Gatwick Express and off peak return.

[102 fan]

I hope to be travelling to Gatwick and onwards to Peterborough with my Grandson soon. I'm going on a Saturday, so I'm told I can use a Super Off Peak Return. We would like to use the Gatwick Express to Victoria, then sample the Underground to King's Cross and on to Peterborough. However, when on the various ticket buying fields, I can't see the GX trains. Is it not possible to use GX if traveling beyond Victoria? I know there are other trains available, even direct, but it's just my Grandson and I would like to experience travel as it once was!

 

[miklcct]

What is the routing of the ticket? If it is +Any permitted, you can use Gatwick Express to Victoria, Victoria Line to Kings Cross then LNER to Peterborough.

However, this is normally slower than using Thameslink direct to St Pancras so journey planners don't show them unless you specify "via London Victoria".

 

[JonathanH]

There are some upcoming dates at the weekend when Victoria (Central) is shut, which will mean that Gatwick Express isn't running.

https://www.southernrailway.com/travel-information/plan-your-journey/london-victoria-closures

Upcoming closures

2022
Sat 24 to Sun 25 September
Sat 15 to Sun 16 October
Sat 29 to Sun 30 October
Sat 26 to Sun 27 November

Christmas 2022

Sunday 25 December 2022 to Monday 2 January 2023

Further dates will be added as and when they are confirmed. Changes for some of the above dates may not yet be showing in journey planners or on our planned engineering works page. Please check again closer to your travel date.

It also doesn't run on 12 November when there is engineering work south of Three Bridges.

There is no issue with using your proposed ticket on Gatwick Express when it does run, although personally, if making that journey, I would ensure that I travelled on a train that stopped at Stevenage and split my tickets there.

 

[STINT47]

An any permitted ticket would be valid but it's worth noting that revenue staff do not like people using them on Gatwick Express.

I traveled on a Nottingham to Brighton any perminted ticket and decided to use Gatwick Express. The person checking tickets was not happy saying that I should use Thameslink to St Pancras as the GX is a premium service for airport uses. No action was taken but I was told that use of these tickets is monitored and I should use Thameslink in the future, which I now do to avoid confrontation.

 

[miklcct]

An any permitted ticket would be valid but it's worth noting that revenue staff do not like people using them on Gatwick Express.

I traveled on a Nottingham to Brighton any perminted ticket and decided to use Gatwick Express. The person checking tickets was not happy saying that I should use Thameslink to St Pancras as the GX is a premium service for airport uses. No action was taken but I was told that use of these tickets is monitored and I should use Thameslink in the future, which I now do to avoid confrontation.

I have no problem showing my any permitted ticket from Brighton to Cricklewood which undercuts the Gatwick Express fare between London Victoria and Gatwick Airport.

 

[102 fan]

There are some upcoming dates at the weekend when Victoria (Central) is shut, which will mean that Gatwick Express isn't running.

https://www.southernrailway.com/travel-information/plan-your-journey/london-victoria-closures


It also doesn't run on 12 November when there is engineering work south of Three Bridges.

There is no issue with using your proposed ticket on Gatwick Express when it does run, although personally, if making that journey, I would ensure that I travelled on a train that stopped at Stevenage and split my tickets there.

Thanks.

An any permitted ticket would be valid but it's worth noting that revenue staff do not like people using them on Gatwick Express.

I traveled on a Nottingham to Brighton any perminted ticket and decided to use Gatwick Express. The person checking tickets was not happy saying that I should use Thameslink to St Pancras as the GX is a premium service for airport uses. No action was taken but I was told that use of these tickets is monitored and I should use Thameslink in the future, which I now do to avoid confrontation.

I would query how it can be valid and yet not valid!

 

[Bletchleyite]

Any Permitted tickets ARE valid on GatEx and I have never been questioned using one.

 

[Watershed]

An any permitted ticket would be valid but it's worth noting that revenue staff do not like people using them on Gatwick Express.

I traveled on a Nottingham to Brighton any perminted ticket and decided to use Gatwick Express. The person checking tickets was not happy saying that I should use Thameslink to St Pancras as the GX is a premium service for airport uses. No action was taken but I was told that use of these tickets is monitored and I should use Thameslink in the future, which I now do to avoid confrontation.

I don't doubt that what you describe happened, but it's just plain nonsense - even more so now that GX branded services form the only direct service from Victoria to Brighton.

 

[BluePenguin]

An any permitted ticket would be valid but it's worth noting that revenue staff do not like people using them on Gatwick Express.

I traveled on a Nottingham to Brighton any perminted ticket and decided to use Gatwick Express. The person checking tickets was not happy saying that I should use Thameslink to St Pancras as the GX is a premium service for airport uses. No action was taken but I was told that use of these tickets is monitored and I should use Thameslink in the future, which I now do to avoid confrontation.

I have had no issues using any permitted tickets from Cambridge, Watford or anywhere else. The barriers do not seem to like any tickets at all. If you want to use the Gatwick express and your ticket is valid, then you bloody well should!

 

[yorkie]

An any permitted ticket would be valid but it's worth noting that revenue staff do not like people using them on Gatwick Express.

I traveled on a Nottingham to Brighton any perminted ticket and decided to use Gatwick Express. The person checking tickets was not happy saying that I should use Thameslink to St Pancras as the GX is a premium service for airport uses. No action was taken but I was told that use of these tickets is monitored and I should use Thameslink in the future, which I now do to avoid confrontation.

If this happens again, please offer to pay any supplement and let me know. I will ensure you are more than compensated.

I hope to be travelling to Gatwick and onwards to Peterborough with my Grandson soon. I'm going on a Saturday, so I'm told I can use a Super Off Peak Return. We would like to use the Gatwick Express to Victoria, then sample the Underground to King's Cross and on to Peterborough. However, when on the various ticket buying fields, I can't see the GX trains. Is it not possible to use GX if traveling beyond Victoria? I know there are other trains available, even direct, but it's just my Grandson and I would like to experience travel as it once was!

Where are you travelling from, and what date?

 

[102 fan]

If this happens again, please offer to pay any supplement and let me know. I will ensure you are more than compensated.


Where are you travelling from, and what date?

Within the next few weeks.

 

[yorkie]

Sorry I wasn't clear; the date doesn't matter. But if you want the best advice regarding tickets, it's useful if we know what day of the week it may be and roughly what time it may be.

Also the origin and destination; it's not clear where you are travelling from.

But if you are asking whether an ordinary ticket is valid on GX, then yes; any ticket that does not state "Thameslink Only", "Southern Only" or "Not Gatwick Express" is highly likely to be accepted, while any ticket routed with one of those routeings cannot legally be refused but in practice you may be refused travel or charged an excess fare, but this would be recoverable.

A legal case is ongoing and GTR seem to be in hot water over their unlawful charging.

 

[102 fan]

Oh for a Tardis to go back to BR Blue & Grey and one unified railway......