Fares Advice for Three Bridges to London and back

[shaj94]

My normal journey is in the morning 07:10 I get a single ticket from Three Bridges to Farringdon and then use contactless for the Elizabeth line and get to Bond Street for work.

On my return when I finish work at 17:30, the fastest route is the Victoria to Crawley line, which the closest station to home, so I would walk from work to green park station and get to Victoria and then take the 18:05 train.

All together, the spending is around £30 (with railcard) per day.

Is there a cheaper alternative to this, but get to Crawley around 18:50?

 

[Hadders]

Which railcard have you got?

 

[shaj94]

I got the 26-30 railcard

 

[JBuchananGB]

You have an interesting itinerary, which I guess you are managing with Anytime Singles and the 26-30 railcard Discount. Out of curiosity I fed your approximate timings into a journey planner for tomorrow based on Crawley to Victoria and return and it threw up some Advances at £12.75 each way. 07.02 from Crawley to Victoria, and 18.05 Victoria to Crawley. The return train matches your itinerary exactly. Or maybe that's what you were doing already.

 

[shaj94]

That’s what I kind of do but I walk to three bridges in the morning more trains available in case of delays or cancellations

So three bridges to Farringdon is £12 single one way and then use contactless from Elizabeth line to Bond Street £2.80

Then on return I go from green park to Victoria(2.80) then Victoria to Crawley which is also £12 (split save) so has to call at easy Croydon. All together it’s £29.8.

So I am paying £148 per week and £592 for 4 weeks

 

[Mcr Warrior]

7 day All Zones Travelcard, Crawley to London Zones 1-6, would be £141.30 per week, and one calendar month would be £542.60.

Offers a degree of travel flexibility, despite no railcard discount being available for season tickets for 26-30 railcard holders.

 

[shaj94]

Can I use this travel card and use it at Three bridges in the morning

 

[jfollows]

Can I use this travel card and use it at Three bridges in the morning

Yes. Unlimited travel on valid routes between Crawley and London Terminals. Routes shown on maps LB and VB at https://www.nationalrail.co.uk/travel-information/routeing-guide/

Of course, once you reach zone 6 you’re free to travel anywhere else inside the zones, so from Coulsdon South onwards you’re covered by that.

 

[Mcr Warrior]

Can I use this travel card and use it at Three bridges in the morning

Yes, and think it's also valid on Gatwick Express branded services.

 

[MarlowDonkey]

7 day All Zones Travelcard, Crawley to London Zones 1-6, would be £141.30 per week, and one calendar month would be £542.60.

Historically for a 5 day a week commute, a season ticket was always the best option. It saved having to buy tickets every day as well, which could be time consuming. With the All Zones Travelcard you would also have free weekend use of London's transport if that's of interest or value.

 

[Mcr Warrior]

Historically for a 5 day a week commute, a season ticket was always the best option.

And, for an Annual Travelcard season, you only pay for 40 weeks, and also get various "Gold Card" benefits on leisure travel.

 

[shaj94]

I see makes sense do you know how much would it be for the the travel card if it’s just Crawley to Victoria only without underground weekly or monthly?

 

[jfollows]

I see makes sense do you know how much would it be for the the travel card if it’s just Crawley to Victoria only without underground weekly or monthly?

£116.10/week, £445.90/month, £4,644/year to London Terminals.
Also valid to City Thameslink, but not Farringdon.

 

[Mcr Warrior]

I see makes sense do you know how much would it be for the the travel card if it’s just Crawley to Victoria only without underground weekly or monthly?

That would actually be just £106.80 per week travelling to London Victoria rather than London Terminals (or £410.20 for a calendar month).

 

[shaj94]

Thank you I was thinking of considering the £410 and then walk from Victoria station to my work place which is around 25 minutes and then just pay on return contactless from green park to Victoria which will be just 2.80 so £56 per month for underground so altogether £466.2

The other reason I do take Farringdon from three bridges is because there are more trains in the morning compared to southern between 7-8am

 

[redreni]

£116.10/week, £445.90/month, £4,644/year to London Terminals.
Also valid to City Thameslink, but not Farringdon.

Probably faster to change at London Bridge for the Jubilee Line to Bond Street than walk from City Thameslink to Farringdon for the Elizabeth Line, though.

 

[30907]

The other reason I do take Farringdon from three bridges is because there are more trains in the morning compared to southern between 7-8am

But there are plenty of trains from East Croydon (or Gatwick) to Victoria - and walking from there is pleasant enough unless it's pouring

 

[Mcr Warrior]

But there are plenty of trains from East Croydon (or Gatwick) to Victoria - and walking from there is pleasant enough unless it's pouring

Although changing at East Croydon likely then means standing all the way into Victoria, which will, IMHO, rapidly become tedious.

 

[shaj94]

Crawley to London terminals goes to city thameslink right and I can take the underground from there close to Bond Street, Oxford Circus or Green Park?

 

[Hadders]

There’s no underground station at City Thameslink but Chancery Lane, St Paul’s and Farringdon are a short walk away.

 

[shaj94]

I see so I can walk to Farringdon and then take the Elizabeth line from there?

 

[jfollows]

I see so I can walk to Farringdon and then take the Elizabeth line from there?

Of course, with a ticket to London Terminals that is, and you’ll have to pay for the Farringdon to Bond Street leg.

See https://www.nationalrail.co.uk/travel-information/travelling-in-london/ for explanation of London Terminals.

 

[Haywain]

See https://www.nationalrail.co.uk/travel-information/travelling-in-london/ for explanation of London Terminals.

That's a blooming unhelpful mess - "London Thameslink Terminals"? And since when has Elephant & Castle been a London Terminals station?

 

[jfollows]

That's a blooming unhelpful mess - "London Thameslink Terminals"? And since when has Elephant & Castle been a London Terminals station?

It says valid with a ticket to London Terminals, that's not the same thing!

 

[Haywain]

It says valid with a ticket to London Terminals, that's not the same thing!

But it wouldn't be if you've already passed through a London Terminals station.

 

[paul1609]

You may like to Consider a 26 to 30 railcard discounted Crawley to West Hampstead Stations Anytime Day Return Route"+any permitted" at £24.60.

 

[Mcr Warrior]

Is a ticket from Crawley to London Terminals actually valid as far as Farringdon? Thought City Thameslink was the last station of validity?

 

[Haywain]

Is a ticket from Crawley to London Terminals actually valid as far as Farringdon?

No.

Thought City Thameslink was the last station of validity?

It is. The map is confusing things by referring to London Thameslink Terminals - Farringdon is part of the London Thameslink group but not part of the London Terminals group.

 

[30907]

But it wouldn't be if you've already passed through a London Terminals station.

True, but if you travelled from Waterloo E to Elephant via London Br and Blackfriars I doubt anyone would be bothered in practiced (other than for your sanity!).

 

[paul1609]

No.

It is. The map is confusing things by referring to London Thameslink Terminals - Farringdon is part of the London Thameslink group but not part of the London Terminals group.

Unless your ticket is route plus hs1 when it is indeed a London Terminal