Gatwick To Luton

[jmacp]

Hi

I am looking for a ticket's for the following.

1 Adult 2 Children with a family railcard Gatwick to ultimately Luton. I arrive Gatwick 0730 but i can wait out any peak restrictions.

I think I require Travelcard travel within London and I might want to go to Tonbridge.

Can anybody advise the correct tickets to buy? I realise I might need multiple tickets at the travel card boundary.

John

 

[Hadders]

I’m a bit confused about exactly what travel you’re doing.

From Gatwick to London, then to Tonbridge and then Luton? Is this all on one day?

Can you clarify and then we can better advise.

 

[jmacp]

I’m a bit confused about exactly what travel you’re doing.

From Gatwick to London, then to Tonbridge and then Luton? Is this all on one day?

Can you clarify and then we can better advise.

Sorry

Flying in to Gatwick out from Luton Later the same day. So I will definitely need that covered.

I may decide to go to Tonbrige (whilst still near Gatwick area) for a couple of hours so looking for options?

John

 

[Hadders]

Gatwick Airport to Tonbridge (via Edenbridge) Anytime Day Single costs £8.80 for an adult and £2.55 for each child with F&F Railcard. The earliest departure you could take is the 09:32 from Gatwick Airport, changing at Redhill.

Tonbridge to Luton Airport Anytime Day Single costs £22.75 for an adult and £6.55 for each child with F&F Railcard. Purchase the ticket to Luton Airport rather than Luton Airport Parkway as it includes the cost of the shuttle bus from the station to the airport.

This makes the total cost £49.75.

Note this assumes you travel from Gatwick Airport to Tonbridge (via Redhill and Edenbridge) and then from Tonbridge to Luton Airport.

 

[30907]

Again, assuming you want to visit Tonbridge but also will be making journeys within the Travelcard Zones:

Gatwick to Chelsfield Anytime Day Single not via London £18.05 (0932 departure)
(valid to break journey at TON and on a train that doesn't stop at Chelsfield - if you prefer, Orpington is £19.50 and some trains from TON stop there)

Luton Airport to London Offpeak/Super OP Day Travelcard £33.15/28.00
bought in advance - you need it from Chelsfield. The Super OP isn't valid 1630-1900 north from St Pancras (technically Elstree), which may not suit you.

Total 51.20 or 46.05.

If you decide you don't need a Travelcard, then a split at Orpington would cost £44.30 (19.50 plus 24.80) but you would need a train that stopped there - as they are every half hour that should be no problem.

 

[sonic2009]

If you land at 0730 and can be out of arrivals for a train at 0855 via Redhill then the following tickets will be available :

Gatwick - Horley Anytime Day Single (No Discount) £4.20 (£2.10 Adults, £1.05 for Children)
Horley - London Zones 1-6 Travelcard Off Peak Day Travelcard with F&F discount £17.30 (£11.00 for Adults, £3.15 for Children)
Elstree & Borehamwood- Luton Airport Parkway Anytime Day Single with F&F Discount £10.75 ( £6.85 for Adults, £1.95 for Children)

Trainsplit.com will offer this combination of tickets if you specify via Tonbridge in the advanced options. There is no break of journey restrictions on the Travelcard, so you are free to break your journey at Tonbridge before continuing into London - how this would go down with the Tonbridge gateline i'm not so sure, infact if you were going to somewhere like Orpington this would be the quickest route anyway to the London Zones I think!

Your train must stop at Horley on the way to Redhill and from London - Luton Airport Parkway the train must call at Elstree & Borehamwood, generally the Luton terminating services stop there.

To avoid the need for the service from St Pancras to Luton Airport Parkway to stop at Elstree, go to any ticket office and ask for a Boundary Zone 6 - Luton Airport Parkway Anytime Day Single which is the same price as Elstree - Luton Airport Parkway (this will give you more services to use and it's perfectly valid with your travelcard- although you may get issues trying to convince the EMR gateline that it is!)

Total cost : 32.25

If you cannot make the 0855 then the next service is at 0932 via Redhill which stops at Horley, but then your F&F discount will apply making the Gatwick - Horley single £3.35.

If you didn't require to go to Tonbridge then all you would need is a Gatwick Airport - London Zones 1-6 travelcard and either the Elstree - Luton Airport Parkway or Boundary Zone 6 - Luton Airport ticket.

A travelcard with F&F discount is valid from the 0914 service. Thameslink only ODT are £17.30 and Not Gatwick Express ODT are £19.00 for 1 adult 2 children.

