Break of journey in central london

[lamdar]

Hello, what is the rule for break of journey in central London tube station using a through London ticket?

I have an Oxford to Cambridge period return ticket.

When I tried to exit through Tottenham Court Road station today on my onward journey to Cambridge, I couldn’t get through the barrier, and the staff wouldn’t let me out.

I then tried Farringdon and again the barrier doesn’t work, but a staff let me through after asking me whether I’m catching the King’s Cross train to Cambridge.

I don’t know if this is because the Thameslink train is not running today or if Farringdon is different from Tottenham Court Road station for break of journey.

Could anyone explain the rule for me please?

Thank you.

 

[hkstudent]

Hello, what is the rule for break of journey in central London tube station using a through London ticket? I have an Oxford to Cambridge period return ticket. When I tried to exit through Tottenham Court Road station today on my onward journey to Cambridge, I couldn’t get through the barrier, and the staff wouldn’t let me out. I then tried Farringdon and again the barrier doesn’t work, but a staff let me through after asking me whether I’m catching the King’s Cross train to Cambridge. I don’t know if this is because the Thames link train is not running today or if Farringdon is different from Tottenham Court Road station for break of journey. Could anyone explain the rule for me please? Thank you.

It’s due to you need to access to another concourse for Underground train to Kings Cross, so that’s why you would cross the gateline.

Most of the LU staff at Elizabeth Line core stations would not allow break of journey due to TfL treating EZL core as LU line rather than a National Rail services.

 

[swt_passenger]

The gates don’t automatically let you out at Tottenham Court Road, because it’s not a listed cross London transfer station. However staff should still let you out manually, as it is definitely allowed. However, you cannot re-enter and complete your cross London journey. In short, a full “break of journey” is not permitted, but cutting it short is ok.

There’s a list of cross London Transfer stations here, although you won’t find it on the public National Rail website. Farringdon is a transfer point, but most people would be able to change within the gatelines:

Travel 'via' London | NRE Internal Knowledgebase

The gateway to Britain's National Rail network. A portal into UK rail travel including train company information and promotions; train times; fares enquiries; ticket purchase and train running information

internal.nationalrail.co.uk

There also used to be a statement on the National Rail enquiries site somewhere that explained explicitly that you could exit LU but not re-enter, it seems to have been lost in the site “upgrade”…

 

[Surreytraveller]

I'm wondering whether Tottenham Court Road should be added to the list of cross London transfer stations, as its not far from there to walk to Euston, Kings Cross, St Pancras or Charing Cross

 

[stevetay3]

If you are going through London on a long journey, why should you not be allowed to take a break in London for a rest ,seams to be ok in most other places . Surely obstructing one from leaving the station could be seen as false detention or assault if physically stoped from leaving railway premise. You here about this time and time again and nothing is done about train staff making up there own rules all the time.

 

[JonathanH]

I'm wondering whether Tottenham Court Road should be added to the list of cross London transfer stations, as its not far from there to walk to Euston, Kings Cross, St Pancras or Charing Cross

Not far, but not really near enough either, especially when there is a direct connection from there to Euston and Charing Cross.

 

[Sleepy]

The gates don’t automatically let you out at Tottenham Court Road, because it’s not a listed cross London transfer station. However staff should still let you out manually, as it is definitely allowed. However, you cannot re-enter and complete your cross London journey. In short, a full “break of journey” is not permitted, but cutting it short is ok.

There’s a list of cross London Transfer stations here, although you won’t find it on the public National Rail website. Farringdon is a transfer point, but most people would be able to change within the gatelines:

Travel 'via' London | NRE Internal Knowledgebase

The gateway to Britain's National Rail network. A portal into UK rail travel including train company information and promotions; train times; fares enquiries; ticket purchase and train running information

internal.nationalrail.co.uk

There also used to be a statement on the National Rail enquiries site somewhere that explained explicitly that you could exit LU but not re-enter, it seems to have been lost in the site “upgrade”…

How odd Paddington was missed from the list ??

 

[JonathanH]

How odd Paddington was missed from the list ??

There are four columns in the list. Paddington is there.

Strictly the list should have been quoted.

Travel 'via' London

Ticket prices shown in your TIS or the Fares Finder for journeys where permitted routes include travel via London and marked with the symbol †, include the cost of transfer across London on Thameslink services, or by London Underground, Elizabeth line or Docklands Light Railway between any two of the following Underground / Elizabeth line / DLR stations appropriate to the route of the through journey:

Abbey Wood
Aldgate
Amersham
Baker Street
Balham
Bank
Barking
Battersea Power Station
Blackfriars
Blackhorse Road
Brixton
Canada Water
Cannon Street
Charing Cross
Ealing Broadway (LU)
Edgware Road
Elephant & Castle
Embankment
Euston
Euston Square
Farringdon
Finsbury Park
Greenwich (DLR)
Highbury & Islington
Kensington Olympia
Kentish Town
Kings Cross/St Pancras
Lancaster Gate
Lewisham (DLR)
Limehouse
Liverpool Street
London Bridge
Marylebone
Moorgate
Old Street
Paddington
Queens Park
Richmond
Seven Sisters
Shadwell
Shepherds Bush
Southwark
Stratford
Stratford International (DLR)
Tottenham Hale
Tower Hill
Upminster
Vauxhall
Victoria
Walthamstow Central
Waterloo
West Brompton
West Ham
West Hampstead
Whitechapel
Wimbledon
Woolwich Arsenal
Woolwich (Elizabeth line)

