Stansted Airport to Portsmouth & Southsea

[gpb_croppers63]

Hi All,

Another ticketing query from me. I need to go from Stansted Airport (SSD) to Portsmouth and Southsea (PMS) and back over the May Day Bank Holiday. Going out is around 11:30am on Friday 30th April and coming back at around 17:45 on Monday 3rd May. I'd rather the ticket be unrestricted as I'm travelling between a flight and a ferry so delays may happen.

The cheapest through ticket is an Off-Peak Return at £56.80. I was wondering if anyone could do better than that without tying me to specific trains. I have found Megatrain fares from Waterloo to PMS for £1 each way but if my flight or ship are delayed, I'm knackered!

All input greatly appreciated.

Thanks!

Gareth

 

[yorkie]

I think the ticket is overpriced, given that it's the same price as Cambridge/Ely and Peterborough is only £3 more.

Splitting at Harlow saves a few quid, not much though, and I don't think all Stansted Express services stop there!

Edit: I don't see why a ticket from Elsenham to Portsmouth isn't valid via SSD. The price is £48.90.

Looks like SSD has inflated fares to profit from unsuspecting tourists.

 

[gpb_croppers63]

Thanks for the info Yorkie. I didn't think I'd get it much cheaper because of the Stansted Express part. I agree that it's really expensive. I travelled from Heathrow to Swansea and back for not much more last year!

 

[yorkie]

If airlines operated to the Isle of Wight, then a ferry ticket would be cheaper Sadly there's no competition so the rail and sail trick doesn't work to Pompey.

A single from Pompey to Belfast via Glasgow is cheaper than a single from Pompey to Stansted!

 

[gpb_croppers63]

A single from Pompey to Belfast via Glasgow is cheaper than a single from Pompey to Stansted!

That is absolutely crazy! Bl**dy Stansted Express

 

[yorkie]

Stansted Express is just a brand for fast trains from London to Stansted, it isn't and never has been a TOC. The fare is set by NXEA though, not SWT. NXEA policy (possibly inherited from BR) is to inflate fares from the airport, however tickets from Elsenham to the South and from Mountfitchet to the North are still valid via the airport. It's not like Heathrow, where BAA own the extension. There's no such situation with Stansted (but if it was built a few years later I bet there would have been!).

So no need for you to be ripped off, just get a ticket from Elsenham.

Unsuspecting tourists will be ripped off though. As indeed is anyone undertaking many medium to long distance rail journeys who does not do a lot of research for the best price. Most medium and long distance journeys are overpriced, it's a scam by the TOCs in my opinion. It's a scam that is, bizarrely, legal, and the TOCs profit to the tune of £millions of pounds annually as a result of scamming people into paying more.

 

[gpb_croppers63]

Stansted Express is just a brand for fast trains from London to Stansted, it isn't and never has been a TOC.

Yeah I realise that but they do still put a premium on the fare because it is "Stansted Express" which is what annoys me!

If I read your post correctly, I can get a return from Elsenham to PMS for £48.90 and this is valid from SSD-PMS. Is that correct? If so, how do I convince the guard on the train of that

 

[yorkie]

It has to be valid. Elsenham is north of Stansted.

You'll arrive at Waterloo for around 1320ish. (1124 from PMS arrives 1313 WAT, 1150 from PMS arrives 1325) so you should be at Liverpool St for around 1340-1345.

These trains don't have guards, but if an RPI gets on the 1340 before Bishops Stortford then there is no issue. After Bishops Stortford you may have to argue your case but they cannot issue a penalty fare for being off route. The onus would be on them to prove it's invalid, which I do not see how they can do. The online journey planners indicate it is valid. An SDS from Bishops Stortford to Stansted is £4.10 but I'd refuse to pay it as it's valid.

On the 1355, then the stop is Harlow. The fare from there, again which I'd refuse to pay, is £6.30.

So those are the amounts that an RPI could (illigitimately) ask for.

The booking sites will let you book via SSD, so book online specifying via SSD and bring the confirmation. You can get any train, not just the ones it suggests (it always will suggest a particular hourly connection).

If you get any hassle ask for their name, and who to send a complaint to, and report them. Contact Passenger Focus if no joy, and report back here.

I honestly doubt you will experience any problems though! It's clearly valid!

 

[thefab444]

If airlines operated to the Isle of Wight, then a ferry ticket would be cheaper Sadly there's no competition so the rail and sail trick doesn't work to Pompey.

Well, there was a service from London City Airport to the Isle of Wight Airport (near Sandown) but I believe this has stopped operating.

 

[gpb_croppers63]

Thanks for the update, Yorkie. As my starting point is SSD not PMS, I'd have to book the ticket online and pick it up in SSD. Correct? That's a good point about booking it and getting a print out of the train times that I booked. Surely they can't quibble that. I know it's only £7.90 cheaper but the fare being below £50 just seems better psychologically. Lol!

Thefab444: I wish that service was still operating. I'd give it a go in a heartbeat. I'm sure it would be more expensive than the train but it would be worth it for the fun!

 

[yorkie]

They should sell an Elsenham ticket at Stansted, and if there are RPIs on the train they should accept it.

However to avoid hassle and to form a contract I would recommend booking online.

 

[gpb_croppers63]

They should sell an Elsenham ticket at Stansted, and if there are RPIs on the train they should accept it.

However to avoid hassle and to form a contract I would recommend booking online.

I agree. Thanks for the info. I'll look into booking it nearer the date. Thanks again for all your help

 

[thefab444]

Thefab444: I wish that service was still operating. I'd give it a go in a heartbeat. I'm sure it would be more expensive than the train but it would be worth it for the fun!

I don't think it ran for very long (a few months at most?). A single flight was about £105.

 

[John @ home]

I'd have to book the ticket online and pick it up in SSD. Correct?

They should sell an Elsenham ticket at Stansted, and if there are RPIs on the train they should accept it.

However to avoid hassle and to form a contract I would recommend booking online.

In addition to the options listed by yorkie, you can also book the ticket online and have it posted to you. This is free within the UK if you use one of the train companies' sites and avoid rip-offs like thetrainline. I often find this option is the most convenient option for me.

 

[gpb_croppers63]

In addition to the options listed by yorkie, you can also book the ticket online and have it posted to you. This is free within the UK if you use one of the train companies' sites and avoid rip-offs like thetrainline. I often find this option is the most convenient option for me.

Thanks for the advice John. The problem is that I live in Ireland so can't get the tickets posted. I'll pick them up at the machine in SSD when I land there.

Thefab444: £105 is certainly more than the train but I'd probably still have been tempted for the experience