Splitting tickets + boundary zones

[Aly]

I realise there are probably already several threads on this matter, but having read through the forums I'm still a little confused over it all.

Basically, I want to travel from Gravesend to Reading, and having looked online for ways to split the fare to make it cheaper, I've come across boundary zone tickets. If I've understood it properly, a Gravesend to London zones 1-6 day travelcard, and then a boundary zone 6 to Reading ticket will cover my journey; is this correct? Also, can anyone advise me as to where I would be able to purchase a boundary zone 6 to Reading ticket?

 

[hairyhandedfool]

Your understanding is correct. You can buy boundary zone tickets at any ticket office when you present your travelcard.

 

[furlong]

Your understanding is correct. You can buy boundary zone tickets at any ticket office when you present your travelcard.

Although the awareness of these tickets seems to have improved substantially in recent years, in my experience some staff still struggle to issue boundary zone tickets. This happened to me again as recently as last weekend.

Sometimes staff try to issue tickets from a station near the boundary instead. (If they ask you to confirm what the boundary station is, that's a clue they might be thinking of doing this!) If the ticket office at the start of your journey or on-train staff are struggling to issue the ticket, just buy it from a London terminal as you pass through.

Sometimes it helps to have made a note of the 4-digit code shown on www.brfares.com - 0072 for BOUNDARY ZONE 6 in this case - and suggest staff try entering that code in place of the station name.

 

[Aly]

Thank you so much for the quick replies

 

[barrykas]

And if they're using Journey Planner (formerly RJIS) to enter the journey details instead of doing it directly on their ticket machine, they'll need to tick "Fares Only" to be able to get Boundary fares up.

 

[Aly]

Thanks for the heads-up.
Just to clarify, can I get any train out of Paddington as long as it matches the restrictions on my second ticket (eg via Slough, if I get boundary z6-Reading via Slough)?

 

[bb21]

Thanks for the heads-up.
Just to clarify, can I get any train out of Paddington as long as it matches the restrictions on my second ticket (eg via Slough, if I get boundary z6-Reading via Slough)?

Yes, if it is an Anytime ticket.

For Off-Peak tickets you need to obey the time restrictions on the ticket.

 

[A1]

Your understanding is correct. You can buy boundary zone tickets at any ticket office when you present your travelcard.

Are there any online portals that offer them?

 

[hairyhandedfool]

Not that I am aware of.

 

[island]

But as mentioned in the fares and ticketing guide, they can be purchased from some TOCs' telesales departments, as well as Southern ticket vending machines and of course booking offices.