Advice for annual travelcard/season ticket holders

[Weeble]

I'm trying to find out the best ticket to buy this year - it's not easy!

I normally buy a Sydenham<>London Terminals rail-only annual season ticket (currently £428 cheaper than a Z1-3 travelcard) as I commute by rail and use PAYG for the few underground and bus journeys I make, which saves me about £250 a year.

However, as we'll hopefully have the East London Line from the middle of the year, I'll want a Z1-3 travelcard when this begins so I can use ELL services, but for me it's a waste of money to have one now.

I've been trying to find out if it's possible to "upgrade" my season ticket to Z1-3 travelcard part way through the year, and what this might cost me - so far I haven't found the answer.

Does anyone know the solution, or is anyone facing the same dilemma?

[goonerchamp]

Im not sure if it still the case - but a few years back I was looking at travel cards etc etc and there was an option for a 6 month season ticket instead of the full 12 months - I can't remember if this was the London Travel card or just for the train service - have a look at the southern website that might have more information - hope this helps and does not cause more confusion

Happy New Price hike

[/url] http://tickets.southernrailway.com/Core ... HINT=Guest

[Weeble]

Well one silver lining is there is no fare increase on travel cards or season tickets this year!

Problem with getting a ticket for a shorter period is not having a gold card - not only is there the 1/3rd off other travel, I've also got a book full of free weekend travel tickets to use which are only valid if I have a gold card.

(top tip - buy your season ticket at Waterloo as South West trains give gold card holders six free return tickets for weekend travel anywhere on their extensive network).

[bensonby]

If you only have a season ticket to town then why not pay heed to my idea of the London victoria - London bridge season ticket? It certainly used to save you around 25%

[Weeble]

I thought that the drawback with the Victoria<>LB thing was that technically you could only use loop line trains? Or am I mistaken?

Anyway, after a slightly frustrating conversation with a call centre yesterday, I went to the travel centre in Waterloo today where they generally know their onions and they said there would be no problem switching a London Terminals season ticket to a Z1-3 travelcard part way through the year, and just pay the pro-rata difference in price for the time remaining on the ticket.

So I hope that's the definitive line, although I'm not discounting the possibility that when I actually try to do it I'll get a different response. Should have asked for something in writing!

But I'll be buying my london terminals season ticket this week and keeping my fingers crossed.

[JRobinson]

I'm moving to Sydenham soon (hopefully), but am currently short term in Forest Hill, and was shocked when at FH station on Sunday afternoon that they don't have the facility to purchase anything on oyster card from the ticket windows! so not thinking clearly about it I just purchased my Z1-3 travelcard (£116 for a month), and now have a paper ticket that I have to put through all the ticket barriers, and show to bus drivers! Grrrr. I could have gone to any newsagent, or tube station and got exactly the same thing straight onto my oyster card no problem.

does anyone therefore know if it's possible to transfer a paper ticket travelcard onto an oyster card?

[digime2007]

Bensonby - does that ticket work in the barriers now?

It's also worth remembering that that ticket cannot be used into Charring Cross like a London Terminals ticket. I find that useful at weekends and saves on Tube travel.

[Weeble]

Bensonby - does that ticket work in the barriers now?

It's also worth remembering that that ticket cannot be used into Charring Cross like a London Terminals ticket. I find that useful at weekends and saves on Tube travel.

Ah - no good for me then as I commute into Waterloo East each day and often into CHX at the weekend (even though there's no direct trains anymore, grr!)

[Weeble]

I'm moving to Sydenham soon (hopefully), but am currently short term in Forest Hill, and was shocked when at FH station on Sunday afternoon that they don't have the facility to purchase anything on oyster card from the ticket windows! so not thinking clearly about it I just purchased my Z1-3 travelcard (£116 for a month), and now have a paper ticket that I have to put through all the ticket barriers, and show to bus drivers! Grrrr. I could have gone to any newsagent, or tube station and got exactly the same thing straight onto my oyster card no problem.

does anyone therefore know if it's possible to transfer a paper ticket travelcard onto an oyster card?

None of the national rail stations will sell you a ticket on Oyster. I should think it unlikely you can transfer your ticket to Oyster, and even if it were would probably be more hassle than the having to take your ticket out of your wallet for for weeks.

[bobmcbob]

Bensonby - does that ticket work in the barriers now?

It's also worth remembering that that ticket cannot be used into Charring Cross like a London Terminals ticket. I find that useful at weekends and saves on Tube travel.

Ah - no good for me then as I commute into Waterloo East each day and often into CHX at the weekend (even though there's no direct trains anymore, grr!)

