I missing something?

Best answers:

• Yes, you are missing something.
  On that Sunday, buses replace trains between Southampton and Salisbury.
  Your chosen return trip, and most others, is via Basingstoke and Reading.
  Apparently the train operating company does not feel it is appropriate to offer the cheaper Advance Singles on that day, as they don't want to encourage more passengers.
  Your outward ticket is an Advance Single at Ј26.50.
  Your return ticket is a Super Off Peak Single at Ј74.00.
  Maybe you could return earlier on the Sunday?
  Dep Southampton Central at 09:20 by bus to Salisbury, and train onwards, arriving at Port Talbot at 14:06.
  Ј26.50 Advance Single is available on that departure only.
  If you haven't bought your tickets yet, your best bet is to buy a Super Off Peak Return at Ј75.00.
  Oh... and avoid the trainline and avoid their fees.
  You can get exactly the same tickets from most train operators without any fees.
  I'd use Southern Railway, because they will offer a money back guarantee on that Super Off Peak Return.
• You can also get the Anytime Return 'via Salisbury'. for Ј52.30.
  Totally flexible.
  This would require you to take the Southampton - Salisbury bus replacement coming back.
• Also, sometimes it's worthwhile to split the ticket purchases, to and from an intermediate station, and it certainly helps here. You don't necessarily change trains there, but the ticket must be to a place it will stop.
  All advance single tickets:
  Outward at those same times on the Saturday
  Port Talbot Parkway 0848 - Bristol Temple Meads Ј13.50
  same train
  Bristol Temple Meads - Southampton Central 1203 Ј10
  For the return, if you can get that earlier train via Salisbury as above, it only saves about 50p to split, but if going via Reading it's definitely worth it, and by coincidence the timing you mentioned turns out to have the best price.
  Southampton Central 1215 - Reading 1304 Ј9.50
  Reading 1313 - Port Talbot Parkway 1532 Ј17.50
• Just to point out that it is really important to buy Advance Single tickets as soon as possible.
  In the last four days some of the fares mentioned have gone up:
• Port Talbot Parkway 0848 - Bristol Temple Meads Ј13.50 - now Ј16.50
• Bristol Temple Meads - Southampton Central 1203 Ј10 - now Ј12.50
• Southampton Central 1215 - Reading 1304 Ј9.50 - still Ј9.50
• Reading 1313 - Port Talbot Parkway 1532 Ј17.50- now Ј21.00
• It's a good point that some advance fares go upwards as the time gets closer.
  That's a bit of a pain, though PTA to BRI seems to have gone back to Ј13.
  I noticed that leaving PTA half an hour earlier is Ј9, then wait at Bristol for the other train.
  Another possibility is ordinary return to Cardiff for Ј12.90, then a Freedom of Severn & Solent 3 in 7 days for Ј42. That would be for any train, though only via Salisbury not Reading, and it would be bus substitute to Salisbury the Sunday, so make a copy of the timetable via there.
  I assume this trip is for the football. Is it possible to share a car?