Luton - Baker st (starting uni in sep)

[zeddie]

Hi all

I am here to ask all you helpful folk for some advice on behalf of my 19 yr old cousin who is moving here from America. She will be staying with family in Luton but will start her degree at Westminster uni which is in Baker St tube stop.

She will be taking the train to farringdon from luton and then the tube from farringdon to baker st.

The fares for an adult are pretty extortionate even for a yearly season ticket, so we are wondering if theres a young persons, or student railcard she can get to minimize the cost of this journey? She cant take the greenline bus etc because of class scheduling issues.

Any advice would be most appreciated.

thanks

 

[sonic2009]

What time are her classes?

 

[soil]

What are the term dates. I take it she will be here for 3 years, rather than just a term or something?

 

[High Dyke]

Hi all
The fares for an adult are pretty extortionate even for a yearly season ticket, so we are wondering if theres a young persons, or student railcard she can get to minimize the cost of this journey? thanks

There's this: http://www.16-25railcard.co.uk/

However depending on the time of travel there are certain usage conditions:

Minimum fares / Time restrictions
Please remember that for all journeys made at or between 4.30am and 10am Monday to Friday, a £12 minimum fare applies. This means that the Railcard is not suitable for most daily commutes to work or places of study. Don’t forget that if you travel regularly between 4.30am and 10am Monday to Friday then a weekly or monthly season ticket is likely to be the best way for you to save money. Railcards do not give discounts on season tickets.

HTH ?

 

[ichabod05]

Is there a reason for changing at Farringdon rather than St. Pancras, just out of interest?

 

[High Dyke]

Is there a reason for changing at Farringdon rather than St. Pancras, just out of interest?

Easier interchange between platforms i'd guess.

 

[greatkingrat]

Depending on the timetable, it may sometimes be quicker to go Luton - West Hampstead - Baker Street although not all trains stop at West Hampstead.

 

[W-on-Sea]

One possibility might be to get a ticket from Luton to "London Zones 2-6". This allows travel on trains and the tube in those zones (ie everywhere except Central London), but on ALL London bus routes, including in Central London.

Using this, one could get the train from Luton to West Hampstead Thameslink, and then get the 139 bus from just outside to Baker Street. The service is frequent and, as it mainly runs along back streets, generally reliable. It's also a pleasant bus route to travel on, which is not true of all inner city routes- it only runs through nice neighbourhoods!

This wouldn't necessarily take any longer than going via Farringdon.

 

[hairyhandedfool]

It *may* be worth considering a ticket to London (or West Hampstead), with or without the Railcard, and then using an Oyster card to get to Baker Street, though others may be better placed to advise on that.

 

[zeddie]

Thanks for the mega fast replies everyone! She is on a 3 year course, not just 1 term and her classes are variable. Some days her first class is at 9am, and others at 12pm.. Wednesdays she has no classes at all.

Thats why theres a bit of confusion on what the best solution is. (financially)

The only reason for changing at Farringdon is easier change of platforms yes. No issues with changing at St P if theres an advantage to this.

Since a 16-25 railcard will not give discount on season tickets, i dont think this would be a viable solution. (unless she buys return fares every day for 4 days a week)

W-on-Sea, i think the west hamstead - bus to baker st route sounds awesome. Im guessing this should be a lot cheaper than going via farringdon too in terms of a season ticket? Ill have a look on network rail site.

thanks guys.. if you can think of anything else let us know. i was hoping there would just be a discount card for students or something to take the price of a season ticket, but clearly not that simple.

 

[hairyhandedfool]

Season tickets tend to be priced at around four days peak time travelling (sometimes just under sometimes just over)

Returns for four days a week (with a Railcard), over a year, would pay for the Railcard several times over.

 

[soil]

Unfortunately peak time travel from Luton towards London will provide VERY expensive.

So it really depends how many days she needs to be there at 9am. If it's only one day, she won't want a season. If three days, she probably will.

 

[dzug2]

The Greenline bus does run 24x7 - although its future is in considerable doubt. And it goes to Baker Street

 

[greatkingrat]

Although you can't get a YP discount on season tickets, you can get a discounted Student Travelcard on Oyster.

http://www.tfl.gov.uk/tickets/14312.aspx

A student zones 1-6 travelcard, plus either a SDR or CDR from Luton - Elstree & Borehamwood (depending on start time) would be cheaper than the through travelcard from Luton.

 

[zeddie]

We both thank you sooo much for these responses and ideas! Just fyi.. I went to ask this question at Luton station and didnt really get anywhere. To be honest there was a queue of people waiting to buy tickets with only one counter open so the guy wasnt really too interested in having a discussion with me.. fair enough!

With everything taken into consideration, we feel its best to wait for her class timetable to come out in september and make a decision from there, depending on how many days she has to go, and at what times. At least we now have some great ideas to help us decide.

Thank heavens for this forum..

 

[Haywain]

Although you can't get a YP discount on season tickets, you can get a discounted Student Travelcard on Oyster.

http://www.tfl.gov.uk/tickets/14312.aspx

A student zones 1-6 travelcard, plus either a SDR or CDR from Luton - Elstree & Borehamwood (depending on start time) would be cheaper than the through travelcard from Luton.

Only if living at a London address, not living in sunny Luton.

 

[tsr]

I am here to ask all you helpful folk for some advice on behalf of my 19 yr old cousin who is moving here from America. She will be staying with family in Luton but will start her degree at Westminster uni which is in Baker St tube stop.

Do just double check with your friend that most of the classes will be at Baker Street, as the University of Westminster has several campuses, and some campus facilities are interchangeable for different faculties. For example, some students may need to travel to the campus at Harrow (near Northwick Park Tube Station), and at other times they may need one of the campuses in the New Cavendish Street/Regent Street areas. Neither alternative will mean Baker Street is the nearest station.

I know the area very well and am happy to give advice as to which stations to use, although I can't guarantee I will come up with the best combinations of tickets, of course!

I should point out that I keep in contact with both staff and students at a number of London universities, hence why I know where many of their campuses are and how their facilities work!

 

[zeddie]

Those are excellent points to consider tsr. Thank you for pointing them out, as we didnt think about that. As far as we know, she will be based in the baker st campus as she is doing a business degree. But its wise, to wait until she gets her full timetable of classes before making any purchases of season tickets etc.

 

[tsr]

Those are excellent points to consider tsr. Thank you for pointing them out, as we didnt think about that. As far as we know, she will be based in the baker st campus as she is doing a business degree. But its wise, to wait until she gets her full timetable of classes before making any purchases of season tickets etc.

Not a problem at all! Westminster Business School students can have lectures and other sessions on both Harrow and Marylebone/Baker St campuses, with some possible use of the others, so definitely wait and see.