Birmingham - Brighton using Thameslink

[ashley84]

We are looking to do a return journey from Birmingham (probably starting at Selly Oak, but could do trip into New St by bus), to Brighton, returning a few days later.

The obvious route to me seems to me to walk from Euston to St Pancras and use Thameslink, but the journey planners aren't having it, and either want me to go via Victoria, or as a cheaper option, use the via Kensington Olympia fare (Watford Junction, Clapham Junction etc and avoid central London altogether).

I did manage to pursuade Avanti's site to allow this by putting St Pancras in as a via point. However this seemed to almost double the prices.

Is there any reason a regular off-peak return, route any permitted, (specifically £68.95 adult and £19.65 child with family railcard) would not be valid using Thameslink from St Pancras? Even if the journey planners don't like it?

Many thanks for your help!

 

[JonathanH]

Is there any reason a regular off-peak return, route any permitted, (specifically £68.95 adult and £19.65 child with family railcard) would not be valid using Thameslink from St Pancras? Even if the journey planners don't like it?

Perfectly valid to use Euston - St Pancras for interchange on an off-peak return from the West Midlands to Brighton. Is it a day when there is engineering work causing issues?

 

[Merseysider]

Splitting at London could save money if you don't mind slower trains. £33.50/£40 for the LNWR/Chiltern trains into London (time restrictions apply).

Then £18.20 STP to Brighton on Sat/Sun/BH or £23.80 any other day from 0930. All fares are return fares.

 

[JonathanH]

All fares are return fares

Critically day return fares though in the case of St Pancras to Brighton, which isn't what was requested (and also not the Friends & Family price).

 

[Deerfold]

Splitting at London could save money if you don't mind slower trains. £33.50/£40 for the LNWR/Chiltern trains into London (time restrictions apply).

Then £18.20 STP to Brighton on Sat/Sun/BH or £23.80 any other day from 0930. All fares are return fares.

Unfortunately the STP to Brighton fares you've quoted are day returns. Period Return is £43.40 (and so not ever worth buying).

 

[Nottingham59]

The obvious route to me seems to me to walk from Euston to St Pancras and use Thameslink, but the journey planners aren't having it, and either want me to go via Victoria

It's probably because it would be a lot faster using the underground to cross London.

Even from St Pancras mainline station, it can be faster to take the tube to Victoria and then the fast trains to Brighton, rather than schlep down to the Thameslink platforms at St Pancras and trundle through the centre of London on Thameslink.

From Euston I'd say it's no contest.

 

[Merseysider]

Unfortunately the STP to Brighton fares you've quoted are day returns. Period Return is £43.40 (and so not ever worth buying).

Ah - missed that! My bad. I have PM'd the OP a (very minor) loophole fare.

 

[alistairlees]

There’s a lot of routes here:
- via Marylebone and Victoria (tube between the two)
- via Euston and Victoria (tube between the two)
- via Euston and London Bridge (tube between the two)
- avoiding London by going via Kensington Olympia (change at Watford and Clapham junction, and maybe other places)
- via Euston and St Pancras (walk between the two) - this assumes that Thameslink is running

There will also be more alternatives late in the day or at weekends; especially when there is engineering. There is also a slow possibility of either going via Paddington and then tube to Victoria, or Elizabeth line to Farringdon for Thameslink; or changing at Reading for a Gatwick service avoiding London altogether.

This is probably also an instance where a slower journey with an added walk is quite desirable as an option, at least for some people.

All in all, quite difficult to meet all preferences at all times for all types of people. Something we are working on though!

 

[marshlinker]

We are looking to do a return journey from Birmingham (probably starting at Selly Oak, but could do trip into New St by bus), to Brighton, returning a few days later.

The obvious route to me seems to me to walk from Euston to St Pancras and use Thameslink, but the journey planners aren't having it, and either want me to go via Victoria, or as a cheaper option, use the via Kensington Olympia fare (Watford Junction, Clapham Junction etc and avoid central London altogether).

I did manage to pursuade Avanti's site to allow this by putting St Pancras in as a via point. However this seemed to almost double the prices.

Is there any reason a regular off-peak return, route any permitted, (specifically £68.95 adult and £19.65 child with family railcard) would not be valid using Thameslink from St Pancras? Even if the journey planners don't like it?

Many thanks for your help!

You can use St Pancras but the reality is that the frequency of the Victoria line to Victoria and then onwards towards Brighton is that it will always be much quicker to go via Victoria. Apart from the Two Expresses per hour from Victoria to Brighton you have another 4tph as far as Haywards Heath where its a same/cross platform to the 4 tph St Pancras to Brighton.

 

[Kite159]

You can use St Pancras but the reality is that the frequency of the Victoria line to Victoria and then onwards towards Brighton is that it will always be much quicker to go via Victoria. Apart from the Two Expresses per hour from Victoria to Brighton you have another 4tph as far as Haywards Heath where its a same/cross platform to the 4 tph St Pancras to Brighton.

So an extra change from a southern service at Haywards Heath to the same train you would have caught at St Pancras...

 

[AndrewE]

You can use St Pancras but the reality is that the frequency of the Victoria line to Victoria and then onwards towards Brighton is that it will always be much quicker to go via Victoria.

St. P to London Bridge is a whole 14 minutes! You avoid the Underground and after a refreshing walk to St. P you are on a semi-fast to wherever you choose to change onto a train for Brighton.

Apart from the Two Expresses per hour from Victoria to Brighton you have another 4tph as far as Haywards Heath where its a same/cross platform to the 4 tph St Pancras to Brighton.

 

[marshlinker]

So an extra change from a southern service at Haywards Heath to the same train you would have caught at St Pancras...

The Victoria to littlehampton service off peak takes around 43 mins to Haywards Heath, Thameslink from St Pancras just under an hour so its normally (but not always) the Thameslink that you just missed at St Pancras. The southbound Thameslink Trains to Brighton Off peak are something like, xx00, xx20, XX30, xx50 so not evenly spaced.