Travelcard zone 2 from the Trainline

[wearytraveller]

Hi all

I'm trying to buy a ticket from harpenden train station to St John's Wood underground.

It doesn't seem to be possible to select that station as a destination on the Trainline website.

A return to west Hampstead Thameslink is £13 and tube to St John's Wood is £1.80, making £16.60

When I'm at work, however, an off peak return to Canary Wharf Elizabeth Line can be purchased for £15.40 and this just prints a ticket that gives return to London Thameslink and one zone one tube journey. The barriers at West Hampstead haven't let me enter or exit on this ticket in the past, but presumably there's no question of validity as I could go to Canary Wharf on the tube (in a roundabout fashion)

But is there no way to buy a ticket to St John's Wood?

I can buy a ticket to St John's Rail Station in Zone 2 for £15.10, but not St John's Wood.

 

[Haywain]

Hi all

I'm trying to buy a ticket from harpenden train station to St John's Wood underground.

It doesn't seem to be possible to select that station as a destination on the Trainline website.

A return to west Hampstead Thameslink is £13 and tube to St John's Wood is £1.80, making £16.60

When I'm at work, however, an off peak return to Canary Wharf Elizabeth Line can be purchased for £15.40 and this just prints a ticket that gives return to London Thameslink and one zone one tube journey. The barriers at West Hampstead haven't let me enter or exit on this ticket in the past, but presumably there's no question of validity as I could go to Canary Wharf on the tube (in a roundabout fashion)

But is there no way to buy a ticket to St John's Wood?

I can buy a ticket to St John's Rail Station in Zone 2 for £15.10, but not St John's Wood.

Just use contactless for the underground. And be aware that the Off Peak Day Return to West Hampstead Thameslink has restrictions on return travel in the afternoon, so if you are leaving West Hampstead before 1900 you will be better off with a ticket to London Thameslink.

 

[miklcct]

Hi all

I'm trying to buy a ticket from harpenden train station to St John's Wood underground.

It doesn't seem to be possible to select that station as a destination on the Trainline website.

A return to west Hampstead Thameslink is £13 and tube to St John's Wood is £1.80, making £16.60

When I'm at work, however, an off peak return to Canary Wharf Elizabeth Line can be purchased for £15.40 and this just prints a ticket that gives return to London Thameslink and one zone one tube journey. The barriers at West Hampstead haven't let me enter or exit on this ticket in the past, but presumably there's no question of validity as I could go to Canary Wharf on the tube (in a roundabout fashion)

But is there no way to buy a ticket to St John's Wood?

I can buy a ticket to St John's Rail Station in Zone 2 for £15.10, but not St John's Wood.

You need to enter Underground Zone 2 as the destination. If it isn't possible, use another retailer instead.

 

[Haywain]

You need to enter Underground Zone 2 as the destination. If it isn't possible, use another retailer instead.

Having checked the fare, I stick with my suggestion of using contactless.

 

[TUC]

Are there any occasions when it's cheaper to include 'within London' travel on a rail ticket rather than use contactless?

 

[Haywain]

Are there any occasions when it's cheaper to include 'within London' travel on a rail ticket rather than use contactless?

Maybe, but this isn't one of them.

 

[wearytraveller]

You need to enter Underground Zone 2 as the destination. If it isn't possible, use another retailer instead.

On the Trainline you can type that but St John's wood isn't one of the options.

But if I select Clapham Junction, for example, will it sell me a ticket to London Underground Zone 2-6, or a ticket to Clapham Junction?

 

[Haywain]

But if I select Clapham Junction, for example, will it sell me a ticket to London Underground Zone 2-6, or a ticket to Clapham Junction?

It would sell a ticket to Clapham Junction. It appears that Trainline will not sell a through ticket to Zone U2, but as advised above this will be more expensive than paying for the underground separately using contactless.

 

[wearytraveller]

It would sell a ticket to Clapham Junction. It appears that Trainline will not sell a through ticket to Zone U2, but as advised above this will be more expensive than paying for the underground separately using contactless.

Is that certain, because I can buy a ticket to Canary wharf/zone 1 for £15.40, which just shows as 'one underground journey'

 

[Haywain]

Is that certain, because I can buy a ticket to Canary wharf/zone 1 for £15.40, which just shows as 'one underground journey'

Ah, you've got a railcard, that makes a difference. An Off Peak Day Return from Harpenden to Zone U2 costs £13.45. The fare to West Hampstead is £10.95, plus contactless fares at £1.80 each way (£1.90 in peak times). Of course, if you have an Oyster card with a railcard applied, the off peak contactless fare will also be discounted.

 

[wearytraveller]

Ah, you've got a railcard, that makes a difference. An Off Peak Day Return from Harpenden to Zone U2 costs £13.45. The fare to West Hampstead is £10.95, plus contactless fares at £1.80 each way (£1.90 in peak times). Of course, if you have an Oyster card with a railcard applied, the off peak contactless fare will also be discounted.

Sorry, forgot to mention that.

Would that return to zone 2 cover me for the tube journey? Or would it consider my outward journey complete when exiting at West Hampstead Thameslink, given that it's in zone 2?

And where can I buy this ticket?

Just noticed...

The Thameslink site let's you select various underground stations, so I could choose Bond Street and perfectly sensibly exit at West Hampstead and catch the jubilee line. The ticket it's selling is the same as Canary wharf, £15.40 for return to London and one tube journey

 

[Watershed]

Are there any occasions when it's cheaper to include 'within London' travel on a rail ticket rather than use contactless?

