New job in London 1st Feb - Train fare query [Archive]

dzug

14-01-2008, 5:03 PM

Almost 23, are you going to mention the young persons travel pass? if so doesn't that only apply on non-peek times?

No - it covers peak trains as well, subject to a minimum fare. But that's on the daily fares, not the season ticket price. Could still save you though

Advice would be much easier if you gave your start and end points rather than a vague 1hr 20 min journey. There may be something specific we could recommend you to do.

bandraoi

14-01-2008, 5:07 PM

Another option might be to drive/bus to the end of the nearest tube line or a station closer in, from where you could get a cheaper fare to the centre.

Keith

14-01-2008, 7:00 PM

Buy a motorbike and save time, money and it keeps you away from London Transport. Thats what I did anyway!

Altarf

14-01-2008, 7:25 PM

I will be commuting everyday about 1h 20mins, this will be costing £336 per month. Which is fine if there is nothing to be done about it.

A season ticket is going to be cheapest if you are travelling into London everyday.

Buying a monthly ticket is going to work out a lot more expensive than buying an annual season ticket. For example on my journey, a monthly ticket is £355.20 which works out at £4262.40 per annum, but an annual ticket is £3700, so saving £562.40 per year. If you do buy monthly tickets, they can be bought for periods covering more than a month. So if you are going to be on holiday in five weeks time for a fortnight, you could buy a five week 'monthly' ticket and then another monthly ticket when you get back. Do check with you employer whether they offer a season ticket loan scheme.

Another point, is £336 for your monthly ticket for a 'London Terminals' ticket or for a R1256 travelcard? If you are only making two tube trips a day within central London (to and from the office), then it may be cheaper to get a 'London Terminals' season ticket and an Oyster PAYG card. For example on my line a 'London Terminals' ticket is £3700, but a R1256 travelcard is £4660, so £960 more. Assuming that you will be travelling around 230 days, that would cost £690 on the tube (assuming zone 1 travel) or £414 on the bus using Oyster PAYG.

Finally, check the rules on what compensation your are entitled to for delayed train or tube journeys, and then stick in a claim everytime. Most people don't bother, but it does add up at the end of the year.

kylieM

14-01-2008, 11:33 PM

good advice. I don't drive so that idea is out (I knew I should have done it ages ago)

Yes its only going to be zone 1, so will look into that idea.

I would get a bike, but I know I would !!!! myself on the thing expecially on the A41 and M25

Keith

14-01-2008, 11:47 PM

I would get a bike, but I know I would !!!! myself on the thing expecially on the A41 and M25

Don't be silly, the A41 is fantastic, the M25 isn't great but is ok. I'm guessing Aylesbury into London?

I used to ride down the A41 into London from Hemel on a bike which would do 60mph flat out. So cheap, I now ride from Luton down the M1 everyday, it's really alright and very cheap I saved about 2k using the bike over the train last year.

kylieM

15-01-2008, 12:08 AM

you guessed correctly!

I dunno :confused: so scared

Crabman

15-01-2008, 12:16 AM

Have you tried journey splitting on a day ticket? I put the route into the national rail planner and it looks like they don't do advance purchase tickets, though with a Young Person's Railcard the cost of a cheap day return is £10.55

Have a look at the Cheap Train Tickets (http://www.moneysavingexpert.com/travel/cheap-train-tickets) article for some more tips and hints if you haven't already :)

Keith

15-01-2008, 12:24 AM

nealallen

15-01-2008, 4:28 AM

Another option might be to drive/bus to the end of the nearest tube line or a station closer in, from where you could get a cheaper fare to the centre.

That's not a bad idea. You can get an Oyster card, that 90p per trip, no matter how far you go. after 3-4 trips it's free travel.

Good news too, Mr Livingston is to lower the cost of Oyster soon, so will be even cheaper by Bus ;)

Nail_Lad

15-01-2008, 1:40 PM

With decent training, you'll be in full control of the bike, I can't give you any reassurances other than that. You'll quickly become aware of other road users too!

