Elizabeth line- Reading to Paddington

[Skiddaw]

Just a quickie (and apologies if it has been done loads of times previously). I'm travelling from Reading to Paddington en route home on Sunday 22nd December. I understand crew shortages likely to result in fewer GWR services that day. I already have a standard off-peak ticket. Can I travel on the Elizabeth Line using my ticket or do I need to pay again? I'm only going as far as Paddington (I always walk to Euston or KC from there). Thanks!

 

[cactustwirly]

Just a quickie (and apologies if it has been done loads of times previously). I'm travelling from Reading to Paddington en route home on Sunday 22nd December. I understand crew shortages likely to result in fewer GWR services that day. I already have a standard off-peak ticket. Can I travel on the Elizabeth Line using my ticket or do I need to pay again? I'm only going as far as Paddington (I always walk to Euston or KC from there). Thanks!

No your ticket is valid.
I would advise against taking it, it's very slow GWR trains will overtake it.

The ex Didcot Semi Fast trains are a good bet

 

[crablab]

+1 to @cactustwirly's post

If it's *really* bad and your ticket is to London Terminals and marked "Any Permitted" then you can get the SWR services to Waterloo from platforms 4-6.

But that will be slower than both GWR and EL.

 

[Skiddaw]

Thanks both.

Thought it was OK but wanted to double check. SWR is indeed useful as a fall-back but intending to go with EL if I hit a large GWR gap.

Oh, the joys of train travel.... why is everything so flipping complicated?

 

[Watershed]

Thanks both.

Thought it was OK but wanted to double check. SWR is indeed useful as a fall-back but intending to go with EL if I hit a large GWR gap.

Oh, the joys of train travel.... why is everything so flipping complicated?

In fairness this is a pretty simple situation isn't it? Your ticket is valid on any of the three operators who run direct trains between Reading and London.

 

[Skiddaw]

In fairness this is a pretty simple situation isn't it? Your ticket is valid on any of the three operators who run direct trains between Reading and London.

I take your point but I've already had to negotiate around the potential Avanti strike action. I could do without any further complications when it comes to whats running and what isn't. When I say 'straightforward' I mean that it would be lovely to not have to worry about whether the trains I need to travel on will be running/delayed/massively overcrowded/cancelled at the last minute (etc). Is it really so much to ask? At any time of year?

But yes, it's good to have options.

 

[Surreytraveller]

In fairness this is a pretty simple situation isn't it? Your ticket is valid on any of the three operators who run direct trains between Reading and London.

To be fair to the OP, although this particular situation is simple, a layperson cannot assume that, as the ticketing system is complicated overall, with operator specific tickets not being valid on other operators during disruption.
People are wary even when they don't need to be, due to all the horror stories

 

[yorkie]

I take your point but I've already had to negotiate around the potential Avanti strike action. I could do without any further complications when it comes to whats running and what isn't. When I say 'straightforward' I mean that it would be lovely to not have to worry about whether the trains I need to travel on will be running/delayed/massively overcrowded/cancelled at the last minute (etc). Is it really so much to ask? At any time of year?

But yes, it's good to have options.

Ah, so your journey isn't just to Paddington. That may explain why it's not quite so simple, and why the other member was confused when you suggested it was complicated.

For future reference, for the best possible advice, I would suggest stating the full intended journey, ticket(s) held and what the concern(s)/issue(s) are.

 

[Skiddaw]

Point taken Yorkie.

I did post earlier in the week to seek advice about the Avanti strike issue hence not mentioning the full details of my journey again. I should probably have tagged my EL query onto the same thread.