For example a ticket from Colchester to Orpington is valid for a ‘cross-London’ journey either:

by LU services from Liverpool Street or Stratford to Cannon Street, Charing Cross, Waterloo or London Bridge,

or

by LU services from Stratford to Canada Water (for London Overground services to New Cross)

by DLR services from Stratford to Lewisham

All National Rail London termini stations, except Fenchurch Street, are linked by the Underground. The nearest Underground station for Fenchurch Street is Tower Hill (Circle & District Lines) and is clearly sign-posted from there.

 

[Sleepy]

There are four columns in the list. Paddington is there.

Strictly the list should have been quoted.

Oh right Lol

 

[fandroid]

The staff should let you out, and simply warn you that you can't resume your Underground journey on the same ticket. I did it once at Regents Park and the guy simply ensured that I knew the rules.

 

[PeterC]

If you are going through London on a long journey, why should you not be allowed to take a break in London for a rest ,seams to be ok in most other places . Surely obstructing one from leaving the station could be seen as false detention or assault if physically stoped from leaving railway premise. You here about this time and time again and nothing is done about train staff making up there own rules all the time

Historically you would break the journey at one of the termini where you you'll naturally have to go through two sets of barriers anyway not to mention having left luggage facilities.

 

[talldave]

I've had many "just this once" exits from Underground stations in my time, as buying a cross London ticket was cheaper than a London ticket when I was living in Kent.

But whilst searching for the relevant "rule" on National Rail (which I used to carry a print-out of), I see that the Feb 2022 NRCoT state in 16.4 that cross London tickets do not entitle you to a break of journey on TfL. Did this change? Where did the "you can exit but not resume" rule go?

 

[Haywain]

I see that the Feb 2022 NRCoT state in 16.4 that cross London tickets do not entitle you to a break of journey on TfL. Did this change?

That's always been the case - break of journey would involve restarting from the same point.

 

[DeparturesBeck]

London Underground's own documents state that you may break a journey at any station within zone 1, at any station on a reasonable route between interchange stations and at any station on a National Rail route where a break of journey would be permitted under National Rail rules. You must purchase a new fare if you wish to recommence your journey on LU.

The LUL document stating this is available to download via this FOI request - page 24 contains the relevant information.

 

[swt_passenger]

London Underground's own documents state that you may break a journey at any station within zone 1, at any station on a reasonable route between interchange stations and at any station on a National Rail route where a break of journey would be permitted under National Rail rules. You must purchase a new fare if you wish to recommence your journey on LU.

The LUL document stating this is available to download via this FOI request - page 24 contains the relevant information.

Thanks for digging that out.

So the original poster’s scenario is yet another example of meeting staff that do not know their own rules. It’s just as common on TfL as on national rail.

 

[MrJeeves]

Amusingly, I'm aware of many LUL barriers which permit entry for unused cross-london portions of tickets. The other day, I started a cross London transfer from Battersea Power Station after using Oyster to get there from Marylebone. Whether it should have worked is another question.

 

[yorkie]

Thanks for digging that out.

So the original poster’s scenario is yet another example of meeting staff that do not know their own rules. It’s just as common on TfL as on national rail.

Absolutely; LU staff at gatelines are not uncommonly absolutely terrible for this and have been for as long as I can remember.

 

[JonathanH]

Amusingly, I'm aware of many LUL barriers which permit entry for unused cross-london portions of tickets. The other day, I started a cross London transfer from Battersea Power Station after using Oyster to get there from Marylebone. Whether it should have worked is another question.

Battersea Power Station is explicitly on the list for Cross London travel now, as an interchange with Battersea Park or Queenstown Road - https://www.railforums.co.uk/threads/break-of-journey-in-central-london.251962/#post-6326275 - so, yes, it should have worked.

 

[MrJeeves]

Battersea Power Station is explicitly on the list for Cross London travel now, as an interchange with Battersea Park or Queenstown Road - https://www.railforums.co.uk/threads/break-of-journey-in-central-london.251962/#post-6326275 - so, yes, it should have worked.

Oh nice! Learned something new

 

[Renternolonger]

London Underground's own documents state that you may break a journey at any station within zone 1, at any station on a reasonable route between interchange stations and at any station on a National Rail route where a break of journey would be permitted under National Rail rules. You must purchase a new fare if you wish to recommence your journey on LU.

The LUL document stating this is available to download via this FOI request - page 24 contains the relevant information.

Thanks for this, could have done with that earlier when the TFL guy was ticking me off for trying to get something for free.