London Victoria/Gatwick Express Contactless Fare Calculation

[studophile]

Hi,

Had a bit of a search around the forum on this particular query as I wasn't entirely sure where it might get asked - apologies if it already has!

What are technical the capabilities/limitations (or simply 'policy'/rules) that determine how the contactless system calculates fares for London Victoria to Gatwick services?

For example, I just got on the 17:24 LV to Eastbourne Service, which departs 5 minutes before the 17:29 Brighton Service, which shows up on the National Rail fares page as a 'Gatwick Express' service, apparently attracting a premium of a few quid (both services' fares show as 'based on contactless').

These services arrive within 5 minutes of each other at Gatwick, so how does contactless payment know which service I was on when I tap out? Is the system granular enough to tie my tap-in to the exact gate at Victoria (I'm unclear if there is any route possible to tap in to the 'wrong' platform but get on a train at a different platform at Victoria)? Can the system cope if a train has to leave Victoria from a different platform due to disruption, or (tying in with the previous point), are services automatically limited to which platforms they can be diverted to, to cover just this unlikely (but I assume possible!) scenario....?

I've probably missed something (several things) that are obvious when you think about it, but had 30mins on the way to the airport to ask!

Ta

 

[Benjwri]

It is entirely calculated on where you tap out/in at London Victoria. If it is the Gatwick Express platforms you are charged the Gatwick Express fare, if not you are charged the Southern fare.

 

[JonathanH]

It is entirely calculated on where you tap out/in at London Victoria. If it is the Gatwick Express platforms you are charged the Gatwick Express fare, if not you are charged the Southern fare.

When Southern trains use platforms 13 and 14, passengers are pointed towards the barriers for platforms 9 to 12 to touch in / out. However, after the end of the shift when the barriers are unstaffed, plenty of people use the platform 13 / 14 barriers unaware of the additional charge.

The additional charge currently applies for journeys starting or ending at Earlswood, Salfords and Horley as well at Gatwick Airport, and, I think, the platform 13 / 14 barriers break a journey with no out of station interchange from everywhere.

 

[studophile]

It is entirely calculated on where you tap out/in at London Victoria. If it is the Gatwick Express platforms you are charged the Gatwick Express fare, if not you are charged the Southern fare.

Thanks Ben; I assumed it might be that, thanks for confirming.

 

[MikeWh]

The additional charge currently applies for journeys starting or ending at Earlswood, Salfords and Horley as well at Gatwick Airport, and, I think, the platform 13 / 14 barriers break a journey with no out of station interchange from everywhere.

All correct.