Reading to Gatwick to Kings Cross, then back to Reading

[EricS]

I'm planning this journey:
Saturday:
Reading to Gatwick Airport, arriving by 0650
Gatwick Airport to Kings Cross, arriving by 1045

Monday:
Kings Cross to Reading, leaving about 1600

I have a Network Railcard.

Am I right in thinking I can use the £23.75 off-peak return, route any permitted ticket from Reading to Gatwick Airport?

On the Saturday, I'd go direct from Reading to Gatwick, then direct to St Pancras. I'd break my journey there, and walk to Kings Cross.
On the Monday, I'd use the underground from Kings Cross St Pancras to Paddington. Then go direct to Reading (maybe on an evening peak train if I'm running late).

 

[LexyBoy]

Looks valid to me. The only possible problem I can see is that using Thameslink Blackfriars-St Pancras will count as part of your cross-London journey, and so I'm not sure what the rules on breaking and resuming are. In practice though since you'd be leaving the gateline at St Pancras anyway it won't be a problem.

The ticket is valid at or after 0930 with no evening peak restrictions. You might have some problems at Paddington however if you're unlucky - there's a fair chance that it'll be rejected by the barriers.

 

[EricS]

I was going to get the FCC train that goes to St Pancras with no changes. When you ask the journey planner for Gatwick to Reading, it suggests staying on that train as far as Farringdon, then getting the underground to Paddington. So I'm sure there's no problem staying on as far as Farringdon. The only bit I could possibly see a problem with is staying on for that extra stop to St Pancras.

In the permitted route identifier pages, I found that Gatwick to London allowed LB, LB+SL, and SC. Map LB does have St Pancras on it, which was what made me think I could go to St Pancras. But I don't understand how you're meant to know which London stations are allowed when using the maps for a ticket with a cross-London transfer.

 

[ert47]

Not sure of the routing allowed by the ticket you have, but you could try the following;

- Change at London Bridge for a Southeastern service to Charing Cross, provided you're on a FCC service you wouldn't need to change platforms, then at Charing Cross, get the Bakerloo.
- Change trains at Farringdon, less of a walk to make the transfer (not sure of ticket validity)
- Go via London Victoria

 

[EricS]

ert47,
I don't think I could do those options, as then I'd be using the London Underground on the Saturday, which entails breaking my journey after having started using the underground. My understanding is that, having done that, my ticket is no use for any further underground travel. I had hoped that by getting a national rail train to St Pancras, I would "save" my ticket's underground validity for going from Kings Cross to Paddington on the Monday.

 

[JamesRowden]

Gatwick to Reading via St Pancras (using Thameslink) is a vaild route accoring to the Southern journey planner http://www.southernrailway.com/

I have used a similar route when travelling between Reading and Battle via St Pancras (changing at London Bridge).

 

[EricS]

JamesRowden,
I see what you mean, that's good.

Thanks everyone, I think I'll go ahead and use that ticket.

 

[ert47]

ert47,
I don't think I could do those options, as then I'd be using the London Underground on the Saturday, which entails breaking my journey after having started using the underground. My understanding is that, having done that, my ticket is no use for any further underground travel. I had hoped that by getting a national rail train to St Pancras, I would "save" my ticket's underground validity for going from Kings Cross to Paddington on the Monday.

My bad, totally missed that.

 

[hairyhandedfool]

....When you ask the journey planner for Gatwick to Reading, it suggests staying on that train as far as Farringdon, then getting the underground to Paddington. So I'm sure there's no problem staying on as far as Farringdon. The only bit I could possibly see a problem with is staying on for that extra stop to St Pancras....

Journey planners suggest Farringdon rather than St Pancras because it is a platform change rather than having to make your way between stations. The LUL service will go via Kings Cross St Pancras to get to Paddington so interchange there is not an issue.

 

[bb21]

I'm planning this journey:
Saturday:
Reading to Gatwick Airport, arriving by 0650
Gatwick Airport to Kings Cross, arriving by 1045

Monday:
Kings Cross to Reading, leaving about 1600

I have a Network Railcard.

Am I right in thinking I can use the £23.75 off-peak return, route any permitted ticket from Reading to Gatwick Airport?

On the Saturday, I'd go direct from Reading to Gatwick, then direct to St Pancras. I'd break my journey there, and walk to Kings Cross.
On the Monday, I'd use the underground from Kings Cross St Pancras to Paddington. Then go direct to Reading (maybe on an evening peak train if I'm running late).

It is a valid route, and I don't think you will encounter problems, although strictly speaking you should pay for either City Thameslink - St Pancras or St Pancras - Paddington separately as one of them will count as your cross-London transfer. I doubt the gatelines will be able to encode your ticket accordingly so I think this is rather unenforceable.

 

[EricS]

Ah I see, thanks. So to be scrupulously honest I could get a single (route not underground) from Blackfriars to St Pancras for £1.70 with Network railcard on the Saturday, or use Oyster PAYG for £2.10 on the underground.

 

[LexyBoy]

That was my initial reservation - having checked the NRCoC and NRE's Crossing London page, both specifically refer to not breaking and resuming a journey on London Underground, implying to me that it is permitted to break and resume a cross-London transfer made on national rail (i.e. Thameslink).

If your journey involves travelling via, or across London to connect with another National Rail service, your ticket should include the cost of transfer on Tube, Docklands Light Railway or First Capital Connect (Thameslink Route) services between the relevant main London stations.

For example - a Hastings to York ticket is valid for travel on Underground services between Victoria, Charing Cross, Cannon Street or London Bridge and Kings Cross/St Pancras or on First Capital Connect services from London Bridge or Blackfriars to St. Pancras International.

To check if the cost of travel across London is included in your ticket, look for the ‘†' symbol which will be shown in the tickets ‘Route' information, e.g. [‘†' ANY PERMITTED].

Tickets displaying this indicator are valid for travel between any two stations shown in the ‘Station List' (below) appropriate to the route of the through journey being made.

You can ‘break your transfer journey' and leave the Underground at any intermediate station, e.g. if you are travelling between Victoria and Euston you can exit at Oxford Circus. However, if you subsequently wish to continue your journey by Underground you will have to purchase another ticket.