I've used the victoria-lon bridge season for the last year or so and it's about £55ish a month. If you get the right trains (earliest in morning is currently 8.19) its well worth it. Bear in mind it doesn't work in any of the ticket gates at syd (or many other stations along the route), which will make it pointless puting onto an oyster. Also be prepared to argue your case with the often poorly informed barrier staff...

[bensonby]

I thought that the drawback with the Victoria<>LB thing was that technically you could only use loop line trains? Or am I mistaken?

I think that's debatable....it depends on the interpretation of the conditions of carriage... I wouldn't swear as to whether it was valid, or not, on the non loop trains.

[bensonby]

Bensonby - does that ticket work in the barriers now?

no idea. I no longer commute the journey into town anymore.

[bobmcbob]

I thought that the drawback with the Victoria<>LB thing was that technically you could only use loop line trains? Or am I mistaken?

I think that's debatable....it depends on the interpretation of the conditions of carriage... I wouldn't swear as to whether it was valid, or not, on the non loop trains.

It's only valid from Syd on the trains that go via Crystal Palace round the loop to victoria and back the other way up to london bridge. e.g Using it on a train from east croydon to london bridge is not permitted as its off route apparently. I do know that as long as the train is a direct train then the route is always permitted.

This ticket works in the barriers at london bridge and victoria and also charing cross (!) but not a sydenham or crystal palace

[digime2007]

Bensonby - does that ticket work in the barriers now?

no idea. I no longer commute the journey into town anymore.

bobmcbob on another thread mentions that the ticket doesn't open the barriers at Sydenham. Important info for anyone considering this option.

[bensonby]

I thought that the drawback with the Victoria<>LB thing was that technically you could only use loop line trains? Or am I mistaken?

I think that's debatable....it depends on the interpretation of the conditions of carriage... I wouldn't swear as to whether it was valid, or not, on the non loop trains.

It's only valid from Syd on the trains that go via Crystal Palace round the loop to victoria and back the other way up to london bridge. e.g Using it on a train from east croydon to london bridge is not permitted as its off route apparently. I do know that as long as the train is a direct train then the route is always permitted.


Yes, of course it's valid on the direct trains: the conditions of carriage give provision allowing one to breaks one's journey. That is, one could get on a train at victoria, get off at Sydenham and then back on a train to complete the journey to London bridge. (providing one held a valid ticket) Seeing as the end station is the same I don't loogiy see why one shouldn't get on any London Bridge bound train as one is completing the journey in a perfectly reasonable fashion. The conditions of carriage allow you to break your journey early or to start itfrom an intermediate station. As such, it's perfectly feasible thatthw ticket may be valid on any train to LB. But I take no responsibility if you do itand become unstuck ;-p


This ticket works in the barriers at london bridge and victoria and also charing cross (!) but not a sydenham or crystal palace

[bensonby]

Bensonby - does that ticket work in the barriers now?

no idea. I no longer commute the journey into town anymore.

bobmcbob on another thread mentions that the ticket doesn't open the barriers at Sydenham. Important info for anyone considering this option.

hardly. I'd think saving around 20% trumps the inconvenience of getting the bloke to open the gate for you. He opens it for me every day asi have a pass that doesn't open the gates. It's only a minor inconvenience.

[digime2007]

It is important.

I wouldn't want to be rushing for a train at Sydenham and miss it because I had to get someone to open the barriers for me (I go in from Peak Hill side).

It's also not a saving of 20% if the lack of flexibility means you pay more for tube travel.

Oh, and since the loop trains don't run on a Sunday (and by your admission it's debatable whether your ticket is valid on non-loop trains) that means the potential for hassle I can do without.

The usefulness and savings here depend on individual usage and appetite for disagreements.

It worked for you but other people need to balance everything up.

[bobmcbob]

It is important.

I wouldn't want to be rushing for a train at Sydenham and miss it because I had to get someone to open the barriers for me (I go in from Peak Hill side).

It's also not a saving of 20% if the lack of flexibility means you pay more for tube travel.

Oh, and since the loop trains don't run on a Sunday (and by your admission it's debatable whether your ticket is valid on non-loop trains) that means the potential for hassle I can do without.

The usefulness and savings here depend on individual usage and appetite for disagreements.

It worked for you but other people need to balance everything up

Yes I agree. Fortunately I only really use the trains to get to/from work (near lon bridge) and occasionally to victoria -so it works out well for me.

Yes and getting out of the station on the Peak Hill side can be a real pain at times (i.e most of the evenings last week) when there is nobody manning the barriers on that plaform.
Personally I don't mind walking a little further but it is still an inconvenience nonetheless.