Ticket acceptance on Southern / Thameslink.

[SECR263]

I have searched the Forum for the question which I know has been discussed before but cannot find thread. Apologies.

Going to Brighton from East Croydon. Are Southern tickets accepted on Thameslink and vice versa or do your need to specify any permitted route?

Thanks

 

[Mcr Warrior]

For Brighton to East Croydon journeys, walk up tickets are normally only ever routed "Any Permitted" or "Thameslink Only" which you'd think would be self explanatory.

The only "Southern Only" ticket available on that route, is, I believe, the "Southern Daysave" (Day Ranger) which normally has to be booked several days in advance.

Moot point as to whether tickets routed "Southern Only" and "Thameslink Only" tickets are interavailable.

 

[island]

I have searched the Forum for the question which I know has been discussed before but cannot find thread. Apologies.

Going to Brighton from East Croydon. Are Southern tickets accepted on Thameslink and vice versa or do your need to specify any permitted route?

Thanks

The choices of ticket route on this journey are Any Permitted and Thameslink Only, with some Advance tickets routed Southern Only.

Obviously an advance ticket may only be used on the booked service, so we can ignore those for the purpose of this discussion.

Attempting to use a Thameslink Only ticket on a service branded Southern is likely to result in issues if you are spoken to by a ticket inspector on the train. These issues could range from being advised to use an Any Permitted ticket in future, through being sold a new ticket or issued a Penalty Fare, up to being prosecuted.

A number of people have posted views in the past that for various reasons Govia Thameslink Railway is not able to make/rely on/enforce a requirement for tickets to only be used on one of its sub-brands. I express no opinion on this as it's rather been done to death, but will remark that attempting to get out of a Penalty Fare or prosecution on these grounds may take a lot of time, energy, effort, and/or cost.

 

[Watershed]

Do you already hold a ticket? If so, what type and cost is it?

The only tickets routed "Southern only" for this journey are Advance tickets. For walk-up tickets there is just the choice of "Any Permitted" or "Thameslink only".

As has been discussed many times previously on the forum, Southern and Thameslink are both brands of GTR, so legally speaking a "Thameslink only" ticket is valid on any GTR service regardless of brand. However, there is always the risk of being wrongly overcharged or issued with a Penalty Fare, as frontline staff are incorrectly trained. A class action lawsuit is ongoing in this respect.

 

[SECR263]

Do you already hold a ticket? If so, what type and cost is it?

The only tickets routed "Southern only" for this journey are Advance tickets. For walk-up tickets there is just the choice of "Any Permitted" or "Thameslink only".

As has been discussed many times previously on the forum, Southern and Thameslink are both brands of GTR, so legally speaking a "Thameslink only" ticket is valid on any GTR service regardless of brand. However, there is always the risk of being wrongly overcharged or issued with a Penalty Fare, as frontline staff are incorrectly trained. A class action lawsuit is ongoing in this respect.

I am purchasing tomorrow so will go with any permitted I think. Thanks all.

 

[maniacmartin]

A wise choice. The seats on the Southern branded rolling stock are a lot comfier

 

[redreni]

Do you already hold a ticket? If so, what type and cost is it?

The only tickets routed "Southern only" for this journey are Advance tickets. For walk-up tickets there is just the choice of "Any Permitted" or "Thameslink only".

As has been discussed many times previously on the forum, Southern and Thameslink are both brands of GTR, so legally speaking a "Thameslink only" ticket is valid on any GTR service regardless of brand. However, there is always the risk of being wrongly overcharged or issued with a Penalty Fare, as frontline staff are incorrectly trained. A class action lawsuit is ongoing in this respect.

Although the purported brand restriction on an advance ticket is normally moot because of the booked-train-only restriction, it can still become a bone of contention if the booked train is cancelled and the next train is of the "wrong" brand.

 

[Alex365Dash]

I have searched the Forum for the question which I know has been discussed before but cannot find thread. Apologies.

Going to Brighton from East Croydon. Are Southern tickets accepted on Thameslink and vice versa or do your need to specify any permitted route?

Thanks

I am purchasing tomorrow so will go with any permitted I think. Thanks all.

If travelling between today and Saturday, Southern tickets will be accepted on Thameslink services and vice versa owing to industrial action, so you shouldn't encounter any staff having an issue with using a Thameslink Only ticket on a Southern service.

As you're operating less trains on the Brighton Mainline between 17 and 22 July inclusive, can I use my 'Southern Only' ticket on a Thameslink train or my 'Thameslink Only' ticket on a Southern train?
Yes, valid tickets routed 'Southern Only' or 'Thameslink Only' can be used on Southern or Thameslink train services to complete your journey.

 

[SECR263]

If travelling between today and Friday, Southern tickets will be accepted on Thameslink services and vice versa owing to industrial action, so you shouldn't encounter any staff having an issue with using a Thameslink Only ticket on a Southern service.

Thanks