 

[30907]

For comparison, the fare to Luton Airport instead of just to Parkway is £15.45, so total £36.95.
I would anticipate hassle at Tonbridge with that ticket!

The Elstree option is cheaper than an Offpeak Travelcard from Luton Airport though: 14.30 (zones 1-6 only) + 15.45 = 29.85.

 

[sonic2009]

For comparison, the fare to Luton Airport instead of just to Parkway is £15.45, so total £36.95.
I would anticipate hassle at Tonbridge with that ticket!

The Elstree option is cheaper than an Offpeak Travelcard from Luton Airport though: 14.30 (zones 1-6 only) + 15.45 = 29.85.

Thanks 30907, I had forgot that the actual station is not next door to the Airport!

 

[Watershed]

To avoid the need for the service from St Pancras to Luton Airport Parkway to stop at Elstree, go to any ticket office and ask for a Boundary Zone 6 - Luton Airport Parkway Anytime Day Single which is the same price as Elstree - Luton Airport Parkway (this will give you more services to use and it's perfectly valid with your travelcard- although you may get issues trying to convince the EMR gateline that it is!)

There is no need for the train to stop at the boundary station when combining a Travelcard with another ticket. I think the Boundary Zone ticket is slightly less likely to cause conflict.

 

[JonathanH]

infact if you were going to somewhere like Orpington this would be the quickest route anyway to the London Zones I think

No chance - it is quicker via London Bridge - indeed a ticket from Gatwick to Orpington itself isn't valid via Tonbridge (or at least I can't get booking engines to work that way).

 

[Haywain]

you may get issues trying to convince the EMR gateline

Unless the OP is at St Pancras for other reasons there is little to be gained from using the EMR service if joining Thameslink services at any of the other London stations is an option.

 

[sonic2009]

No chance - it is quicker via London Bridge - indeed a ticket from Gatwick to Orpington itself isn't valid via Tonbridge (or at least I can't get booking engines to work that way).

Is it the shortest route by rail though?

 

[JonathanH]

Is it the shortest route by rail though?

Shortest route by rail from Gatwick to Orpington is via Crystal Palace.

Even to Knockholt, that is the shorter route (by around 7 miles relative to going via Tonbridge)

 

[Horizon22]

Shortest route by rail from Gatwick to Orpington is via Crystal Palace.

Even to Knockholt, that is the shorter route (by around 7 miles relative to going via Tonbridge)

Crystal Palace? There's no direct trains going back to Orpington from there.

 

[JonathanH]

Crystal Palace? There's no direct trains going back to Orpington from there.

Gatwick to Norwood Junction
Norwood Junction to Crystal Palace
Crystal Palace to Beckenham Junction
Beckenham Junction to Orpington.

The shortest route doesn't have to be convenient to be the shortest route.

(In practice, passengers using the route to avoid London would change at Penge East / Penge West.)

 

[Horizon22]

Gatwick to Norwood Junction
Norwood Junction to Crystal Palace
Crystal Palace to Beckenham Junction
Beckenham Junction to Orpington.

The shortest route doesn't have to be convenient to be the shortest route.

(In practice, passengers using the route to avoid London would change at Penge East / Penge West.)

I expect that would take could reasonably take you an hour longer than changing at Redhill & Tonbridge (especially the Beckenham junction bit)! Not sure anyone sensible would contemplate that and the walk between the Penge stations isn't great with luggage (no lifts and still a reasonable walk).

 

[JonathanH]

I expect that would take could reasonably take you an hour longer than changing at Redhill & Tonbridge!

Does that matter? It doesn't make the route via Redhill and Tonbridge the shortest route by rail.

 

[Horizon22]

Does that matter? It doesn't make the route via Redhill and Tonbridge the shortest route by rail.

I suspect the 'shortest' and 'quickest' has caused some confusion in the thread.

 

[JonathanH]

I suspect the 'shortest' and 'quickest' has caused some confusion in the thread.

I think I am trying to indicate that travelling via Tonbridge on a travelcard issued at Gatwick or Horley is very shaky ground on almost any measure.

 

[sonic2009]

I think I am trying to indicate that travelling via Tonbridge on a travelcard issued at Gatwick or Horley is very shaky ground on almost any measure.

I don't see how it can be shaky ground? Putting the OP plan's aside. If I was to book a journey right now and specify travelling via Tonbridge, and my journey was from Gatwick/Horley to Chelsfield, a travelcard is the cheapest ticket I'm offered. Same applies with Horley - Orpington, this is on Southeastern's website.

