Megabus to Bournemouth

[themeone]

I am planning a day return East Croydon to Bournemouth on 1 June.

I've noticed Megabus have some £5 singles available Waterloo - Bournemouth. The cheapest way for me to do this would be to travel from East Croydon to Clapham Junction on Oyster PAYG, then pick up the Bournemouth train there.

Firstly, would I be correct in thinking this breaks the T&Cs of the Megabus ticket which is available only from Waterloo, not from Clapham Junction?

Secondly, if I do decide to do this, can I touch out at Clapham Junction (to complete the journey from East Croydon) without exiting the station i.e. are there Oyster readers on any of the platforms?

 

[wintonian]

I'm assuming you mean Megatrain? (same company, but one uses buses the other trains)

Megatrain tickets have similar restrictions to advance tickets sold by the TOC's and starting short is not normally allowed.

[deleted as I was wrong]

 

[radamfi]

There are Oyster readers on Platforms 2 and 17 so you don't need to exit the main barriers to touch in or out. Although Platform 2 is closed at the moment.

There used to be an Oyster reader on 15/16 but that was taken out of action by station works. It would be interesting to know if it will be reinstated.

Out of interest, is there anything illegal in touching out on the main barrier and walking back into the station instead of walking through the barrier? Or reaching over to the other side of the barrier to touch in if you have come into the station on a paper ticket and wish to continue by Oyster?

You would be breaking the T&Cs of Megatrain travel by getting on/off there. See the highly publicised Eastleigh case for possible consequences.

 

[W-on-Sea]

"Out of interest, is there anything illegal in touching out on the main barrier and walking back into the station instead of walking through the barrier?"

No, at least so long as you've got a valid ticket when you walk back into the station. I can think of numerous circs when you're journey is a mixture of paper-ticket and Oyster PAYG where this would be a quite legitimate, if annoying, course of action!