Aylesbury into London is 10 miles more than I do each day, it would be a shock to the system for you but I'd happily do it on a 400cc automatic scooter or my sports bike. Once you've done it for a week or two, you become used to it and end up looking at the bike and thinking if I don't use it, the train will cost £30ish, I'll take the bike!

I can't believe the cost of public transport, especially into London, all that money and I bet you're not even guaranteed a seat. I think Keith has the best solution, you get to learn a new skill, improve road confidence and save money. Only downside I can see is that it isn't much fun at this time of the year when the weather is so damn miserable!!!

bandraoi

15-01-2008, 1:47 PM

That's not a bad idea. You can get an Oyster card, that 90p per trip, no matter how far you go. after 3-4 trips it's free travel.

Good news too, Mr Livingston is to lower the cost of Oyster soon, so will be even cheaper by Bus ;)
90p is the busfare though, and a bus from the outer suburbs isn't likely to be viable.

coral

15-01-2008, 7:07 PM

from Aylesbury there is not a whole lot you can do - Chiltern have got every angle covered it seems!

Where abouts in London is your final destination? You can save £40 by just buying the ticket to Marylebone but this does't seem worth it to me as its 90p for a single bus fare.

It may be feasible to consider the bike/driving option to Amersham where you come into TFL fare zones which works out at £250 a month. Or see about an 0% interest deal on a credit card and get an annual ticket.

On the plus side it tends to be quite a reliable line and you usually manage a seat which is more than can be said about south london where its a bonus even getting on the train at times!

chuckley

16-01-2008, 2:02 AM

A season ticket is going to be cheapest if you are travelling into London everyday.

Buying a monthly ticket is going to work out a lot more expensive than buying an annual season ticket. For example on my journey, a monthly ticket is £355.20 which works out at £4262.40 per annum, but an annual ticket is £3700, so saving £562.40 per year. If you do buy monthly tickets, they can be bought for periods covering more than a month. So if you are going to be on holiday in five weeks time for a fortnight, you could buy a five week 'monthly' ticket and then another monthly ticket when you get back. Do check with you employer whether they offer a season ticket loan scheme.

Another point, is £336 for your monthly ticket for a 'London Terminals' ticket or for a R1256 travelcard? If you are only making two tube trips a day within central London (to and from the office), then it may be cheaper to get a 'London Terminals' season ticket and an Oyster PAYG card. For example on my line a 'London Terminals' ticket is £3700, but a R1256 travelcard is £4660, so £960 more. Assuming that you will be travelling around 230 days, that would cost £690 on the tube (assuming zone 1 travel) or £414 on the bus using Oyster PAYG.

Finally, check the rules on what compensation your are entitled to for delayed train or tube journeys, and then stick in a claim everytime. Most people don't bother, but it does add up at the end of the year.that would only work if ur starting station was a PAUG station. if not ur stuffed and would need the travelcard... this is why all stations need to be oyster...

bandraoi

16-01-2008, 7:44 AM

Can I ask the OP, why not just move into the city?
You'll save yourself an hour a day and the cost of renting won't be that much more than your ticket.

kylieM

16-01-2008, 9:02 AM

Can I ask the OP, why not just move into the city?
You'll save yourself an hour a day and the cost of renting won't be that much more than your ticket.

God your joking right?

Have looked into it, I need a one bedroom flat at least as I have a partner I will need to move with me and three cats.

Central I am looking at least £800 per month, going out a bit more north and west London is still a bit pricey, south and east is the pits. (I used to go to college in south London when I lived in Surrey).

I may look into moving to Kent or back to Surrey. At least the travel wont come to as much and renting is about the same as where I am now.

I have also looked into moving to Hemel Hempstead. You can catch a coach to baker street every morning, will take about an hour. and then I can get the tube from there which will take a couple of minutes. It will take about the same amount of time, but I am more interested in saving money than how long it will take.