And even if not travelling via Tonbridge, the journey times offered are 1h32m via Tonbridge, 1hr20m via London.

 

[30907]

I think I am trying to indicate that travelling via Tonbridge on a travelcard issued at Gatwick or Horley is very shaky ground on almost any measure.

NRE will show the Anytime Single and the Travelcard to Chelsfield - but not to Orpington - if you select Via Tonbridge and a return fare.
I would be minded to have an itinerary available nevertheless, and follow it as far as Sevenoaks, to avoid potential hassle.

However, there is no advantage to splitting at Horley:
Offpeak Day Travelcard Not Gatwick Express £19.40
Boundary Zone 6 to Luton Airport £15.45
Total £34.85

First valid train the 0855 to Redhill, but the 0932 is still in time for the Tonbridge train.

(If you are not going via Tonbridge you could save a bit more by having the Thameslink Only version mentioned upthread, but it's hardly worth it.)

 

[jmacp]

NRE will show the Anytime Single and the Travelcard to Chelsfield - but not to Orpington - if you select Via Tonbridge and a return fare.
I would be minded to have an itinerary available nevertheless, and follow it as far as Sevenoaks, to avoid potential hassle.

However, there is no advantage to splitting at Horley:
Offpeak Day Travelcard Not Gatwick Express £19.40
Boundary Zone 6 to Luton Airport £15.45
Total £34.85

First valid train the 0855 to Redhill, but the 0932 is still in time for the Tonbridge train.

(If you are not going via Tonbridge you could save a bit more by having the Thameslink Only version mentioned upthread, but it's hardly worth it.)

Hi Thanks for replies
So I will be going to Tonbridge are we saying that a Gatwick Airport Off Peak Travelcard is valid via Tonbridge? Planning to head out towards the GBRF yard.
John

 

[30907]

Hi Thanks for reply's
So I will be going to Tonbridge are we saying that a Gatwick Airport Off Peak Travelcard is valid via Tonbridge? Planning to head out towards the GBRF yard.
John

Yes, if you are going with that option, take an itinerary for Gatwick to Chelsfield (or Knockholt, also Zone 6) which gives you the route and fare, just in case you get a query.

(Assuming TON has barriers, the tickets almost certainly won't work them.)

 

[JonathanH]

TON has barriers

Yes, Tonbridge does have barriers.

Whilst I can see the reasoning and the implied validity in journey planners does anyone actually have practical experience of using the 'itinerary to the first station in the travelcard zones via an orbital route' approach? There is already too much to print on tickets from Gatwick without adding 'Not Tonbridge / Dorking' on them too.

 

[jmacp]

Here's the thing I am an enthusiast from Scotland and I had to ask here what tickets are valid. I would argue if it its too difficult for me to work out then Joe Bloggs doesn't have a hope!

TBH as stated the journey planner says I can go to Chelsfield via Tonbridge and then proposes a ticket then that's what I shall do !

I'll report back after my journey.

Thanks

 

[sonic2009]

Hi Thanks for reply's
So I will be going to Tonbridge are we saying that a Gatwick Airport Off Peak Travelcard is valid via Tonbridge? Planning to head out towards the GBRF yard.
John

Gatwick/Horley - Chelsfield (inside the London Zones) book on the southeastern website and specify via Tonbridge - it will offer you a London Zone 1-6 Travelcard as ticket option.

 

[Haywain]

Joe Bloggs doesn't have a hope!

I very much doubt Joe Bloggs is interested.

 

[Surreytraveller]

How far can one deviate from the most direct route to enter the Travelcard area when using an out-boundary Travelcard? I presume that's what this thread is asking

 

[30907]

How far can one deviate from the most direct route to enter the Travelcard area when using an out-boundary Travelcard? I presume that's what this thread is asking

The answer NRE gives is - as far as you can get a routing from us. Same as for any other ticket. Even if we're technically wrong!

There is already too much to print on tickets from Gatwick without adding 'Not Tonbridge / Dorking' on them too.

And little point as the Epsom end of Zone 6 would be sensible via Deepdene (not checked it).
Whereas I doubt you would get a route Gatwick-Wokingham-Feltham even though it's only 1 change

 

[JB_B]

How far can one deviate from the most direct route to enter the Travelcard area when using an out-boundary Travelcard? I presume that's what this thread is asking

The relevant test is whether it's a permitted route from your origin to the first station reached within the zones.

(In a few cases that may result in a degree of 'deviation' which some staff may look askance at. In those cases it's wise to have evidence that NRE or an accredited retailer validates your intended route.)