Kingston to Moorgate Season ticket

[The Snap]

Morning all,

My brother will soon be moving to Kingston-upon-Thames and working near Moorgate. He will use the train to commute.

Now, obviously Kingston is an NR station yet is in Zone 6 on the LU network, and Moorgate is in Zone 1.
I've priced up an annual season ticket through both National Rail and TfL, and both have the same price (£2,344.00). The NRE website shows the ticket as 'Kingston to London Zones 1-6', and TfL is just a 'Zones 1-6' travelcard.

What is the best option? Is there a difference or are these tickets identical? If the TfL option is chosen, presumably this can be loaded onto an Oyster card and gets him through the barriers etc. If the NR option is chosen, would this mean inconvenience at stations (can't scan it on the barrier etc)?

Also, a final question, presumably both of these tickets are valid for unlimited travel between anywhere and anywhere within Zones 1-6?

Thanks.

 

[Tetchytyke]

They're the same ticket, a Z1-6 travelcard. If you buy it from an Underground or Overground station, or from Marylebone, it will be on Oyster. If you buy it from most other National Rail stations it will be on paper. It's up to you which you prefer.

I'd suggest buying it on Oyster, as Oyster gives you more protection if you lose it than a paper ticket does. If you get it as an annual from Marylebone you should also be entitled to free weekend travel on Chiltern Railways, assuming they don't change the rules again.

 

[swt_passenger]

First of all, Kingston is in 'Zone 6' of the London Fare zonal area, the zonal system is for all modes, it isn't just an LU thing.

National Rail stations will almost always offer a paper ticket (annual gold card) that will work the barriers throughout the zones by putting it through the slot. If you buy this from SWT you will get their perk of 6 free weekend journeys.

TfL will only offer an Oyster equivalent, which will work the same barriers using the readers. No perks that I'm aware of. A paper Gold Record card will be issued.

Throughout the London fare zones the ticket barriers operate with both mag stripe tickets to Oyster, most people seem to expect the mag stripe tickets to fail a few times during the year. So Oyster is probably more durable, and has better protection if lost or stolen, SWT paper has more freebies.

 

[paul1609]

First of all, Kingston is in 'Zone 6' of the London Fare zonal area, the zonal system is for all modes, it isn't just an LU thing.

National Rail stations will almost always offer a paper ticket (annual gold card) that will work the barriers throughout the zones by putting it through the slot. If you buy this from SWT you will get their perk of 6 free weekend journeys.

TfL will only offer an Oyster equivalent, which will work the same barriers using the readers. No perks that I'm aware of. A paper Gold Record card will be issued.

Throughout the London fare zones the ticket barriers operate with both mag stripe tickets to Oyster, most people seem to expect the mag stripe tickets to fail a few times during the year. So Oyster is probably more durable, and has better protection if lost or stolen, SWT paper has more freebies.

My outboundary all Zones annual season tickets are issued by Southeastern but Ive never had to replace them because the Mag Strip has failed. Its always because the printing has faded through repeated handling to put them through barriers they generally last around 5 months.

 

[The Snap]

Thanks for the responses all.

Regarding the Chiltern benefits, their website states:

When you buy a monthly or longer season ticket or Travelcard season ticket, originating from a Chiltern Railways station, valid on our services, and worth £150 or more a month (or £1,500 or more a year), you get FREE travel at weekends and on Bank Holidays across our entire network (except for the Bicester Village Shuttle Bus). You must buy your ticket from Chiltern Railways to receive this benefit. If your Season Ticket is on an Oyster card you must also have your paper record card to travel free at weekends and Bank Holidays.

That wouldn't apply to a Kingston to Moorgate season ticket would it, given neither of those stations are operated by Chiltern?

 

[swt_passenger]

It would apply, because it is a zonal product, not a point to point Kingston to Moorgate ticket. If bought from Kingston it would not show the destination Moorgate, but zones 1-6. If you buy it at Moorgate, it wouldn't show Kingston.

If you buy at Marylebone it won't show Kingston or Moorgate, but its still valid for the regular journey you want to make, and any other journey within zones 1-6.

 

[Tetchytyke]

That wouldn't apply to a Kingston to Moorgate season ticket would it, given neither of those stations are operated by Chiltern?

The season ticket is zone one to zone 6 inclusive, and Chiltern Railways have stations in zone one and zone six. Which station you choose to use in zone one and zone six is irrelevant.

The phrasing has only been changed to that recently, as I tried to argue that a Hemel - Z1-6 outboundary Travelcard (bought at Aylesbury or Marylebone) met the criteria. They changed the wording in response (as outboundary season tickets always have the origin outside the zones)

 

[The Snap]

It would apply, because it is a zonal product, not a point to point Kingston to Moorgate ticket. If bought from Kingston it would not show the destination Moorgate, but zones 1-6. If you buy it at Moorgate, it wouldn't show Kingston.

If you buy at Marylebone it won't show Kingston or Moorgate, but its still valid for the regular journey you want to make, and any other journey within zones 1-6.

The season ticket is zone one to zone 6 inclusive, and Chiltern Railways have stations in zone one and zone six. Which station you choose to use in zone one and zone six is irrelevant.

The phrasing has only been changed to that recently, as I tried to argue that a Hemel - Z1-6 outboundary Travelcard (bought at Aylesbury or Marylebone) met the criteria. They changed the wording in response (as outboundary season tickets always have the origin outside the zones)

Thanks for the responses. I'm much clearer on it now .

 

[greatkingrat]

A cheaper way would be a Kingston - London Terminals ticket for £1800, which could get you as far Cannon Street, then walk the last bit.

 

[The Snap]

A cheaper way would be a Kingston - London Terminals ticket for £1800, which could get you as far Cannon Street, then walk the last bit.

Does that allow use of the Underground from Waterloo to Cannon Street?

Thanks.

 

[maniacmartin]

A cheaper way would be a Kingston - London Terminals ticket for £1800, which could get you as far Cannon Street, then walk the last bit.

Which route would one take with that, bearing in mind the current Thameslink engineering works?

 

[The Snap]

Which route would one take with that, bearing in mind the current Thameslink engineering works?

Waterloo for the Bakerloo/Northern to Embankment, Circle/District to Cannon Street?