Tonbridge to Gatwick and return

[55003]

I am trying to find a resource which shows a listing of all the fares available between these two station. About two years ago the only open return from Gatwick to Tonbridge had to be via London and not Redhill.

 

[yorkie]

See http://www.brfares.com/#!fares?orig=TON&dest=GTW

 

[55003]

Many thanks.

 

[soil]

I am trying to find a resource which shows a listing of all the fares available between these two station. About two years ago the only open return from Gatwick to Tonbridge had to be via London and not Redhill.

There is no fare that is required to be via London. The SVR ✠ANY PERMITTED is valid via London, but you need not go that way.

SVR (off-peak) ✠ANY PERMITTED is priced £30.20, while the SOR (anytime) NOT VIA LONDON is £24.80

Both are more expensive than two singles routed via Redhill (£11.90 each, though if you have a Network Railcard, the SOR may be cheaper).

Another option is Tonbridge - Haywards Heath SVR Via Edenbridge at £22.10 - this is valid for a journey to Gatwick.

 

[55003]

I remember looking at the ticket machine at the airport, having queued up to even get to it and the only open return available to Tonbridge was a ticket via London, there was nothing via Edenbridge and it was hugely expensive. Lookin at the website this still appears to be true.
As a Gatwick airport based employee I am eligible for a Gatwick staff card (33% discount) but the ticket machines do not recognise this and you have to buy them from the ticket office, again after waiting in a queue.
Looking at the fares quoted on the website above there appears to be some anomalies between the via Edenbridge and Not via London, with the latter being cheaper. I wonder what route this refers to as the only route I can think of is via Edenbridge or I think that you could travel via Bromley , Croydon and trams etc to satisfy the not via London.

 

[Paul Kelly]

I remember looking at the ticket machine at the airport, having queued up to even get to it and the only open return available to Tonbridge was a ticket via London, there was nothing via Edenbridge and it was hugely expensive. Lookin at the website this still appears to be true.

There are no period returns from Gatwick to Tonbridge with a route of "VIA EDENBRIDGE" or "NOT VIA LONDON"; that is correct. To get the best value you therefore need to buy two "VIA EDENBRIDGE" singles, one in each direction (as people have said above).

Are you concerned that you might not know which day you are coming back, and that you might not be able to use the Gatwick Staff Discount Card at Tonbridge to buy the single ticket for the return journey? I don't see why you wouldn't be able to, if it is a standard discount available from all ticket issuing systems.

 

[maniacmartin]

I wonder what route this refers to as the only route I can think of is via Edenbridge or I think that you could travel via Bromley , Croydon and trams etc to satisfy the not via London.

It's not valid in trams. I haven't checked, but would imagine walking between New Cross and New Cross Gate would be a valid route on the NOT VIA LONDON ticket

 

[30907]

It's not valid in trams. I haven't checked, but would imagine walking between New Cross and New Cross Gate would be a valid route on the NOT VIA LONDON ticket

Beckenham Jn and Crystal Palace
Penge E and W walk
Herne Hill
Denmark Hill and Clapham Jn

all look plausible to me as well.

 

[yorkie]

It's not valid in trams. I haven't checked, but would imagine walking between New Cross and New Cross Gate would be a valid route on the NOT VIA LONDON ticket

If "Not via London" means any permitted route except not valid for travel via London Group, then it would be.

However the view of the rail industry appears to be that "Not via London" fares can't use the route code "LONDON" in the yellow pages. This view doesn't appear to be officially documented on any public-facing website, but booking engines do apply the rules in this way. So you can't get an itinerary. In practice though it would very probably be considered reasonable.

 

[BluePenguin]

If you specifically need or would like the validity of going through London, you could instead buy a ticket to a destination further along like Portsmouth or Southampton. This changes the route to via Barnham but itinerary will still give you the route through Redhill.

Alternatively if the connections at Redhill are not great I guess you could change at East Croydon or Clapham Junction instead?

 

[55003]

My motivation is to commute as cheaply as possible but not on a daily basis due to minimum turnround between shifts, and I have sourced some local accomodation for this.
I also want to get home as quickly as possible so I don't really want to travel via London or its suburbs.
Gatwick ticket hall is always very busy and I am often under time pressure to get my train to Redhill to meet the hourly train to Tonbridge. I think buying tickets at Tonbridge is going to be the answer.
Can I ask for refunds on tickets I have not used?
The ticket machines at Gatwick or Tonbridgedo not allow the selection of the Gatwixk staff card discount amd you have to use a manned ticket window to utilise it

 

[BluePenguin]

I am not quite sure what you mean by a refund. You mentioned accommodation so I assume you are either cabin crew, travel abroad a lot or staying at friends.

Presumably you will be going home either the same day you go to work or within the month so will buy open returns, why you would need a refund? However, if you really do you want to refund the ticket you have bought then you can do, although there is a £10 administrative fee.

Your best bet is probably a season ticket. Alternatively if you won't be going for many days in the week, day returns from Tonbridge are best. You will most likely have to buy these online though from the sounds of it if if the machine do not offer your discount

I know how you feel, it can be a rush to change trains at Redhill which is why I suggested changing at East Croydon or Clapham Junction onto the same train that you would have gotten on at Redhill. You could even board it London Bridge or London Victoria although facing central London is probably the last thing on your mind after work lol.

 

[30907]

The NOT London fares are of course valid via Edenbridge and, as you say, are sometimes slightly cheaper.

The season costs about the same as 3 1/2 anytime day returns or anytime singles, so it boils down to how often you are likely to travel in a given period and how often you are going to be able to do the return journey in the day (bearing in mind the timetable!)

 

[55003]

If I book to Three Bridges, the next station south of Gatwick from Tonbridge the fares can be cheaper. Will I be able to pass through the barriers at Gatwick with such a ticket?

 

[Paul Kelly]

If I book to Three Bridges, the next station south of Gatwick from Tonbridge the fares can be cheaper. Will I be able to pass through the barriers at Gatwick with such a ticket?

I don't think anyone here could answer such a question with certainty - it depends on how the automatic gates are programmed, and/or the attitude and knowledge of the barrier staff. If your question was whether any ticket from Tonbridge to Three Bridges is valid to stop short at Gatwick Airport though, the answer is yes; that's perfectly fine and saves 80p in each direction.

 

[55003]

Many thanks Indigo.