Stevenage to Ashford Kent

[Andyh82]

If I select a journey from London to Ashford International, I get a choice of fares, a cheaper one 'any permitted' or a dearer one 'any permitted including South Eastern High Speed'

If I select a journey from Stevenage to Ashford, I just get one fare (off peak return £40.90) 'valid any permitted route' but with no mention of High Speed. Is this fare valid on HS1?

Also alternatively would this be valid on the London Underground and also with a break in journey at Maidstone including leaving the station, on a traditional South Eastern route?

 

[Hadders]

An Any Permitted ticket is valid on HS1 and is also valid via the Underground and the classic route. I can't check at the moment but I don't believe there are any break of journey restrictions on that ticket.

 

[alistairlees]

If I select a journey from London to Ashford International, I get a choice of fares, a cheaper one 'any permitted' or a dearer one 'any permitted including South Eastern High Speed'

If I select a journey from Stevenage to Ashford, I just get one fare (off peak return £40.90) 'valid any permitted route' but with no mention of High Speed. Is this fare valid on HS1?

Also alternatively would this be valid on the London Underground and also with a break in journey at Maidstone including leaving the station, on a traditional South Eastern route?

Hi

Yes, the £40.90 Stevenage - Ashford International Off-Peak Return is valid via either HS1 or via the classic routes (such as Charing Cross or Victoria). If you are going on the classic route, then it's valid for travel on the Underground between the relevant London Terminals.

You can break your journey in either direction.

There is also a fare that's 50p cheaper (!) that is NOT valid on HS1. You might as well pay the 50p extra and travel on HS1.

 

[Andyh82]

Thanks for these responses

One question which isn't entirely clear, is an off peak return allowed to be used for travel inbound to London and/or on the London Underground within the afternoon peak?

 

[Hadders]

The £40.90 ticket is an Off Peak Return and carries restriction code 4Q. In terms of using the return portion in the evening Peak you may use any except those departing Kings Cross between 1730 and 1830.

You can use any train from Ashford to London and the underground at any time to get to Kings Cross.

 

[yorksrob]

If you're travelling via the classic lines, try entering "via Maidstone" or "via Tonbridge" and you might get a cheaper non-HS1 fare.

 

[yorkie]

If you're travelling via the classic lines, try entering "via Maidstone" or "via Tonbridge" and you might get a cheaper non-HS1 fare.

The Off Peak Return (SVR) from Stevenage to Ashford is 40p cheaper if you avoid HS1.

http://www.brfares.com/#!fares?orig=SVG&dest=AFK

 

[yorksrob]

The Off Peak Return (SVR) from Stevenage to Ashford is 40p cheaper if you avoid HS1.

http://www.brfares.com/#!fares?orig=SVG&dest=AFK

Is that all ?

That's still pretty extortionate.

 

[yorkie]

Thanks for these responses

One question which isn't entirely clear, is an off peak return allowed to be used for travel inbound to London and/or on the London Underground within the afternoon peak?

The 'Not via HS1' SVR fare is valid throughout the evening peak.

The '+ Any Permitted' SVR fare has an additional restriction, the human readable version is as follows:-

NOT valid for travel when
a) travelling on services
timetabled to depart from
London Kings Cross,
KX Thameslink, St Pancras or
Moorgate between 1730 & 1830
inclusive and
b) when the return journey
starts from any station
in Area B (see map), or any
station within the London
Travelcard area,, other than
those shown in Area C (see map
) and c) when travelling to
a destination station in Area
D (see map), namely 1)between
St Albans and Bedford incl. or
2) between Stevenage and
Waterbeach incl. or
3) between Stevenage and
Peterborough incl.
(see map Area D)

The electronic version does not match the above and bars travel via Farringdon between 1728-1827. Therefore, booking engines are happy to provide itineraries (which are contractually binding) which avoid Farringdon at any time in the evening (see below)

RDG/National Rail Enquiries considers these restrictions to be "simple".