Is Watford High Street in the WFJ group?

[NathanPrior]

Basically going to Watford (wish me luck) on New Years Day and looking at getting a return to Watford Junction with the LM sale but changing at WFJ and going on down to Watford High Street. Would this be valid as it's much quicker than 45mins on the Overground.

 

[Simon11]

Basically going to Watford (wish me luck) on New Years Day and looking at getting a return to Watford Junction with the LM sale but changing at WFJ and going on down to Watford High Street. Would this be valid as it's much quicker than 45mins on the Overground.

I'm not sure if the ticket would be valid, however you can only take the overground to watford high street which is every 10-15mins?

 

[NathanPrior]

Was gonna go

11:53 EUS >> WFJ 12:13
12:21 WFJ >> WFH 12:24

15:20 WFH >> WFJ 15:24
15:35 WFJ >> EUS 15:52/57

Cuts off about 10-15mins walking time from Watford Junction to the football ground

 

[MikeWh]

I don't believe that there is a Watford group. Fares to Watford Junction are significantly more than fares to Watford High Street (from London) so it would appear not to be valid. If the route is "Any Permitted" then you could go fast one way and slow the other and break your return journey at High Street, but if the route is LM only then that isn't an option either. Using Oyster PAYG the fare between the Watford stations is only £1.40 each way.

 

[NathanPrior]

The LM online price for a return to WFJ is £4.90 which does also include LO trains in the mixing deck. If need be I'll just use Oyster from WFJ to WFH for 95p with my YP Railcard.

 

[Brucey]

The LM online price for a return to WFJ is £4.90 which does also include LO trains in the mixing deck. If need be I'll just use Oyster from WFJ to WFH for 95p with my YP Railcard.

The Oyster fare (on bank holidays) from Euston to Watford High Street is £2.45 each way with a railcard loaded (so £4.90 for the return). Provided you don't exceed the maximum journey time, couldn't be this be done via Watford Junction without touching anywhere?

 

[John @ home]

Why don't you use Oyster PAYG from [stn]EUS[/stn] to [stn]WFH[/stn] via [stn]WFJ[/stn]? You don't need to touch in or out at [stn]WFJ[/stn], and you should be charged only the Zone 1-8 fare.

23 November 2012 02:34

Some family members are planning a weekend trip to Watford, staying in a hotel near Watford High St. I can’t find any reason why they can’t use Oyster Pay-as-you-Go on the fast London Midland service Euston – Watford Jn, then take the Overground service Watford Jn – Watford High St without any intermediate Oyster touches. Is this valid and can they expect to be charged only a Zone 1 - 7 8 fare?

23 November 2012 03:56

The standing instruction is to always touch in at the beginning and out at the end of the journey. I have also been told that you cannot be off-route with an Oyster card unless you exceed the maximum journey time or venture outside the Oyster area (eg to Epsom). I can therefore see no reason why you shouldn’t travel via Watford Junction, unless the Overground platforms are in a separately gated area. [John @ home: They are not.] As long as the maximum journey time isn’t exceeded they can expect to be charged a zone 1-8 fare. Watford (Met) is in zone 7 while High Street is in zone 8.

http://www.oyster-rail.org.uk/fares-guide/

 

[island]

It seems a bit double-backish, but it probably qualifies under the 3-mile rule.

 

[Hadders]

I have traveled from EUS-WFH via WFJ when visiting Vicarage Road to watch rugby.

I agree that Oyster PAYG is probably the best option however if using paper tickets then a ticket to WFJ is cheaper as there is a CDR to WFJ but not to WFH. There is nothing stopping you from breaking your return journey at WFH although upon resuming your return journey after the match I don't think you would be able to return to EUS via WFJ.

If the OP has a Network Railcard then a paper CDR can be discounted whereas Oyster PAYG cannot. A paper ticket to WFJ is 95p cheaper than oyster PAYG in this instance.

 

[island]

Assuming it's a weekend of course!

 

[John @ home]

It seems a bit double-backish

In this instance, it does not pass through any station more than once. London Euston - Watford Jn on London Midland does not pass through Watford High St.

In general, I am not aware of any rule which prohibits doubling back when using Oyster Pay-as-You-Go. If a Kings Cross - Stamford Brook passenger finds it more convenient to travel Kings Cross - Turnham Green, then to double back to Stamford Brook, it seems to me that the rules allow this.