Keith

16-01-2008, 10:07 AM

I've used the coach service from Hemel and it's very good, normally seats available and they always ran on time, I'm not sure what they would be like now with the M1 roadworks though.

Again from Hemel, I used to ride a 125 scooter along the A41, through Watford, Mill Hill, Hendon and into London, it cost £20 a week and was quicker than the coach and train!

Motorcycle FTW!

bandraoi

16-01-2008, 10:23 AM

God your joking right?

Have looked into it, I need a one bedroom flat at least as I have a partner I will need to move with me and three cats.

Central I am looking at least £800 per month, going out a bit more north and west London is still a bit pricey, south and east is the pits. (I used to go to college in south London when I lived in Surrey).

I may look into moving to Kent or back to Surrey. At least the travel wont come to as much and renting is about the same as where I am now.

I have also looked into moving to Hemel Hempstead. You can catch a coach to baker street every morning, will take about an hour. and then I can get the tube from there which will take a couple of minutes. It will take about the same amount of time, but I am more interested in saving money than how long it will take.
No, I currently rent a double room in East London, Z2, walking distance of Z1, for £400 a month including the council tax. That is not a huge amount more than you're thinking of paying for your train ticket.

What will your current flat plus the train fare come to?

South and East are not necessarily the pits, it depends on where you go.
Elephant and Castle is about to undergo major refurbishment, and is within walking distance of the city centre. Borough is lovely. If you know where to look West is often not that expensive either.

kylieM

16-01-2008, 11:22 AM

No, I currently rent a double room in East London, Z2, walking distance of Z1, for £400 a month including the council tax. That is not a huge amount more than you're thinking of paying for your train ticket.

What will your current flat plus the train fare come to?

South and East are not necessarily the pits, it depends on where you go.
Elephant and Castle is about to undergo major refurbishment, and is within walking distance of the city centre. Borough is lovely. If you know where to look West is often not that expensive either.

Sorry, hope I didn't offend, just my opinion on the parts I have been to, family from west ham, When my Dad took me to see West Ham FC once, he took me on a tour to see his old haunts, wasn't impressed lol

Its not going to be possible for me to rent a room, I have three cats, I am a really private person as well.

Its going to total to about £700 at the moment as my partner pays half the rent

bandraoi

16-01-2008, 12:02 PM

Sorry, hope I didn't offend, just my opinion on the parts I have been to, family from west ham, When my Dad took me to see West Ham FC once, he took me on a tour to see his old haunts, wasn't impressed lol

Its not going to be possible for me to rent a room, I have three cats, I am a really private person as well.

Its going to total to about £700 at the moment as my partner pays half the rent
Offended, why would I be offended?
Why is everyone around here apologising for potentially insulting people all the time. Totally don't get it. People around here need tougher skins and straighter backbones.

Anyway, that's beside the point.
The cats do throw a spanner in the works alright, but you might find somewhere. Don't dismiss the idea of living in London (or parts thereof) based on one brief tour of a small area.

For £700pcm (or £607 if you take out what your Z12 oyster would cost) you'd find a very nice double room in a house share in Zone 2. You could probably find somewhere that you basically have your own loft room and bathroom and with a back garden where the cats could be let out.

If you're partner comes with you, then you have his half of the rent + your £700pcm and finding a nice one bed place though again the cats might be a problem.

Personally, I couldn't countenance spending that much a month on my train fare, to spend nearly 3 hours a day commuting, and having no quality of life during the week, but then that's how I balance things.

Altarf

16-01-2008, 6:41 PM

If you are only making two tube trips a day within central London (to and from the office), then it may be cheaper to get a 'London Terminals' season ticket and an Oyster PAYG card.

that would only work if ur starting station was a PAUG station. if not ur stuffed and would need the travelcard... this is why all stations need to be oyster...

Why on earth would you need your starting station to be an Oyster pay as you go station?

