Fare advice - Canterbury to Reading but with a split return journey

[Williamt]

Hello. I understand the central bit of the Elizabeth Line but am thoroughly confused by fares including the Paddington to Reading bit.

I am hoping to do to something like this:

- next Friday:
Canterbury to Stratford Int. on HS1, South Eastern
then Elizabeth line to Reading, via Paddington
- Sunday:
Reading to Stratford then DLR to Greenwich (staying overnight)
- Monday:
Greenwich to Stratford then back to Canterbury on HS1.

Have a Network card. All travel can be off-peak. Normally I don't bother with advanced tickets, but I could.
Could use non-HS1 for the Canterbury-London bit if it makes more sense, still need to get to Greenwich though.

Many thanks…

 

[30907]

The simple solution would be an Offpeak Return at £44.60.
However, you would either need to pay for the DLR separately one way*, or alter your return route to travel home by NR from Greenwich.
*not absolutely sure this would be OK Reading-Stratford-Greenwich, perhaps someone better informed could comment.

 

[Williamt]

The simple solution would be an Offpeak Return at £44.60.
However, you would either need to pay for the DLR separately one way*, or alter your return route to travel home by NR from Greenwich.
*not absolutely sure this would be OK Reading-Stratford-Greenwich, perhaps someone better informed could comment.

Thanks. (Looks like getting Elizabeth Line from Reading to Canary Wharf, then on to Greenwich is simpler)

 

[paul1609]

I'd go Canterbury-St Pancras-Farringdon-Reading (or St P to Paddington on the tube). In theory the Stratford Int should be an option but when I've tried it doesn't work very well and is considerably longer.

 

[redreni]

Thanks. (Looks like getting Elizabeth Line from Reading to Canary Wharf, then on to Greenwich is simpler)

National Rail Enquiries seems happy with Reading > Canary Wharf > (DLR to) Greenwich > (Thameslink to) St Pancras > Canterbury West on the return leg of an off-peak return. The Maltese Cross covers the DLR leg.

Seems a bit counter-intuitive as it involves looping around and crossing your previous route at Farringdon, which doesn't mean it isn't valid, but to be safe I would get screenshots of that NRE link which shows it's okay and/or buy the ticket against an itinerary that specifies that route if you want to take it.

NRE Reading to Canterbury West via Canary Wharf and Greenwich

 

[MarlowDonkey]

then Elizabeth line to Reading, via Paddington
- Sunday:

Unless you have a particular desire to experience the Elizabeth Line all the way to Reading it's very much the slow all stations option. It's usually quicker to go upstairs at Paddington and use GWR, catching either one of the frequent IEP services non-stop or the half-hourly limited stop 387s.

 

[Williamt]

Unless you have a particular desire to experience the Elizabeth Line all the way to Reading it's very much the slow all stations option. It's usually quicker to go upstairs at Paddington and use GWR, catching either one of the frequent IEP services non-stop or the half-hourly limited stop 387s.

Yep, just been looking at the Elizabeth Line timetable... Thanks for everyone's help. (I only became aware recently that the return journey on an Open Return could be split over multiple days, i.e. over whole validity of the ticket - should that be news to anyone reading this.)

 

[miklcct]

Is it a requirement for you to return via HS1, instead of continuing your journey from Greenwich to Canterbury using the classic route?

If you don't need to use HS1 on the return, Reading - Farringdon - Rochester - Canterbury East is a valid route so you can do everything on 1 return ticket.