London terminals ticket and underground

[trailer]

Yesterday, myself and my colleague each bought a train ticket from a machine at Cambridge station to travel to London off-peak and return anytime the same day. The chosen 'button'/ ticket was also for Zone 1 on the Underground.

We travelled to London Kings Cross and then changed to the underground to go to Old Street. We used the same tickets to get onto and off the underground via the machines (not assisted by attendants).

However, returning home we ended up at the Barbican (also Zone 1) but the tickets wouldn't let us through the machines. The attendants stated that the tickets were for 'London terminals' only. So we bought additional single zone 1 tickets to return to Kings Cross.

So why did the machine issue us with such a ticket when we requested Zone 1 access and why did the (apparently incorrect) issued tickets allow us through the underground machines at Kings Cross and Old street?

Many thanks

trailer

 

[north]

So why did the machine issue us with such a ticket when we requested Zone 1 access

The ticket should say ZONE U12* LONDN if it's to include Zone 1 tube travel.

and why did the (apparently incorrect) issued tickets allow us through the underground machines at Kings Cross and Old street?

Many thanks

trailer

Old Street is on the Finsbury Park to Moorgate FCC line. A Cambridge to London Terminals ticket is valid to there (including using the tube from Kings X to Old Street)

 

[Ticket Man]

a problem ive seen quite a lot and it happens very easily is that people some times get their tickets mixed up and use the return portion to get on to the underground on their outward journey. Because the return portion gives you the entitlement travel any where in Z1 to anywhere in Z1 and it would not have made any difference if you used your return portion on your outward journey. Once used the gates would mark the return ticket as having made a Z1 journey.

out of interest did you try using you outward ticket to get back on the underground?

 

[trailer]

We definitely used our 'OUT' tickets for outward journey and 'RETURN' for coming home.

We should probably have checked what was written on our tickets and queried them with the attendants (...rather than rushing off to catch the train for our meeting sigh ).

We didn't know about Old Street being on the Finsbury Park to Moorgate FCC line and the validity of a 'Cambridge to London Terminals ticket' incl. tube. We read the terms on the machine when we bought the tickets, but it didn't mention anything about the validity of the ticket at Old Street etc. But at least that makes some sense.

Anyway, we can explain our travel expenses now and know for next time.
Or maybe we'll just queue up to speak to someone (..sigh)


Many thanks for your comments and help.

trailer.

 

[tony_mac]

would the Kings Cross barriers allow access onto the underground if they were London Terminals tickets?

If you know exactly how much the tickets cost, we could probably work out what they were.

 

[clagmonster]

I believe there is an easement (though I don't know where it is published) that states that tickets from ECML stations north of and including Finsbury Park To London Terminals are valid for travel on the Northern Line (possibly the Met as well) between Kings Cross and Moorgate/Old Street (but not intermediately). Therefore, it is possible that a Cambridge-London Terminals ticket would work the Underground barriers at Kings Cross.

Trailer, my I clarify, did you attempt to make two or three journeys with your tickets. Also, what was the destination printed on the ticket.

 

[FGWman]

If what you say is true then you have actually saved yourself a couple of quid. The add on for zone 1 is £6.00 for a return. So if you only bought a single zone 1 cash fare it is £4.00.

The reason your ticket worked the barriers on the way out is that old street is also classed as a London Terminal. Of course you may have bben charged a penalty fare on the underground if you were checked.

When you get back to cambridge have a look at the machine to see if you can see how the mistake happened.

 

[north]

I believe there is an easement (though I don't know where it is published) that states that tickets from ECML stations north of and including Finsbury Park To London Terminals are valid for travel on the Northern Line (possibly the Met as well) between Kings Cross and Moorgate/Old Street (but not intermediately). Therefore, it is possible that a Cambridge-London Terminals ticket would work the Underground barriers at Kings Cross.

Trailer, my I clarify, did you attempt to make two or three journeys with your tickets. Also, what was the destination printed on the ticket.

This was discussed in this thread