East Croydon to Worthing

[bazink]

I fancy taking a day trip to Worthing before the warm weather ends. I have no discounts and want to travel as a single passenger from East Croydon on a weekday morning, ideally at the beginning of the off-peak period. Is that 9am or 9:30am these days? I'd probably travel back to East Croydon from about 3pm to 4pm.

Could I ask, is this route affected by any of these strikes or poor service lines that we hear about? I haven't travelled for some time, so could somebody recommend a good website for cheap tickets? Ideally I'm looking for the cheapest return ticket available for the minimal travel time, which I think is about 1 hour 10 minutes, as I don't want to have to change trains. Or would it be more advantageous to buy separate outward and return tickets? I'd want to book online and pick them up on the day, at the station machine, using my debit card.

 

[MikeWh]

I fancy taking a day trip to Worthing before the warm weather ends. I have no discounts and want to travel as a single passenger from East Croydon on a weekday morning, ideally at the beginning of the off-peak period. Is that 9am or 9:30am these days? I'd probably travel back to East Croydon from about 3pm to 4pm.

The off-peak day return is valid after 0930 on that route.

Could I ask, is this route affected by any of these strikes or poor service lines that we hear about?

Yes, it's absolutely in the thick of the strikes and poor service.

I haven't travelled for some time, so could somebody recommend a good website for cheap tickets? Ideally I'm looking for the cheapest return ticket available for the minimal travel time, which I think is about 1 hour 10 minutes, as I don't want to have to change trains. Or would it be more advantageous to buy separate outward and return tickets? I'd want to book online and pick them up on the day, at the station machine, using my debit card.

The off-peak return is the same whether you change en-route or travel direct. If a direct train is cancelled then you may be faced with a 30 minute wait or a change. The off-peak day return is £23.40. There are some advance fares priced at £5, £8.50 or £12 single but these will tie you to specific trains (unless they are cancelled). As an example I tried next Thursday and you can get a £12 advance on the 1003 outward service and £5 advances on the 1434 and 1511 return services.

Book with Southern website, especially if buying off-peak as you can get a refund without admin fee if you change your mind and haven't printed the tickets. Any train company website will offer the same fares. Avoid the trainline or rail-easy as they add booking/card fees.

 

[bazink]

Yes, it's absolutely in the thick of the strikes and poor service.

Thanks very much for your advice, Mike. That has put me off straightaway, so I'll probably stay inland and fall back on my old favourite of Arundel. I'm hoping that that line is not now plagued by strikes and poor service? Or is it just the peak times that are badly affected by these issues?

 

[Starmill]

If you want to travel reliably, you might have to choose a destination served by South West Trains or Southeastern - or explore travelling by road. Journeys to Arundel are going to be similarly affected by the nightmarish disruption as Worthing.

 

[bazink]

Thanks very much, Starmill. I'm not a driver, so I'll have to avoid Arundel too. I hate delays. I'd probably be better off travelling via Reykjavik and South Africa. :roll:

 

[Starmill]

I'm not a driver either sadly and I dislike coach travel. Are you after the seaside? Do you have a slightly larger budget than for a ticket to Worthing? You could use a London Tram to Wimbledon and get the train to Bournemouth, Christchurch or Weymouth?

 

[Clip]

Do look to the places south west trains serve as they are having an excellent promotion at the minute

https://www.southwesttrains.co.uk/offers--days-out/offers/promotion/

You would have to change at Clapham junction but thats not too much of an effort(though if using oyster to get there you will have to tap out there first.

 

[ashworth]

If Southerns services were reliable and not disrupted too much between East Croydon and Southampton you can get a really cheap Off Peak Day Return departing from East Croydon via Barnham to Bournemouth or Weymouth.
First train you can get is get is the 09.53 Southern service from East Croydon to Southampton and change there for Bournemouth or Weymouth. It's £24.10 to Bournemouth and only £1 more at £25.10 all the way to Weymouth. I often do this when staying with friends in Purley. Fantastic value.

 

[bazink]

Thanks for the suggestions, all. Yes, Bournemouth and Christchurch sound good. More like a 2 hour trip, so I'd get a B&B and stay overnight. A change is as good as a rest! Weymouth is more like 3 hours - I'll settle for the shorter journey.

 

[iantherev]

Do look to the places south west trains serve as they are having an excellent promotion at the minute

https://www.southwesttrains.co.uk/offers--days-out/offers/promotion/

You would have to change at Clapham junction but thats not too much of an effort(though if using oyster to get there you will have to tap out there first.

It also needs to be bought in advance at a station or through the SWT website.

 

[bazink]

Thanks, Ian.

 

[Clip]

Thanks for the suggestions, all. Yes, Bournemouth and Christchurch sound good. More like a 2 hour trip, so I'd get a B&B and stay overnight. A change is as good as a rest! Weymouth is more like 3 hours - I'll settle for the shorter journey.

It is a hefty journey time on their traisn ill admit but its well worth it to Weymouth. relally nice down there.

 

[robbeech]

Just remember the price quoted is a day return so an overnight stay would need a different ticket.