Commuting and saving

[SummerBerries]

Hi I posted a while back needing advice on saving money whilst commuting. I finally have my university timetable so hopefully some specific information will help.

I have a 16-25 railcard currently. I will be commuting from Horsham to Denmark Hill on Wednesdays at 8:20am, Thursdays at 7:20am, and Fridays at 8:20am. Will be returning mostly around 4pm.

It's looking to me like it'll be £30 for a return ticket WITH railcard which is a bit concerning as a student. Does anyone have any advice?

 

[MikeWh]

There are 3 anytime return fares with railcard from Horsham to Denmark Hill.

£37.45 (includes Gatwick Express, probably ignore)
£32.90 (excludes Gatwick Express, allows travel via London)
£28.55 (must avoid London, eg change at East Croydon and Peckham Rye)

I'll let others comment on if there is anything else you can do.

 

[30907]

On another thread
https://www.railforums.co.uk/threads/advice-on-specific-route-and-fare.274063/
it appears that there is a significantly cheaper fare valid to a SWR station at Clapham Jn.
You could then use Oyster with discount loaded (means visiting a tube station) and get the cost down to £26-odd (£27 without discount).
That's actually a sensible route (or routes - it's valid via Dorking too).
You would need to tap in/out at CLJ Platform 1/2 though - ISTR there's a reader on the platform, perhaps @MikeWh could confirm.

EDIT: corrected to show cost from Horsham not Crawley, see #9-10 below.

 

[JonathanH]

That's actually a sensible route (or routes - it's valid via Dorking too).

Is Crawley to Barnes valid via Horsham and Dorking and likely not to cause issues at the Horsham barriers? (I haven't checked, just asking.) It certainly wouldn't be valid for Horsham to Clapham Junction via Gatwick.

Combining Horsham to Putney with use of Oyster between Clapham Junction and Denmark Hill does appear to bring the cost a little below the Horsham to Denmark Hill fare quoted above.

 

[Vexed]

Is Crawley to Barnes valid via Horsham and Dorking and likely not to cause issues at the Horsham barriers?

Crawley to Barnes is not valid via Horsham & Dorking.

Horsham isn't a valid routeing point for Crawley to Barnes as it fails the fare check, and Crawley's other (valid) routeing point Three Bridges doesn't permit travel via Horsham & Dorking.

 

[Mcr Warrior]

@SummerBerries. Unfortunately, this seems to be another example of the problems often encountered for anyone needing to travel towards London on a "peak hours" train, which, from Horsham, is one which arrives into London before 0945. After that, off peak day returns are valid. Not good therefore if you have lectures which are timetabled for first thing in the morning.

 

[lachlan]

could you qualify for a Disabled Persons Railcard?

 

[30907]

Crawley to Barnes is not valid via Horsham & Dorking.

Horsham isn't a valid routeing point for Crawley to Barnes as it fails the fare check, and Crawley's other (valid) routeing point Three Bridges doesn't permit travel via Horsham & Dorking.

The OP says they are travelling from Horsham - where does Crawley come in?

 

[JonathanH]

The OP says they are travelling from Horsham - where does Crawley come in?

The link in your previous post to another thread described a journey from Crawley, rather than Horsham.