Watford Junction on Travelcard

[pitdiver]

Only doing my job as most thought their zone 1-6 T/C was valid at Watford Met.

 

[pitdiver]

I used to enjoy travelling 1st Class between Euston & Milton Keynes with my std class Priv season at a very enviable price as travel was free for LUL staff between EUS & WFJ.

 

[hexagon789]

Oh great, so you think I’m snobbish too. Great.

Not at all what I meant. I meant that you know what you like and others on this forum do too. My above emoji was intended to signify my appreciation of the humour in robbeech's comment.

It's generally well known that you like travelling in First Class and there's nothing remotely wrong with that whatsoever

Besides which, I like travelling in First Class too! Whenever an Express Turbo (First Class fitted ScotRail 170/4) would turn up on a Standard only service I always made a beeline for a First Class seat. Additionally, I loved travelling Business Premier on Eurostar from London to Paris, definitely one of my favourite railway travel experiences ever.

 

[TT-ONR-NRN]

Not at all what I meant. I meant that you know what you like and others on this forum do too. My above emoji was intended to signify my appreciation of the humour in robbeech's comment.

It's generally well known that you like travelling in First Class and there's nothing remotely wrong with that whatsoever

I’m glad you think that Thank you. Many forum members mistake my like of first class for snobbery which is unpleasant.

 

[Bletchleyite]

It's no wonder there is often a staff/passenger stand off on this forum.

Quite. It might be necessary to excess them, but the mind boggles as to why this was done with great pleasure rather than apologetically.

 

[Deerfold]

Oh great, so you think I’m snobbish too. Great.

Who said snobbish?

And me too. Stupid idea. Why won’t they realise that some people like to pay a little extra for more comfort! I despair.

I speak as someone who does about 70% of long distance trips First Class (but is currently waiting for an overnight coach at 1/6 the price of tomorrow's train which arrives a bit too late for me).

 

[MikeWh]

Exactly! How hard is it to understand? Watford is not in London and therefore it is not in a zone, just like Amersham... hmm, maybe not... Elstree and Borehamwood... oh wait, just like Epping... oh wait, just like Shenfield, wait... Dartford? Potters Bar! There's one!

Back to the drawing board

It was going so well until you said Shenfield. That's just like Watford Junction.

 

[Mag_seven]

It was going so well until you said Shenfield. That's just like Watford Junction.

Funnily enough until recently I would have said that Shenfield was in Zone 6.

 

[causton]

It was going so well until you said Shenfield. That's just like Watford Junction.

Even I get confused! I meant Brentwood, as I knew Shenfield was the same, but typed the wrong one! Fixed now...

 

[Samuel88]

What's to stop someone just boarding a London bound Virgin train at Watford Junction? Are there guards at the entrance to the platform? I'm sure if you kick up enough fuss they'll just shrug their shoulders and say on you go!

 

[Hadders]

What's to stop someone just boarding a London bound Virgin train at Watford Junction? Are there guards at the entrance to the platform? I'm sure if you keep up enough fuss they'll just shrug their shoulders and say on you go!

I've boarded a VTWC at Watford Junction heading towards Euston with no issues. However:

- the trains aren't shown on the departure boards. The platform screen said that the train was not in passenger service.
- the guard could charge you an Anytime Single from the last station the train called. This could be as far north as Warrington or Preston!

At Stevenage I've been prevented from boarding a train that was set down only by the guard. Local door was in operation to prevent passengers boarding.

 

[Bletchleyite]

I've boarded a VTWC at Watford Junction heading towards Euston with no issues. However:

- the trains aren't shown on the departure boards. The platform screen said that the train was not in passenger service.
- the guard could charge you an Anytime Single from the last station the train called. This could be as far north as Warrington or Preston

Coventry at worst now I think.

 

[Deerfold]

Coventry at worst now I think.

The 1655 from Manchester Piccadilly doesn't stop between Crewe and Watford Junction.
http://www.realtimetrains.co.uk/train/Y80136/2018/03/05

 

[MikeWh]

The 1655 from Manchester Piccadilly doesn't stop between Crewe and Watford Junction.
http://www.realtimetrains.co.uk/train/Y80136/2018/03/05

But in any case, if you had an all line rover there would be nothing to pay.

