Heathrow to Gatwick using Oyster/Contactless

[John R]

We are parking at Heathrow on Wednesday before travelling to Gatwick, leaving Heathrow around 10am. Dont want to use a coach as would prefer to rely on a turn up and go service that rail offers.

The through ticket at 32.80 with railcard seems far too much. So my thought was to use the Elizabeth Line to Farringdon using our senior railcard linked oysters, but then I’m not sure of the best fare to choose down from there to Gatwick. Is a conventional ticket at 10.05 the best option, or is there something else?

 

[Iggy12a]

Possibly a one day Travelcard from Gatwick? The Thameslink version is £13.70 with a Railcard.
You are simply throwing away the outbound journey from Gatwick.

 

[John R]

Possibly a one day Travelcard from Gatwick? The Thameslink version is £13.70 with a Railcard.
You are simply throwing away the outbound journey from Gatwick.

Thank you. Would never have thought of that!

 

[Haywain]

You can use Oyster for the whole journey from Heathrow to Gatwick, and at off-peak times (after 09:30, before 16:00) you will be charged £14.30 for using the "default" route through zone 1 (Elizabeth line and Thameslink).

 

[Watershed]

You can use Oyster all the way to Gatwick. It's cheaper than splitting at Farringdon; the fare would be £14.30 with your Senior Railcard applied. However, a 'Thameslink only' Off-Peak Day Travelcard is cheaper at £13.70. If you were travelling on a weekend or Bank Holiday then the Super Off-Peak Day Travelcard would be available, costing only £12.55.

The through paper fares aren't worthwhile buying, like you say. They're priced based on their validity on the Gatwick Express, which is charged at a premium despite the poor service it offers (only half hourly!).

If you do want to use Oyster, it's cheaper to 'split' with Oyster at East Croydon - ie. leave the train, touch out at the barriers and touch straight back in). Trains from East Croydon run every few minutes so it won't take you much longer. That would cost £10.00 + £2.70 = £12.70, assuming each section of the journey was begun at off-peak times (i.e. not Mon-Fri 06:30-09:30 or 16:00-19:00).

There are even cheaper options. In increasing order of cost, and assuming off-peak travel:

• Taking the SL7 Superloop bus to Croydon and then the train: £1.75 (or free with ENCTS pass) + £2.70 = £4.45
• Taking the Piccadilly line from Heathrow to Earls Court, the District line to West Brompton, the Overground to Clapham Junction and finally the Southern train to Gatwick. The through PAYG fare is £6.95, splitting at East Croydon reduces it to £2.55 + £2.70 = £5.25.
• Taking the Piccadilly line from Heathrow and then the District line to Victoria: £4.65 to East Croydon + £2.70 = £7.35. Splitting additionally at Hatton Cross reduces that slightly: £0.00 to Hatton Cross (it's in the free Heathrow travel area) + £4.15 to East Croydon + £2.70 = £6.85
• Taking the Elizabeth line but avoiding Zone 1 by changing at Ealing Broadway, Shepherd's Bush and Clapham Junction. Without any splits that would be £10.40. With a split at East Croydon it's £6.00 to East Croydon + £2.70 = £8.70
• Taking the Elizabeth line via Farringdon, but splitting your PAYG journey at both Hayes & Harlington and East Croydon: £4.80 to Hayes & Harlington + £4.15 to East Croydon + £2.70 = £11.65

It all depends how much hassle you're willing to accept, to be honest.

 

[John R]

You can use Oyster for the whole journey from Heathrow to Gatwick, and at off-peak times (after 09:30, before 16:00) you will be charged £14.30 for using the "default" route through zone 1 (Elizabeth line and Thameslink).

Thanks @Haywain and @Watershed. What do we need to do at Farringdon. Tap in/out? Tap pink reader? Do nothing?

In terms of hassle, we will have cases so I am disinclined to use most of the options, but the SL7 bus does seem like an interesting option, although I'm not sure a 1 hr 40 min journey on it will appeal to Mrs R!

 

[Watershed]

Thanks @Haywain and @Watershed. What do we need to do at Farringdon. Tap in/out? Tap pink reader? Do nothing?

In terms of hassle, we will have cases so I am disinclined to use most of the options, but the SL7 bus does seem like an interesting option, although I'm not sure a 1 hr 40 min journey on it will appeal to Mrs R!

Yes it's not a hugely attractive option it has to be said! Taking the SL7 to a station that has direct trains to Clapham Junction, e.g. Teddington or Kingston, would be an option that minimises time on the bus but again, I'll be the first to admit it's nowhere near as convenient as just taking the Elizabeth line via Farringdon.

There's no need to touch anything at Farringdon if you're using Oyster all the way. The readers at platform level are yellow ones, used for starting or finishing your PAYG journey if you're switching to/from a paper ticket, eTicket or Smartcard. Pink readers only exist at stations outside zone 1, to prove you've avoided zone 1.

When you're changing from the Elizabeth line to Thameslink, you'll want to take the lift which takes you directly between the two sets of platforms. It's located at the far western end of the Elizabeth line platforms (that's also where the escalators are) so you'll want to be in the last coach of the Elizabeth line train for the quickest/easiest interchange.

The lift will deposit you at the southern end of the southbound Thameslink platform. If you have time you can walk further along the platform to reach the raised section in the middle, which offers step-free boarding. The coach you'll be in has plenty of luggage space and is also fairly near the lifts at Gatwick.

 

[Haywain]

In terms of hassle, we will have cases so I am disinclined to use most of the options,

There is a direct lift from the Elizabeth line platforms to the Thameslink southbound platform at Farringdon. You'd want to be at the back of the Elizabeth line train for best access to the lifts.

 

[John R]

Thanks again both. That’s very helpful in terms of easing the transfers both at Farringdon and Gatwick.

 

[Farang]

A very informative thread, thank you!

 

[John R]

Which has reminded me to thank again those who gave advice. I chose the Oyster version and all went fine. Since then I’ve been travelling around the Emilia Romagna and Tuscany regions of Italy on clean, prompt, fast electric regional trains with lots of luggage space between seating. But that’s probably one for another thread…

 

[talldave]

Hatton Cross to Gatwick is £8.95 with Railcard equipped Oyster. Just need to do the tap-out/tap-in dance at Hatton Cross. The craftier traveller might leave Mrs R on the platform with the luggage whilst doing a double dance around the barriers with both Oysters

 

[John R]

Hatton Cross to Gatwick is £8.95 with Railcard equipped Oyster. Just need to do the tap-out/tap-in dance at Hatton Cross. The craftier traveller might leave Mrs R on the platform with the luggage whilst doing a double dance around the barriers with both Oysters

Slower, too much hassle, and not as pleasant a journey. And so the Liz Line and Thameslink was the optimal journey for us.