St Pancras to Shepperton

[martino]

I would like to ask for some advice about how to get from St Pancras to Shepperton, during the evening peak, for someone without an Oyster card. And how to they make sure to buy the correct ticket, assuming they know nothing about the UK railway system.

The reason is that I am organising an event in Shepperton. Some of the guests will be arriving by Eurostar at St Pancras and I need to advise them how to get to Shepperton. They will probably not have Oyster or contactless payment cards.

There appear to be 3 tickets available (anytime singles):
- £8.90 London Terminals - Shepperton route Any Permitted. I don't think this is valid on the underground. You can use it to travel St Pancras-West Hampstead-Richmond-Shepperton but that's not a route I would recommend anyone to take - 90 minutes with 2 changes, one of them walking along the street.
- £9.40 St Pancras - Shepperton route London Not Underground. You can use this one to travel St Pancras-Wimbledon-Shepperton. Maybe that is sensible - it still takes 90 minutes but only one change which should not be too difficult.
- £11.90. I couldn't find this one on brfares but I think it is London Underground Zone 1 - Shepperton. So you can use it on the underground to Vauxhall (60 minutes) or Waterloo (80 minutes according to NRE), then direct train to Shepperton. It is more expensive than using Oyster + the £8.90 fare, but less expensive than using a paper single for the underground or a visitor Oyster card and less hassle than reclaiming the deposit on a regular Oyster card at the end of the trip.

I tried buying a ticket to Shepperton on the machines at St Pancras (branded either East Midlands Trains or Thameslink - they appear to have the same software). It gave me only the £8.90 and £9.40 options, and describes them as "Any Permitted" or "London Not Underground". I think most people presented with that choice would assume that the first one is valid on the underground, though they might be puzzled why it is cheaper than "Not Underground".

Over at Kings Cross, the ticket machine (branded VTEC) only offers me the £11.90 option. But saying to these guests "You need to cross the road and use the machines there to get the right ticket" would be very confusing.

So to get the £11.90 fare, I would need to tell guests to go to the ticket office at St Pancras. What should I instruct them to ask for to make sure they are sold the correct ticket?

Concerning the route, given that some guests might be travelling during the evening peak: the most direct is to take the Victoria line to Vauxhall but I suspect it might be hard to board a train at Vauxhall. So maybe I should advise them to take the tube to Waterloo and board the train at its first station, even though that would require changing tube. I suppose that Oxford Circus is probably the best place to change as it is cross-platform.

But then if I am thinking about advising them to go to Waterloo, maybe going by Thameslink to Wimbledon is not much slower and has the benefits of no underground and only one change. Does anyone know how busy the evening peak trains to Shepperton would be on leaving Wimbledon?

 

[Starmill]

The Underground ticket machines should sell a Zone U12* (which means London Underground Zones 1/2, although this would not print quite like this on an Undergound ticket, that's how it would appear on an orange ticket or on BRFares) to Shepperton single for them. They can ask for the advice of the Underground staff if they need help with the ticket machine.

The ticket office at St Pancras would also be able to sell it - they would simply need to specify from Undergound Zone 1 to Shepperton.

The cheaper ticket from St Pancras to Shepperton is valid: London St Pancras to London Bridge, London Bridge to London Waterloo East, London Waterloo to Shepperton. However, your friends may prefer to keep things simple and just take the Undergound.

While they could travel via Wimbeldon, the fastest services to Shepperton in the evening peak do not go via Wimbledon (the 1743, 1813 and 1843 departures from London Waterloo are a little quicker and avoid Wimbledon).

 

[martino]

Thanks Starmill! I never knew you could buy tickets to stations outside the London zones from a London Underground ticket machine. And I found the ticket on brfares now that I know what to look for.

 

[John @ home]

The cheaper ticket from St Pancras to Shepperton is valid: London St Pancras to London Bridge, London Bridge to London Waterloo East, London Waterloo to Shepperton. However, your friends may prefer to keep things simple and just take the Undergound.

In my opinion, this is the most suitable route for anyone with reduced mobility:

• from Eurostar exit level, one lift or two escalators down to Thameslink platforms at St Pancras
• at London Bridge, either cross platform or using two lifts or two escalators between platforms
• between Waterloo East and Waterloo, up one ramp and down one level with a choice of lift or escalator
• at Shepperton, the platform is at street level with step-free access to the car park.

 

[Starmill]

The service between London St Pancras and London Bridge is rather restricted until 20th May. If you're travelling after that date, trains are frequent again.

 

[Hadders]

Kentish Town - Shepperton Anytime Day Single routed '+ Any Permitted' is £10.50 which is not only cheaper but gives complete flexibility over routeing. If there are more than 3 travelling then use Groupsave as you'll save 34% as long as the party travels together.

 

[alistairlees]

Kentish Town - Shepperton Anytime Day Single routed '+ Any Permitted' is £10.50 which is not only cheaper but gives complete flexibility over routeing. If there are more than 3 travelling then use Groupsave as you'll save 34% as long as the party travels together.

But are tickets from other origins available from the ticket machines at St Pancras?

 

[alistairlees]

In my opinion, this is the most suitable route for anyone with reduced mobility:

• at London Bridge, either cross platform or using two lifts or two escalators between platforms

The Thameslink platforms (4 and 5) are dedicated to Thameslink, so it's the escalator / lift option to get to the Charing Cross platforms (8 and 9).

 

[Hadders]

But are tickets from other origins available from the ticket machines at St Pancras?

No idea but there are two ticket offices at St Pancras which will both sell them, along with the groupsave discount.

 

[robbeech]

No idea but there are two ticket offices at St Pancras which will both sell them, along with the groupsave discount.

Could these not be booked in advance for any card collection with TOD, that way you know they have the right tickets?

 

[Hadders]

Could these not be booked in advance for any card collection with TOD, that way you know they have the right tickets?

Yes indeed. GWRs webtis site will sell them with the Groupsave discount. Purchase an e-gift voucher on the GWR site, use this to pay for the tickets as this will then allow collection at the ticket machine with any card and ensures the OPs friends have the correct tickets with minimum faff.

http://tickets.gwr.com/gw/en/journeyplanning/MixingDeck

 

[robbeech]

As to the original question I certainly agree that Victoria Line to Vauxhall then train to Shepperton is the easiest way.
They will likely find more space at the Front if the Shepperton train as it will have left Waterloo and the front is the furthest to walk. This also helps them to be closer to the exit at Shepperton.

Are they being collected from the station at Shepperton or do they need to continue in a taxi or bus?

 

[martino]

Thanks everyone! The Kentish Town suggestion is good but I think it is too complicated to try to explain for a very small saving. People will be arriving individually, so can't use Groupsave.

On arrival at Shepperton, they will probably need to get a taxi, unless they want to walk. The 557 bus might also be an option, but it is only once an hour.

 

[robbeech]

Martino are you from the area? It seems you might be.
For taxis may I recommend them NOT using Station Cars which is the second private hire place as you leave the station towards the town. Unfortunately I cannot comment on the first one.