How To Pay Excess Fares

[Thames99]

I've got a return ticket from Reading to Gatwick.

If my plane is late on the return I could miss the final direct North Downs line train, but it would still be feasible to get back via London.

I assume I can go to the booking office at Gatwick (which is apparently open 24 hours) to pay an excess.

As trains are infrequent at night, if there's a queue can I just get on a train and offer to pay on board or on arrival at Victoria?

It is an off-peak ticket via Gomshall with a Senior Railcard costing £26.15.

 

[Hadders]

Under the current NRCoT, there is no penalty for obtaining a change of route excess onboard. From a practical point of view you’re highly unlikely to be able to get the excess onboard as both Thameslink and Elizabeth Line trains are driver only operated.

From 23rd November (when the new NRCoT comes into effect) the contractual right to a change of route excess is removed which basically means you must obtain it before you board the train. It’s not clear what will happen if you’ve been unable to obtain an excess before boarding because there are no facilities available.

 

[Benjwri]

From 23rd November (when the new NRCoT comes into effect) the contractual right to a change of route excess is removed which basically means you must obtain it before you board the train. It’s not clear what will happen if you’ve been unable to obtain an excess before boarding because there are no facilities available.

The OP should be okay here if as they state they have already bought their ticket, as they have agreed to the current version of the NRCOT, although could experience more push back.

From a practical point of view you’re highly unlikely to be able to get the excess onboard as both Thameslink and Elizabeth Line trains are driver only operated.

If the OP has missed the final North Downs train they will miss end of service on the Elizabeth Line and likely end up going to Victoria and then Paddington.

They should try and get the excess at Gatwick, although it is worth noting for the OP there is no ticket office, there should be staff who can sell it by the ticket machines, but my experience is they probably won't. They should try to get the excess from the OBS on the service to Victoria if not. If they aren't able to get the excess they likely won't have an opportunity to pay, as Victoria and Paddington ticket offices will be closed by that time, however they should be away this means they will almost certainly have to pay for the tube themselves.

 

[Dirty_Mac]

they will almost certainly have to pay for the tube themselves

If they're late enough, I don't think the tube will be running

 

[Kite159]

The OP should be okay here if as they state they have already bought their ticket, as they have agreed to the current version of the NRCOT, although could experience more push back.

If the OP has missed the final North Downs train they will miss end of service on the Elizabeth Line and likely end up going to Victoria and then Paddington.

They should try and get the excess at Gatwick, although it is worth noting for the OP there is no ticket office, there should be staff who can sell it by the ticket machines, but my experience is they probably won't. They should try to get the excess from the OBS on the service to Victoria if not. If they aren't able to get the excess they likely won't have an opportunity to pay, as Victoria and Paddington ticket offices will be closed by that time, however they should be away this means they will almost certainly have to pay for the tube themselves.

What sort of ticket printers do the Southern OBS carry with them?

If they have switched over to using printers with paper roll tickets, then they probably won't be able to do the excess as it will require the credit card sized tickets to operate the barriers on LU.

 

[stadler]

What sort of ticket printers do the Southern OBS carry with them?

If they have switched over to using printers with paper roll tickets, then they probably won't be able to do the excess as it will require the credit card sized tickets to operate the barriers on LU.

Certainly at the beginning of this month all of the OBSs and Conductors i saw on Southern only had a CCST blue Steatite printer for all tickets. Maybe they have switched since but i have not heard anything. I would be surprised if they do switch as a lot of people buy Travelcard and Cross London tickets onboard.

 

[Thames99]

Thanks all. I'm travelling next Friday night/ Saturday, so before the November 23rd change mentioned. I was anticipating train to Victoria and then night bus to Paddington if I've missed the last tube.

How is the excess fare calculated?

 

[AlterEgo]

Thanks all. I'm travelling next Friday night/ Saturday, so before the November 23rd change mentioned. I was anticipating train to Victoria and then night bus to Paddington if I've missed the last tube.

How is the excess fare calculated?

It's quite simply the difference in fares. No additional fees. If you upgrade one portion of a return the difference is halved.

 

[Jim]

Some depots are now getting paper roll tickets on Southern.

 

[redreni]

Some depots are now getting paper roll tickets on Southern.

That's a really bad idea.

TfL's policy is to accept paper tickets but not e-tickets when it comes to things like Travelcards, U-zone tickets or Maltese Cross tickets, so PRT should be accepted, but in reality it's going to cause problems. People will either find guards won't issue the ticket they need, or they'll experience inconvenience and hassle at LU gatelines.

As for Gatwick Airport not having a proper ticket office, don't even get me started!

They need to wait until TfL has sorted out barcode scanning at gatelines.

 

[Haywain]

TfL's policy is to accept paper tickets but not e-tickets when it comes to things like Travelcards, U-zone tickets or Maltese Cross tickets, so PRT should be accepted

TfL's policy is that they only accept CCST tickets (and tickets held on smartcards).

 

[CyrusWuff]

TfL's policy is that they only accept CCST tickets (and tickets held on smartcards).

They only accept Travelcards held on Smartcards.

Single and Return tickets are rejected by gates, regardless of whether that's for a cross-London journey or to an LU/DLR zonal destination.

 

[Fenchurch SP]

They only accept Travelcards held on Smartcards.

Single and Return tickets are rejected by gates, regardless of whether that's for a cross-London journey or to an LU/DLR zonal destination.

I've used both Travelcards and cross London returns on CCST recently with no problems.

 

[MrJeeves]

I've used both Travelcards and cross London returns on CCST recently with no problems.

I believe the comment was about tickets other than Travelcards on smartcards not being accepted on TfL.

 

[CyrusWuff]

I believe the comment was about tickets other than Travelcards on smartcards not being accepted on TfL.

Correct. My apologies, I should have been clearer.

 

[Fenchurch SP]

I believe the comment was about tickets other than Travelcards on smartcards not being accepted on TfL.

Oh I see, sorry I should have read further upthread before replying.

 

[Alex365Dash]

TfL's policy is to accept paper tickets but not e-tickets when it comes to things like Travelcards, U-zone tickets or Maltese Cross tickets, so PRT should be accepted, but in reality it's going to cause problems. People will either find guards won't issue the ticket they need, or they'll experience inconvenience and hassle at LU gatelines.

SNGX OBSs with PRT printers can fulfil to ToD when selling a ticket, meaning customers can print their ticket at an interchange station.

Of course, if a customer manages to get to the likes of Kentish Town without printing their ticket, that might still be an issue…

 

[Thames99]

Just an update on my journey. The Easyjet plane arrived early and very close to the customs hall. This was fast taking only two or three minutes with all of the egates working. From leaving the plane to the station took under 20 minutes including the shuttle train from the North Terminal. As result, I was in good time for the 23.22 North Downs train and didn't need to go via London.

I'm very pleased about this, but can't report back on the ease or difficulty of making an excess payment. I doubt I'll be as lucky next time so I may be back in the future with an update!