ticket restrictions on the high speed from St Pancras to Kent (Rochester)

katejo

I am going down to Kent on an off peak day return on Friday. I have just checked ticket prices (from boundary of zone 3 and I have a gold card) but the machine doesn't make it clear as to whether this ticket is valid for the high speed route. it just says valid on permitted routes without any further detail except to say from 9.30 onwards. Is it just that I can't use my gold card discount on this route? If so I will probably just travel from Victoria as I have always done in the past.

yorkie2

Are you asking for the restrictions for a Boundary Zone 3 - Rochester Off Peak Day R (CDR)?

These are valid - with an accompanying Travelcard - from the boundary of Zone 3 (ie, Woolwich Dockyard/Kidbrooke/Hither Green/Lee/Bellingham/Sydenham Hill etc) on trains "timed to depart after 0429 and before 0930"

Unfortunately Stratford International is not considered to be within the London Zones and does not have a zone assigned to it, and your Travelcard is not considered to be valid on it, and there is no boundary from which to extend your Travelcard.

Blame the Department of Transport for this.

If you have a lot of money to fight a potential legal battle, you could try using this map as a defence to argue that Stratford Intl is advertised there as being in Zone 2/3. I'd love to see someone win such a case!

katejo

No my query is only to do with the high speed trains from St Pancras nothing else. I know that I can travel on Network South East and buy a ticket from boundary of zone 3. i have done that plenty of times but I am not sure whether that ticket is accepted on the above routes. I asked at the local station and was told that I could do this but without a gold card discount but i'm not convinced that this is right.

yorkie2

Yes, a Gold Card discount is available. Who says it isn't? They are wrong.

However the ticket combination mentioned is not considered valid via High Speed 1, for the reasons described above (which I think is a potential breach of consumer law as some maps suggest Stratford Intl is in Zone 2/3, while southeastern don't consider their part of the station to be in any zone) so if you use those tickets you may face a battle!

dzug1

My understanding is that travelcards are not valid on HS1 which needs to be paid for separately

yorkie2

dzug1 wrote: »

My understanding is that travelcards are not valid on HS1 which needs to be paid for separately

Indeed, that's the view taken by the rail industry. Their argument is that Stratford International HS1 station isn't in the London Zones, despite various maps showing it as being in Zone 2/3. This has been sanctioned by buffoons at the Department for Rail and Road, who are on a mission to make passengers pay a premium for this route wherever possible.

Anyone who wants a stress-free journey is advised not to use a Travelcard plus Boundary Zone extension on HS1 (with or without a Gold Card; the Gold Card makes no difference).

(I wish someone would challenge this in court, by refusing to pay the excess and arguing that the station is in Zones 2/3, and producing the map I linked to as evidence, however I would strongly advise anyone considering this to consult an experienced solicitor first, and have plenty of cash ready to fight it...!)

The_Groat_Counter

There is this on the National Rail website...

Travelcards

Travelcards are zonal tickets allowing unlimited travel on London's public transport network. They can be issued for travel on any one day, seven consecutive days or for regular commuters, any period between one month and a year. Travelcards are available for travel from stations throughout London and the home counties, the south and south east and further afield on some routes.
Travelcards can be issued in a range of zonal combinations and subject to the zones purchased, you can use your Travelcard on:

• Tube, Docklands Light Railway (DLR) and National Rail services (but not Heathrow Express or Heathrow Connect services between Hayes & Harlington and Heathrow)
• Travelcards routed 'Plus High Speed' or 'Any Permitted + HS' are valid on Southeastern high speed services
• All London Bus services (except some special services and excursions) regardless of the zones for which the ticket is issued
• London Tramlink services where the Travelcard is valid for travel in Zone 3, 4, 5 or 6 or any combination of these zones

London's Rail & Tube Services map.

(The bolding is mine.)

Not as clear as it could or should be by any means, but it does at least suggest that Travelcards which do not show route 'Plus High Speed' or '+HS' are therefore not valid on the Southeastern High Speed services.

Jeff_Bridges_hair

The_Groat_Counter wrote: »

There is this on the National Rail website...

(The bolding is mine.)

Not as clear as it could or should be by any means, but it does at least suggest that Travelcards which do not show route 'Plus High Speed' or '+HS' are therefore not valid on the Southeastern High Speed services.

Indeed and you can only get those TCs on outboundry TCs from places in Kent. Not quite clear is it.

katejo

Thanks. Think I will stick to the route from Victoria.