Trains to Gatwick from London

balsingh

My wife has Zone 1-5 annual travelcard. Next week we are travelling to Gatwick. There are 2 train options, Southern from Victoria or First Capital Connect from London Bridge. As she has a travelcard valid up to Zone 5, can she just get a zone extension from Zone 5 to Gatwick on either of these trains or will she have to pay the full fare from the Zone 1 stations?

We have already dismissed the Gatwick Express as you have to pay the full fare ... they dont take the travelcard into consideration.

Thanks in advance.

pompeyrich

East Croydon is in zone 5 and all of the Southern services to Gatwick stop there, FCC ones do too, so she should just buy from there, as her 1-5 card WILL cover the first bit open singles at £5:30 each way or less if she has a railcard. Obviously remember to take her season ticket with her !!

When I say buy from there, I mean buy a valid ticket from EC to Gatwick, should be able to buy that at any manned station

dzug

There is a thing called a 'boundary zone 5 to Gatwick' ticket which may be marginally cheaper than an East Croydon - Gatwick ticket. Many ticket clerks are clueless about them though

balsingh

can tickets be bought in advance at stations ie. a couple of days before? not too keen on queing up on the mornign that we have to go.

dzug

Yes you can buy tickets in advance a few days before. You have to go to a manned office, not a ticket machine.