London Thameslink to Brighton

[T-Karmel]

I purchased an Off Peak Day Return from London Thameslink to Brighton, full price £21.60.

It's been a while since I had a closer look at one of those but I remember them as being valid solely on Thameslink trains, with what I remember as "Thameslink only" route. But the ticket has route "Not Underground".

Does it mean I can change to Southern or GatEx en route?
And was there a change of route on this ticket or is just my memory playing games with me?

 

[SargeNpton]

I purchased an Off Peak Day Return from London Thameslink to Brighton, full price £21.60.

It's been a while since I had a closer look at one of those but I remember them as being valid solely on Thameslink trains, with what I remember as "Thameslink only" route. But the ticket has route "Not Underground".

Does it mean I can change to Southern or GatEx en route?
And was there a change of route on this ticket or is just my memory playing games with me?

"London Thameslink" is a zone that encompasses these stations: Farringdon, St Pancras, Blackfriars, City Thameslink, London Bridge, Elephant & Castle. The same ticket can, therefore be used to travel from any of those to Brighton.

However, the route "Not Underground" bars you from travel from/to those stations by tube. Which effectively limits your journey within Central London to Thameslink services only.

If the ticket shows no other routeing or restriction then, south of Elephant & Castle/London Bridge, I can't see why you wouldn't be allowed to use a Southern/Gatwick Express branded service

 

[jfollows]

https://www.brfares.com/!faredetail...ert=on&flow=0&multi=0&fare=15&rte=208&tkt=CDR is valid on all trains other than underground, break of journey and onward travel with other operators is allowed. Restriction code B1 only, essentially not before 09:30 M-F

 

[T-Karmel]

Great stuff, thank you both. Your comments gave me an idea to try to get the itinerary with this price by using the option "Change at" and typing East Croydon. It came up with the same price for changes into Southern and GatEx, as well as with one changing at Hove.

 

[MrJeeves]

"London Thameslink" is a zone that encompasses these stations: Farringdon, St Pancras, Blackfriars, City Thameslink, London Bridge, Elephant & Castle

And Euston!

London Thameslink to Brighton

I'm struggling a little bit with the London Thameslink destination - I've never bought a fare using it before. My proposed tickets using this site's booking engine are as shown: [Manchester Piccadilly to London Euston, Advance Single, Avanti West Coast only, restriction VR London Thameslink to...

www.railforums.co.uk

 

[Hadders]

And Euston!

Only to/from Bedford. I think Kentish Town is also included if the ticket issed to/from a station on the MML.

 

[MrJeeves]

Only to/from Bedford.

Minus that one itinerary someone got to Brighton! I don't recall the reason for that but it doesn't seem to work anymore at least.

 

[yorkie]

The TOC is GTR; it's always permitted to use any of GTR's brands from a contractual point of view, and within the relevant conditions and legal framework in which railway ticketing operates.

It is true that GTR purports to restrict some fares by brand, which has landed them in hot water as they now face a class action claim in the courts within the next year or two; however that isn't applicable to fares routed "Not Underground".

If your ticket was routed "Thameslink Only" then in theory a Govia Thameslink employee may erroneously deem your ticket to be valid on the companies Southern or Gatwick Express route brands; any such fare/supplement should be appealed; so far I am only aware of successful appeals but any unsuccessful appeals would leave the company liable to repay the monies owed if and when the legal case goes against GTR, which I am hopeful and reasonably confident will happen.

Great stuff, thank you both. Your comments gave me an idea to try to get the itinerary with this price by using the option "Change at" and typing East Croydon. It came up with the same price for changes into Southern and GatEx, as well as with one changing at Hove.

Yes, none of that involves the use of London Underground, so issues with any of that.

 

[Hadders]

Minus that one itinerary someone got to Brighton! I don't recall the reason for that but it doesn't seem to work anymore at least.

I think it was routed via Kensington Olympia and Willesden Junction but it was fixed after someone mentioned it on here....

 

[yorkie]

Minus that one itinerary someone got to Brighton! I don't recall the reason for that but it doesn't seem to work anymore at least.

There is one passenger who I understand is well known to the industry who uses tickets in a manner that is not intended to be valid to the extreme, which means that the matter is brought to the attention of relevant people who then have to do whatever they can think of to prevent the use of such tickets in such a manner in future.

Instead of silently using tickets in a slightly creative manner, they are known to push the boundaries to the most extremes possible and publicise their intentions (either on this forum or by contacting customer services).

Doing such things can be rather dicey because once someone gets a reputation for this sort of thing, their transactions, delay repay claims, compensation claims, complaints and so on can be under extreme scrutiny.

 

[Haywain]

Only to/from Bedford. I think Kentish Town is also included if the ticket issed to/from a station on the MML.

Kentish Town doesn't need to be included as it's covered by break of journey permissions.

 

[Hadders]

Kentish Town doesn't need to be included as it's covered by break of journey permissions.

I did think that as I typed it but I'm sure I've seen it referenced somewhere....