Bickley to Reading via Thameslink/Elizabeth line.

[Tw99]

I’ve been looking at planning a journey for an aged relative across London, minimising changes. An ideal solution would be Thameslink from Bickley to Farringdon, and then changing onto the Elizabeth line to Reading (I know this is a longer journey than using the tube and changing more often, but it’s fairly simple and straightforward, and also free with her TfL pass) However, during off peak daytime hours, Thameslink trains from Bickley seem to terminate at Blackfriars, so she’d have to travel sometime after 4pm, or change at Herne Hill.

I just wondered whether it was always the case that these trains don’t go through the core during the day, or is it some consequence of reduced services since Covid/whatever?

 

[jnjkerbin]

It's been the case since the main Thameslink timetable change in 2018 or whenever - the Sevenoaks services through the core were sacrificed in order to allow the Sutton Loop trains through instead.

At off-peak times, your relative could take the Southeastern service towards Victoria and change at Herne Hill, or alternatively take the Sevenoaks - Bickley - Blackfriars Thameslink service and change at Blackfriars. That might be preferable as Blackfriars has staff on the platforms and more trains on to Farringdon than Herne Hill does. In either case, whether changing at Blacfriars or Herne Hill, it should normally be a cross-platform change. Blackfriars also offers level boarding/alighting if she uses the middle of the train.

 

[Snow1964]

You also need to check which free TfL pass she is using, as some like 60+ are not valid all way to Reading.

Or do you mean the over 66 pass issued by her local council, which is valid on TfL services and as an English national bus pass. But is not issued by TfL.

 

[Tw99]

She’s 87 so presumably has a Freedom Pass, but I will check. I hadn’t realised that wasn’t a Tfl thing.

Thanks for the other advice about changing at Blackfriars being possibly preferable.