East Croydon - Ham Street

[mirodo]

I'll be travelling from East Croydon to Ham Street on Friday, returning Monday.

For both legs of the journey I'm happy to wait until after 09:30 so I'm not in the peak period.

I think I've identified the cheapest fare (with Network Gold Card) as a Not Via London Saver Off Peak Return at £19.35

1) Am I correct?
2) Is my only/best option to change at Brighton?
3) Can I break my journey at Brighton on the return leg?
4) Will I save anything by specifying Boundary Zone 5 as my starting point? I already hold a Z2-5 on Oyster.

Thanks all.

 

[causton]

1) No. (See point 4)
2) You could go to Eastbourne direct from Victoria, twice an hour I believe off peak? Not sure about timings though and if it connects well.
3) Yes, the restriction does not prohibit it.
4) Boundary Zone 5 - Ham Street with Gold Card a Saver Return (Off-Peak Return officially) is £17.80

 

[30907]

2. You can change anywhere between Brighton and Hastings.
3. You can break your journey on the way back.
Without Checking I'd be 99% certain Brighton is a permitted route.

 

[mirodo]

Thanks. A thought has just occurred to me - Gold Card discounts are only available after 10am, aren't they?

 

[Romilly]

Other routes include taking the through train from East Croydon to Tonbridge (via Redhill), then a train to Ashford and then a train to Ham Street. Departing on the 1000 from East Croydon, I can get a £17.15 offpeak day return with Gold Card discount for this route (by specifying "via" Edenbridge Stations and specifying "calling at" Paddock Wood).

If you only use Southern trains (excluding Gatwick Express), an offpeak daysave (valid after 10am weekdays and all day at weekends) is only £15 - no railcard discounts available and has to be bought on-line from the Southern website at least 7 days before travel. (Anytime Daysave is £36.50).

Apologies: I've just spotted that a day return is no good as you are not returning the same day.

 

[mirodo]

Thanks, Romilly. I'd identified the 10:00 East Croydon - Tonbridge - Ashford Intl - Ham Street as an option after my last post. Looks like it's a valid route with the Saver Return and is the earliest option available, taking into account the Gold Card restriction.

 

[bb21]

... and has to be bought on-line from the Southern website at least 7 days before travel. (Anytime Daysave is £36.50).

3 days in advance FWIW.

 

[Be3G]

Thanks, Romilly. I'd identified the 10:00 East Croydon - Tonbridge - Ashford Intl - Ham Street as an option after my last post. Looks like it's a valid route with the Saver Return and is the earliest option available, taking into account the Gold Card restriction.

I'm not sure what your expectations are of that journey; it seems it is possible to get to Ham Street via Tonbridge at 1141 with some ‘illegal’ (i.e. too-short-to-be-shown-by-rail-websites) connections; otherwise, the arrival is at 1241.

If you're intending to try for the tight connections in order to get there at 1141, another option is to make use of your 2–5 travelcard to get on the move earlier: you could make your way to Bromley South in time for the 1023 to Ashford, which gives you a six minute connection there and a less rushed arrival at Ham Street of 1141.