If you hold a Railcard, then there are quite a few scenarios, for example travel at any time of the year in the evening peak, or morning peak travel during the months of July and August for 16-25 Railcard holders. Otherwise there aren't many scenarios, though there may be a few edge cases.

 

[Haywain]

Would that return to zone 2 cover me for the tube journey?

Yes.

The Thameslink site let's you select various underground stations, so I could choose Bond Street and perfectly sensibly exit at West Hampstead and catch the jubilee line.

You could, but why would you pay to go further than you're planning to?

 

[wearytraveller]

Yes.

You could, but why would you pay to go further than you're planning to?

Hi. I don't want to do this - ideally I'd buy the £13.45 ticket mentioned but I can't see how to do so.

Where did you find that fare?

Are there any occasions when it's cheaper to include 'within London' travel on a rail ticket rather than use contactless?

With my network Railcard my return from Canary wharf to harpenden is £13.10.

I don't really understand why it's not subject to evening peak restriction, but even the anytime single is £13.70.

Contactless for the journey is £18.30

 

[Haywain]

Where did you find that fare?

BRFares.com

I don't want to do this - ideally I'd buy the £13.45 ticket mentioned but I can't see how to do so.

Try a different website, such as Trainsplit, or the one linked at the top of this page if you are on a PC.

 

[wearytraveller]

BRFares.com

Try a different website, such Trainsplit, or the one linked at the top of this page if you are on a PC.

Thanks for both those links. I'll buy the ticket from Trainsplit

 

[wearytraveller]

Potentially making a trip to lord's (St John's Wood) on Friday, weather permitting, but from Preston Park rather than Harpenden.

Best fare seems to be super off peak travelcard which is £20.55 after network Railcard discount.

I don't seem to be able to buy a fare to zone 1/2 from the south...

 

[Haywain]

Potentially making a trip to lord's (St John's Wood) on Friday, weather permitting, but from Preston Park rather than Harpenden.

Best fare seems to be super off peak travelcard which is £20.55 after network Railcard discount.

I don't seem to be able to buy a fare to zone 1/2 from the south...

The Travelcard will be the best bet.

 

[Somewhere]

But if I select Clapham Junction, for example, will it sell me a ticket to London Underground Zone 2-6, or a ticket to Clapham Junction?

Clapham Junction isn't on the Underground

 

[Mcr Warrior]

But if I select Clapham Junction, for example, will it sell me a ticket to London Underground Zone 2-6, or a ticket to Clapham Junction?

Starting from where? If from Preston Park, it'll likely be issued to Clapham Junction and routed "not via London".

 

[Watershed]

Potentially making a trip to lord's (St John's Wood) on Friday, weather permitting, but from Preston Park rather than Harpenden.

Best fare seems to be super off peak travelcard which is £20.55 after network Railcard discount.

I don't seem to be able to buy a fare to zone 1/2 from the south...

Whilst you can buy fares to "U Zone" destinations* from most stations, there are certain combinations that don't exist for historical reasons. For example from most stations on the Brighton Main Line you can only buy tickets to Underground Zones 1-6, but not to Underground Zone 1 or Zones 1-2.

*These tickets are valid to the relevant interchange station in London on the train, and then for a single or return journey on the Underground/DLR within the specified Zones.

 

[Haywain]

Whilst you can buy fares to "U Zone" destinations* from most stations, there are certain combinations that don't exist for historical reasons. For example from most stations on the Brighton Main Line you can only buy tickets to Underground Zones 1-6, but not to Underground Zone 1 or Zones 1-2.

And in many cases such tickets are priced in such a way that they are only relevant at (morning) peak times or as part of a period return. In other cases an Off Peak Day Travelcard is usually the cheapest option and, if not, contactless in conjunction with a ticket to London will be.

 

[Somewhere]

Whilst you can buy fares to "U Zone" destinations* from most stations, there are certain combinations that don't exist for historical reasons. For example from most stations on the Brighton Main Line you can only buy tickets to Underground Zones 1-6, but not to Underground Zone 1 or Zones 1-2.

*These tickets are valid to the relevant interchange station in London on the train, and then for a single or return journey on the Underground/DLR within the specified Zones.

You always used to be able to buy tickets to Zone 1 or 2 from the Brighton Mainline.
I don't know why Southern/GTR changed it - likely someone in the company in charge of fares who didn't have an understanding of the fares structure

 

[Mcr Warrior]

You always used to be able to buy tickets to Zone 1 or 2 from the Brighton Mainline.

National Fares Manual 98 (early 2008) shows Standard Day Singles (and Returns) as having been available from Brighton (or Preston Park) to/from 'Zone 2356 Londn', with routeing of "via Balham" or "via New Cross Gate".

 

[Somewhere]

National Fares Manual 98 (early 2008) shows Standard Day Singles (and Returns) as having been available from Brighton (or Preston Park) to/from 'Zone 2356 Londn', with routeing of "via Balham" or "via New Cross Gate".

And you were also able to buy tickets to U3 etc by changing at Wimbledon if coming up from Dorking or Epsom etc. Somewhere along the lines, Southern has lost the plot regarding through tickets to the Underground

 

[redreni]

Price is an important factor in deciding whether to buy a ticket that includes a LU leg.

Where there's a high probability of delay on the rail leg, that might also be a legitimate consideration, particularly if it's only a few pence difference in price. I've had 100% delay repay compensation on a NR ticket to a London Underground zone before. That would have been 0% on the cost of the London Underground leg had I paid for it separately by contactless, of course.

I would also tend to favour alternatives to contactless (which could include Oyster PAYG as well as through tickets) during any period where the facility to check contactless journey history, resolve incomplete journeys etc wasn't available.