 

[JonathanH]

What's to stop someone just boarding a London bound Virgin train at Watford Junction? Are there guards at the entrance to the platform? I'm sure if you kick up enough fuss they'll just shrug their shoulders and say on you go!

No, just normal platform staff and a train manager. Access to the platform 7 / 8 island is very much allowed.

The point is that very few people try to board Virgin Trains southbound at Watford Junction so if you wait for the train you will be seen by the dispatcher and by the train manager.

There is a 10 minute gap between the London Midland train that stops on platform 7 and the Virgin Train that sets down during off peak times.

They are unlikely to 'shrug their shoulders'.

 

[cactustwirly]

I’m glad you think that Thank you. Many forum members mistake my like of first class for snobbery which is unpleasant.

To be fair, it does come across as snobbery, but I'm glad this isn't the case.

 

[jfisher21]

I have also seen crowds board at WFJ for EUS at times of disruption. TM was obviously aware and even did the usual welcome message.

 

[159]

Now you may think this is silly - but bear in mind Travelcards are excepted on Norwich-bound Greater Anglia services between London and Stratford, and the call at Stratford is advertised as pick up only just the same as Watford!

So if I have a Zone 1-6 Travelcard, bearing in mind Watford Junction is in that zone, can I take a Pendolino there from Euston with it?

Thanks

I've cheekily taken a pendolino from WFJ to Euston (even when it said it wasn't for public use) but the other way round is impossible as the ticket inspectors won't let you.

 

[Kite159]

I've cheekily taken a pendolino from WFJ to Euston (even when it said it wasn't for public use) but the other way round is impossible as the ticket inspectors won't let you.

Although it will be interesting if the Virgin service departs from platforms 1-4 which are protected by a gateline, if said gateline would allow a London - Watford ticket to be used

 

[GW43125]

Coventry at worst now I think.

Ex Glasgow services are fast from Warrington. That must be rather expensive.

I've boarded a VTWC at Watford Junction heading towards Euston with no issues. However:

- the trains aren't shown on the departure boards. The platform screen said that the train was not in passenger service.
- the guard could charge you an Anytime Single from the last station the train called. This could be as far north as Warrington or Preston!

At Stevenage I've been prevented from boarding a train that was set down only by the guard. Local door was in operation to prevent passengers boarding.

When I was at Watford the boards clearly said "DO NOT BOARD" in place of every Virgin service.
I've got on at Stevenage multiple times no issue, most of the day these stops are advertised.

 

[furlong]

the guard could charge you an Anytime Single from the last station the train called. This could be as far north as Warrington or Preston!

Really? I've never managed to work out a contractual basis for a claim like this.

 

[Hadders]

Ex Glasgow services are fast from Warrington. That must be rather expensive.



When I was at Watford the boards clearly said "DO NOT BOARD" in place of every Virgin service. I've got on at Stevenage multiple times no issue, most of the day these stops are advertised.

Thinking about it, it probably was 'Do not board' rather than 'not in public service'. Either way the message was quite clear. I was with a friend who was very hesitant about boarding whereas I'm a bit more knowledgeable about the risk involved.

None of the stops at Stevenage are pick up/set down any longer, I think this changed about 10 years ago.

 

[Bletchleyite]

I've cheekily taken a pendolino from WFJ to Euston (even when it said it wasn't for public use) but the other way round is impossible as the ticket inspectors won't let you.

Not every VT service has boarding checks, though these days most do.

 

[Bletchleyite]

Ex Glasgow services are fast from Warrington. That must be rather expensive.

There are no such services that stop at Watford Jn. Of the two ex Glasgow services that do, both late evening, both call at MKC before it.

 

[GW43125]

There are no such services that stop at Watford Jn. Of the two ex Glasgow services that do, both late evening, both call at MKC before it.

I don't know how, but I managed to completely forget this was a thread about Watford Jn...

 

[Bletchleyite]

I don't know how, but I managed to completely forget this was a thread about Watford Jn...

Oops