Southend Stations

[Mojo]

It's clearly an anomaly. When the new station came into existence I think someone forgot about SAA. I think that SAA and SAC should both be part of a new St Albans Stations group. It exists for Southend, Pontefract, Bradford, Hertford and many others... why on earth not for St Albans?

FWIW, it's not as easy for Southend. If travelling from London Terminals you can't get a ticket to Southend Stns, but you can get a ticket to Southend Stns from many stations outside London.

Some stations within the London Zones (eg. Kensington Olympia) don't have a fare to Southend at all whereas others (eg. only have fares to Southend Stns). All the boundary zone fares are to Southend Stns only.

I think, after having looked at City Thameslink, the rule is that any ticket from Zone 1 is only printed to the individual stations, and any ticket from outside Zone 1 is printed to Southend Stns, the exceptions being Stratford, mentioned above, or West Ham which can issue tickets to the individual stations or Southend Stns. Interestingly enough, West Ham - Southend Stns CDR is £13.70 (set by NX), whereas to Southend Central it's £12.00 (set by c2c).

Interesting routes like Stratford to Southend Vic is routed "+Romford" whereas I cannot see any use for the tube. If you put in Southend Central it automatically changes it to Southend Stns route "Any Permitted," yet from what I can see it wouldn't be possible to get to Central, unless that ticket is valid via Liverpool Street & on LU to Tower Hill, or on the Jubilee to West Ham.

 

[W-on-Sea]

Interesting routes like Stratford to Southend Vic is routed "+Romford" whereas I cannot see any use for the tube. If you put in Southend Central it automatically changes it to Southend Stns route "Any Permitted," yet from what I can see it wouldn't be possible to get to Central, unless that ticket is valid via Liverpool Street & on LU to Tower Hill, or on the Jubilee to West Ham.

When the branch line is open (ie not Sundays or evenings), you could change at Romford and then at Upminster.

Or for that matter Forest Gate/walk to Wanstead Park, then change at Barking.

Although I'm not 100% certain, I think the LU/c2c interavailibility of tickets between London and Upminster (from both Fenchurch and Liverpool Streets) (as well as the legacy of interavailability of tickets from West Ham to Stratford on the old North London Line) may well mean that that ticket WOULD be valid on the Jubilee between Stratford and West Ham. Possibly on the Wanstead Park route too?

 

[Ivo]

I think, after having looked at City Thameslink, the rule is that any ticket from Zone 1 is only printed to the individual stations, and any ticket from outside Zone 1 is printed to Southend Stns, the exceptions being Stratford, mentioned above, or West Ham which can issue tickets to the individual stations or Southend Stns. Interestingly enough, West Ham - Southend Stns CDR is £13.70 (set by NX), whereas to Southend Central it's £12.00 (set by c2c).

From what I can understand, having looked through the Station Usage data and (albeit not recently) the old post-privatisation LTS Fare Manual I have back home [in Southend obviously], most journeys are cheaper if done to Southend Central. Similarly, when the data was rationalised a couple of years ago, far more journeys were routed to Victoria than previously (hence Central seeing a large "drop" and Victoria seeing a large "rise"). Because the Victoria route is slightly longer, and because the East Anglia prices are generally steeper than Thameside prices, fares set as "Southend Stns" would be more expensive as of the change. So, in practice, the current fare is the Victoria fare, whereas before I couldn't say which (either Central, because it was the focus, or Victoria to receive more money!). Also, Avantix suggests it's £13.20; not trying to be picky, of course.

With regards to City Thameslink, I've just had a quick look at the prices and it says that you can buy a "+HS" ticket! Why on earth would anyone bother going via St Pancras and Stratford International, rather than Farringdon and Liverpool Street?! (Mind you, it costs almost a fiver more via HS1.)

 

[hairyhandedfool]

....Interesting routes like Stratford to Southend Vic is routed "+Romford" whereas I cannot see any use for the tube....

My thoughts would be that the 'shortest route' from Stratford to Southend Victoria via Romford would be via Liverpool St. and Fenchurch St. simply because I don't believe Underground routes are counted in the 'shortest route' mileages (they are not in the National Rail Timetable to my knowledge). Stratford to Liverpool St. and Fenchurch St. to Upminister are dual available routes, leaving just Upminster-Romford-Southend Victoria to count for mileage if the tube is used. Changing tube lines at Mile End would be quicker but not strictly allowed. I'd be happy to be wrong though, because that's ludicrous!
--- old post above --- --- new post below ---

....With regards to City Thameslink, I've just had a quick look at the prices and it says that you can buy a "+HS" ticket! Why on earth would anyone bother going via St Pancras and Stratford International, rather than Farringdon and Liverpool Street?! (Mind you, it costs almost a fiver more via HS1.)

Some people don't like using the underground!:roll: