Multiple travelcards?

[wearytraveller]

Hi there

I'm looking to travel from Preston Park to London tomorrow, and am confused.

My intention is to catch the first off-peak train (10.02) to London bridge, tube to Canary wharf for work, then in the evening tube to Hammersmith and then after a show from Hammersmith to Victoria and home at about 10pm.

My expectation is an off-peak travelcard would be ideal for this, but the internet shows one priced at £20.55 and another at £29.35. (including network Railcard discount)

Ostensibly these have the same validity, so what am I missing?

TIA

 

[Bletchleyite]

I assume these are Railcard discounted as I'm not seeing those fares but they are roughly 2/3 of the ones I do see?

If so, one is Thameslink only, one is Any Permitted (so can be used on GatEx services for example).

There is a view that because of how TOC specificity works, the cheaper one is valid on all GTR services anyway. @yorkie is probably best placed to advise on how to take advantage of this if you wish to, though it may involve some level of hassle in claiming back extra fares / appealing Penalty Fares so it's not something I would do.

 

[MarlowDonkey]

My expectation is an off-peak travelcard would be ideal for this, but the internet shows one priced at £20.55 and another at £29.35.

Ostensibly these have the same validity, so what am I missing?

TIA

Perhaps one is valid on all operators to Brighton whilst the other is restricted?

 

[Haywain]

The £20.55 ticket is routed Thameslink only, while the £29.35 ticket is routed ‘Any Permitted’. But there is also another ticket priced at £20.55 routed ‘Any Permitted’ but with slightly more severe time restrictions! From the description of your plans it appears that the last of these - a Super Off Peak Day Travelcard - will be the most appropriate as you will be unaffected by the additional time restrictions.

 

[wearytraveller]

I assume these are Railcard discounted as I'm not seeing those fares but they are roughly 2/3 of the ones I do see?

If so, one is Thameslink only, one is Any Permitted (so can be used on GatEx services for example).

There is a view that because of how TOC specificity works, the cheaper one is valid on all GTR services anyway. @yorkie is probably best placed to advise on how to take advantage of this if you wish to, though it may involve some level of hassle in claiming back extra fares / appealing Penalty Fares so it's not something I would do.

Sorry, yes, I've added to the post these are with network Railcard discount.

They're both labelled ODT, have no apparent restriction within the travelcard area other than not on the Heathrow express.

Just noticed, however, at the very bottom one says 'Thameslink only' as you've stated, but at the top it says 'offered by all train companies in the travelcard area except Heathrow express'.



== Doublepost prevention - post automatically merged: 18 Sep 2024 ==

The £20.55 ticket is routed Thameslink only, while the £29.35 ticket is routed ‘Any Permitted’. But there is also another ticket priced at £20.55 routed ‘Any Permitted’ but with slightly more severe time restrictions! From the description of your plans it appears that the last of these - a Super Off Peak Day Travelcard - will be the most appropriate as you will be unaffected by the additional time restrictions.

Cheers.

 

[The exile]

Just noticed, however, at the very bottom one says 'Thameslink only' as you've stated, but at the top it says 'offered by all train companies in the travelcard area except Heathrow express'.

The “Thameslink only” applies to your return journey to travelcard zone boundary and back. Once within the zonal area it’s valid on everything except HEx.

 

[signed]

The “Thameslink only” applies to your return journey

I remember reading a post from @yorkie on here that it's pretty much not a thing, and that you can take any GTR service not only Thameslink trains.

== Doublepost prevention - post automatically merged: 18 Sep 2024 ==

'Valid only for travel on Thameslink services' Query

Hello everyone, I've been reading previous threads but have not seen anything on this topic from recent times but apologies if it has come up, I must've missed it. I commute from Three Bridges -> Victoria -> Tube to Hammersmith. I have always bought 'Zone 1-6 travel card - any permitted route'...

www.railforums.co.uk

 

[Watershed]

For clarity, there are three types of Off-Peak Day Travelcard from Preston Park to London:

1. £29.35 Off-Peak Day Travelcard (ODT), route "Any Permitted", restriction code C0 (not valid to arrive in London before 09:45)
2. £20.55 Off-Peak Day Travelcard (ODT), route "Thameslink only", restriction code C0 (not valid to arrive in London before 09:45)
3. £20.55 Super Off-Peak Day Travelcard (AM3), route "Any Permitted", restriction code PB (not valid to arrive in London before 10:45)

With a Network Railcard, there is no point in buying either the first or second option - this is because the Network Railcard isn't valid before 10am on a weekday, and the first train after 10am (the 10:02) arrives at London after 10:45, meaning the third option is valid anyway.

If you had another type of Railcard (such as Two Together or Gold Card), then there would be a decision to make, as these are valid earlier than the Network Railcard. But with the Network Railcard the decision is easy - just buy the third option as it is unambiguously valid on all services regardless of brand.

FWIW, the "Thameslink only" restriction (insofar as it is even legally binding - a long-held view is that it allows travel on all GTR services) merely restricts you in terms of the train you can take to get to and from Zones 1-6.

Within Zones 1-6 you can use any operator and mode of transport covered by the Travelcard, i.e. all Tube, DLR, tram and red London bus services, plus all National Rail services other than Heathrow Express and Southeastern High Speed (from St Pancras to Stratford International).

 

[Haywain]

the first off-peak train (10.02) to London bridge,

For reference, this train will be appropriate for either of the two £20.55 tickets - it is a Thameslink service and arrives at London Bridge after 10:45. However, in wider terms the "first off peak train" depends on the ticket you hold - from Preston Park the restrictions on Off Peak Day Returns/Travelcards to London is that they are not valid on trains arriving into London before 09:45, and the Super Off Peak is not valid on trains arriving before 10:45.

 

[wearytraveller]

For reference, this train will be appropriate for either of the two £20.55 tickets - it is a Thameslink service and arrives at London Bridge after 10:45. However, in wider terms the "first off peak train" depends on the ticket you hold - from Preston Park the restrictions on Off Peak Day Returns/Travelcards to London is that they are not valid on trains arriving into London before 09:45, and the Super Off Peak is not valid on trains arriving before 10:45.

You're right of course.

I should have been more specific in saying 'the first off-peak train on which my travelcard discount applies.

I often catch the 08.43 as it gets to London Bridge (occasionally) at 09.45, and the return ticket is £22.70 instead of £52.60 anytime fare.

 

[Bletchleyite]

I remember reading a post from @yorkie on here that it's pretty much not a thing, and that you can take any GTR service not only Thameslink trains.

== Doublepost prevention - post automatically merged: 18 Sep 2024 ==

'Valid only for travel on Thameslink services' Query

Hello everyone, I've been reading previous threads but have not seen anything on this topic from recent times but apologies if it has come up, I must've missed it. I commute from Three Bridges -> Victoria -> Tube to Hammersmith. I have always bought 'Zone 1-6 travel card - any permitted route'...

www.railforums.co.uk

Legally this is probably true *but* it is not guaranteed to be without hassle.

 

[Haywain]

I should have been more specific in saying 'the first off-peak train on which my travelcard discount applies.

More specific would have been "the first train on which my Network Railcard discount applies".. I guessed a railcard was involved but didn't know which!