London: regular travel money saving tips!

JenHen

I live and work in London with an hour's commute to and from work, five days a week. I'm shocked by the recent rise in fares, particularly cash fares on the Underground, which I won't be using again!

Over the last few days, I've put on my thinking cap and devised a way of cutting my monthly travel costs, which I thought I'd pass on...

Current average monthly cost £96.70:
monthly season ticket for zones 2-4: £70.70
regular Sunday return journeys by underground, average monthly cost: £26.00

My monthly season ticket is purchased at a local Southwest Trains ticket office. Until recently, Southwest Trains were routinely offering a 5% discount on season tickets because their train services did not meet reliability and punctuality targets. Their services are now on or above target and the 5% discount is no longer offered. A mixed blessing. A quick phone call to another local train operator - Southern Trains - revealed that they are still offering the 5% discount. Their services I find to be unreliable but there is nothing to stop me buying a season ticket through them, nabbing the discount and using another service.
I've also discovered a cunning way of cutting zone 2 out of my daily journey by avoiding Clapham Junction, simply by taking the tube for part of my journey within zone 3, then hopping off and walking to a nearby overground station, also within zone 3, to continue my journey. My next monthly season ticket for zones 3-4, with discount, will cost £51.11.

as for the Sunday journeys into town, Oyster Pay As You Go by bus looks to be the best option, with single journeys 80p each. It'll take longer but the saving will be worth it. Estimated monthly cost: £6.93.

Total monthly saving: £38.66. :j

Another tip: TFL have unfortunately scrapped the single zone season ticket - you have to buy two or more zones - but overground train operators in the London area are still offering cheaper season tickets for journeys between two stations in one zone. Better than paying TFL more than you need to.

dag_2

I've also discovered a cunning way of cutting zone 2 out of my daily journey by avoiding Clapham Junction, simply by taking the tube for part of my journey within zone 3, then hopping off and walking to a nearby overground station, also within zone 3, to continue my journey.

Would those stations be East Putney and Putney by any chance? If so, then from the information you've given, it sounds like your home is near Worcester Park and your work is near Isleworth, or perhaps they're somewhere between.

Are you anywhere near the A3? If so, you might find it quicker and cheaper to do at least part of your journey by bus. The 265 runs part of its route along the A3, and is probably the quickest way of getting between New Malden and Barnes station. Hope that helps.

JenHen

East Putney and Putney indeed, well guessed! I live south of Wimbledon and work near Richmond. The A3 isn't really an option, it would take too long by bus compared to the other modes of transport I use and wouldn't reduce costs.

Since I last posted, I've done some further research and discovered another thread on this forum on the subject of London Transport. I've discovered that I may be able to save even more than I initially thought because (if I understand correctly) a travelcard with any zones on it (not necessarily zone 1) can be used for bus journeys in Central London, so I won't need to get an Oyster card and pay separately for weekend bus journeys into town. I've not verified this - can anyone confirm??

isasmurf

JenHen wrote:

Since I last posted, I've done some further research and discovered another thread on this forum on the subject of London Transport. I've discovered that I may be able to save even more than I initially thought because (if I understand correctly) a travelcard with any zones on it (not necessarily zone 1) can be used for bus journeys in Central London, so I won't need to get an Oyster card and pay separately for weekend bus journeys into town. I've not verified this - can anyone confirm??

Yes, any travelcard entitles you to travel on all buses throughout London.

From page 10 of the 2006 tickets and fares book.

Travelcards
Entitle you to unlimited travel on:
• the Tube, DLR and National Rail within the zones covered by your ticket;
• all buses, no matter which zone(s) are covered by your ticket;
• trams if your ticket includes Zones 3, 4, 5 or 6.

Kaminari_2

Route493 goes from Tooting through Wimbledon to Richmond. I wouldn't recommend it as it is one of three worst performing routes contracted by London Buses. But it still an option!