You use your National Rail season ticket which is to 'London Terminals' to get you to the main line station in London, in my case Kings Cross, then you use your separate Oyster PAYG once in London. i.e. you use a train ticket on trains and Oyster on the tube/bus.

As I said before, doing this on my line costs £3700 for the National Rail season ticket to 'London Terminals' and £1.50 each way on the tube, which works out about £300 a year cheaper than buying a National Rail R1256 all zones travelcard.

chuckley

16-01-2008, 6:47 PM

Why on earth would you need your starting station to be an Oyster pay as you go station?

You use your National Rail season ticket which is to 'London Terminals' to get you to the main line station in London, in my case Kings Cross, then you use your separate Oyster PAYG once in London. i.e. you use a train ticket on trains and Oyster on the tube/bus.

As I said before, doing this on my line costs £3700 for the National Rail season ticket to 'London Terminals' and £1.50 each way on the tube, which works out about £300 a year cheaper than buying a National Rail R1256 all zones travelcard.so i get on at my station which isnt an oyster station and get off at say London bridge, on that journey an inspector asks to see tickets what do i show them?

are u stating that the 'london terminals' ticket is valid on any london train route?

Altarf

16-01-2008, 8:32 PM

so i get on at my station which isnt an oyster station and get off at say London bridge, on that journey an inspector asks to see tickets what do i show them?

You show them your 'from wherever you live' to London Terminals train ticket. For someone, like the OP, working in central London they only use the Oyster card after they have got off the train and need to get onto the tube, bus, or DLR.

are u stating that the 'london terminals' ticket is valid on any london train route?

London Terminals is terminology used by the train companies to mean the group of mainline stations in London. So if you buy a 'from wherever you live' to London Terminals ticket it is generally (but not always) valid up to the first London mainline station that you reach on your journey. So for example a Cambridge to London Terminals ticket is valid as far as Kings Cross or Liverpool Street, depending on which route you take.

So if travelling from Cambridge to London, a ticket inspector at Cambridge, London or anywhere between will be perfectly happy with your Cambridge to London Terminals ticket. Once in London you can then use your Oyster PAYG to get from Kings Cross or Liverpool Street to your destination. If you only do two journeys a day (to and from the office) this is usually cheaper than getting a 'from wherever you live' to R1256 all zones Travelcard.

chuckley

17-01-2008, 1:25 AM

right so basically this is for people that travel from outside london into central london and NOT for use for people that live in greater london travelling into CL?

Altarf

17-01-2008, 7:05 AM

Not necessarily, but the maths only works if you only want to use the tube no more than twice a day and not at weekends, which probably does not apply to people living in London.

It is really a question of not assuming that a Travelcard or a Travelcard addon to a railway ticket is automatically going to be cheapest, but to estimate how many journeys you will make and compare it to the PAYG option.

For people living outside London, the only option for an addon to a railway ticket that will get you central London where they work is a R1256 all zones travelcard. Obviously this is valid in all zones, but most people commuting in from outside London will never want to go anywhere than zone 1 or 2, so they are paying for the ability to travel somewhere they won't.

coral

17-01-2008, 10:31 AM

There is a coach from Aylesbury actually - marshalls coaches (google it) which according to the website is a bargain £164.60 - only runs once daily though!

honest guv

26-02-2008, 12:51 PM

Could someone (Altaft?) confirm the below for me -
I'm about to renew my FirstCapitalConnect season ticket from St Albans to Moorgate, and the website gives me the options of a 'Moorgate Und' ticket, or a 'London Terminals' ticket. From what you're saying, does this mean that if I get a London Terminals ticket it would not be valid to Moorgate because I will have passed through St Pancras International, which would be my first London Terminals station?
Also, I sometimes need to go down to London Bridge, and I can do that direct from St Albans. Again, would this be considered fare evasion if I travelled down on my London Terminals ticket? (although presumably the ticket barrier would let me out because it wouldn't be able to tell if I'd come from North or South? or would it...)