Booking engine anomoly: Travelcards not showing as valid for journeys using the Elizabeth Line

[David Goddard]

Whilst looking for some fares the other day, I came across an anomoly on the Cross Country booking engine which implies that One Day Travelcards are not valid where the journey involves the Elizabeth Line. I have checked two other TOCs (GWR and SWR) and these both correctly show that the journey is valid.

Using Reading to Sidcup as the sample journey to drive a travelcard, the Cross Country offering is on the left, with the travelcard only permitting use on the cross london transfer involving the underground. When the time of day meant that all potential journeys were using the Elizabeth Line (or another route such as Reading to Stratford), the travelcard option does not even appear.

By contrast, picking on the 0947 journey option as an example, the SWR website (right hand side) happily offers the travelcard.
Could this be a data feed issue with TOCs who's websites are Trainline powered, or something else?

Clearly those of us on this forum that are in the know would go on to buy a travelcard by another route, but for the uninitiated they could end up buying a point to point ticket as shown and then paying more than the variance from a Travelcard (in this case £1.30) for their additional travel around London

 

[hkstudent]

Whilst looking for some fares the other day, I came across an anomoly on the Cross Country booking engine which implies that One Day Travelcards are not valid where the journey involves the Elizabeth Line. I have checked two other TOCs (GWR and SWR) and these both correctly show that the journey is valid.

Using Reading to Sidcup as the sample journey to drive a travelcard, the Cross Country offering is on the left, with the travelcard only permitting use on the cross london transfer involving the underground. When the time of day meant that all potential journeys were using the Elizabeth Line (or another route such as Reading to Stratford), the travelcard option does not even appear.

By contrast, picking on the 0947 journey option as an example, the SWR website (right hand side) happily offers the travelcard.
Could this be a data feed issue with TOCs who's websites are Trainline powered, or something else?

Clearly those of us on this forum that are in the know would go on to buy a travelcard by another route, but for the uninitiated they could end up buying a point to point ticket as shown and then paying more than the variance from a Travelcard (in this case £1.30) for their additional travel around London

View attachment 116003View attachment 116004

The issue is, London - Abbey Wood - Sidcup is not valid via Slade Green due to a negative easement.
That easement may even overweight the travelcard element.

 

[miklcct]

The issue is, London - Abbey Wood - Sidcup is not valid via Slade Green due to a negative easement.
That easement may even overweight the travelcard element.

There are absolutely no route restrictions within the zones of validity of a Travelcard. A Travelcard entitles travel within the zones as much as you like without any restrictions in the validity period.

 

[Watershed]

The issue is, London - Abbey Wood - Sidcup is not valid via Slade Green due to a negative easement.
That easement may even overweight the travelcard element.

Permitted routes and easements don't apply to Travelcards. They are valid on all rail routes within the relevant zones.

I can see the negative easement you're referencing (000044) but if anything, this should mean the point to point fare isn't offered, rather than the other way around.

 

[silverfoxcc]

What is a negative easement...and is there a positive one?

 

[Watershed]

What is a negative easement...and is there a positive one?

A rule that either extends or narrows the routes permitted under the Routeing Guide.

In this instance the easement in question reads:

000044 Journeys from or via London and via Crayford and Slade Green, Slade Green and Barnehurst or Barnehurst and Crayford are not valid. This applies in both directions.

It's an attempt to prevent people from using the circular Southeastern Metro 'rounders' the long way around.

 

[Surreytraveller]

There are absolutely no route restrictions within the zones of validity of a Travelcard. A Travelcard entitles travel within the zones as much as you like without any restrictions in the validity period.

But Abbey Wood to Sidcup takes you outside Zone 6 - outside the Travelcard area (unless it includes whatever zone Dartford is in)

 

[David Goddard]

But Abbey Wood to Sidcup takes you outside Zone 6 - outside the Travelcard area (unless it includes whatever zone Dartford is in)

All in Zone 6

 

[Surreytraveller]

All in Zone 6
View attachment 116086

https://tfl.gov.uk/cdn/static/cms/documents/london-rail-and-tube-services-map.pdf

The map makes it look like you need Zone 7 to go from Erith to Crayford. Or at least it looks like it runs along outside the boundary of Zone 6. It could be clearer

 

[MikeWh]

https://tfl.gov.uk/cdn/static/cms/documents/london-rail-and-tube-services-map.pdf

The map makes it look like you need Zone 7 to go from Erith to Crayford. Or at least it looks like it runs along outside the boundary of Zone 6. It could be clearer

View attachment 116098
Yes it could. The maps at SE stations show you potentially needing zone 8 to travel between Crayford and Slade Green. However, it's all just laziness on the part of map designers.

 

[blakey1152]

There are absolutely no route restrictions within the zones of validity of a Travelcard. A Travelcard entitles travel within the zones as much as you like without any restrictions in the validity period.

Actually, in some ways there is - with a period Travelcard on Oyster. I had a Travelcard with zones 4,5,6 on it and made the journey on a direct train from Woolwich Arsenal (zone 4) to Welling (zone 4) via Slade Green and was charged a pre-pay fare because even though the entire journey was within my zones the system charges you via zone 3 as its the quickest route.

 

[STINT47]

Crayford is in zone 6. Slade Green is in zone 6 and as there are no intermediate stations the journey between them would be classed as in zone 6.

The map isn't very clear and could do with being tweaked. This ambiguity occurs in other parts of London as well.

Concerning the original issue a Travelcard, would be valid, no route restrictions apply other than the need to remain in your valid zones.