travel options london to gatwick

frodob

My wife and I are planning a trip in March to Italy involving flying to/from Gatwick with timings such that have already resolved on train to/from London and Premier Inn (North Terminal) at the airport both before and after our flights. Have sorted out train to/from London and the hotel bookings but would appreciate some guidance on the options for getting between Kings Cross and Gatwick so can weigh up relative costs versus convenience, and whether to book in advance or say rely on Oyster cards. At the moment am tempted by Southern Rail which would SEEM to mean less trundling of cases within London (than say Gatwick Express Duo), but am concerned about possible delay/cancellation problems on return journey which will be on a Sunday.

wealdroam

frodob wrote: »

My wife and I are planning a trip in March to Italy involving flying to/from Gatwick with timings such that have already resolved on train to/from London and Premier Inn (North Terminal) at the airport both before and after our flights. Have sorted out train to/from London and the hotel bookings but would appreciate some guidance on the options for getting between Kings Cross and Gatwick so can weigh up relative costs versus convenience, and whether to book in advance or say rely on Oyster cards. At the moment am tempted by Southern Rail which would SEEM to mean less trundling of cases within London (than say Gatwick Express Duo), but am concerned about possible delay/cancellation problems on return journey which will be on a Sunday.

If you are coming into London at Kings Cross then I would be tempted to catch a Thameslink train direct from there to Gatwick.

I am not going to attempt to try and work out the best fare - it's now very difficult now that Oyster cards are accepted at Gatwick.

giraffe69

isn't it first capital connect not thameslink? still, using this route and paying via oyster if you have won or a contactless card if not sees painless.

redux

wealdroam wrote: »

If you are coming into London at Kings Cross then I would be tempted to catch a Thameslink train direct from there to Gatwick.

I am not going to attempt to try and work out the best fare - it's now very difficult now that Oyster cards are accepted at Gatwick.

From St Pancras actually, but it's right next to Kings Cross.

Those Thameslink direct seem to be the cheapest fares, and 4 times an hour, judging by National Rail and TfL websites, or else via Underground from St Pancras to Victoria or London Bridge.

But search both websites, as sometimes contactless is cheaper, sometimes the National Rail price is. Prices £7.90, £8, £10.30 to £25.40 single, £19.50 or £41 something return

dzug1

giraffe69 wrote: »

isn't it first capital connect not thameslink? still, using this route and paying via oyster if you have won or a contactless card if not sees painless.

No - FCC is now Thameslink

The_Groat_Counter

OP, do you and your wife have contactless debit or credit cards, or Oyster cards?

If so, the direct Thameslink train from St Pancras to Gatwick would cost £8 off-peak or £14 peak (for journeys starting M-F 0630-0930 and 1600-1900).

See the TfL Single Fare Finder, and make sure you use "London St Pancras International Rail Station" as the origin station (as opposed to "King's Cross St. Pancras Underground Station" which will give you different fares).

This short video from TfL explains how contactless cards work in London for paying fares directly. Note that you do not need to set up an account beforehand to use a contactless card in this way (accounts are purely optional).

More info here:
tfl.gov.uk/fares-and-payments/contactless

yorkie2

These days all trains between London & Gatwick are operated by the same Train Company: Govia Thameslink Railway.

Confusingly, and uniquely, this Train Company has 4 different route brands (shown on this map).

The merger is resulting in huge fare increases, as Train Companies are not permitted to have brand-specific fares; only Company-specific fares are allowed. However Government have prevented them from abolishing the cheap fares immediately; they will be slowly phased out. So the huge array of complex fares remains - and their validity is disputed - for now.

For less hassle, take a direct train from St Pancras, and the cheapest at off-peak times is either contactless/Oyster PAYG (if travelling outside "peak" periods described in the post above) at £8, or a paper ticket Super Off Peak Day Single at £7.90 if travelling on a weekend. If you are travelling at "peak" times then the cheapest is an Anytime Day Single paper ticket at £10.30.

On the return journey (you returning to St Pancras?), as this is a Sunday, the Super Off Peak Day Single will again be best.

Whatever you do, don't use contactless/Oyster PAYG via London Victoria Platforms 13 & 14, as this costs a ludicrous £22.20 each way, even at weekends! I wonder how many visitors/tourists are caught out by that...

chuckley

Southern/gatwick express is of no use to you if you're in Kings cross.

FCC/Thameslink is what you need. just one direct train?!

dzug1

chuckley wrote: »

Southern/gatwick express is of no use to you if you're in Kings cross.

FCC/Thameslink is what you need. just one direct train?!

Agreed - as long as it's a day of the week and time of day when the direct service is running. There's been a lot of engineering work that at times has stopped the direct service. I'm not up to date on what phase that has reached - it's something that will need checking for particular dates.

The_Groat_Counter

yorkie2 wrote: »

Whatever you do, don't use contactless/Oyster PAYG via London Victoria Platforms 13 & 14, as this costs a ludicrous £22.20 each way, even at weekends! I wonder how many visitors/tourists are caught out by that...

That needs a bit more explanation. Platforms 13 & 14 are used by the Gatwick Express train service, which charges premium fares, and is best avoided however one is paying (contactless/Oyster or traditonal paper ticket). Other trains don't normally use these platforms - in other words, if you're avoiding the Gatwick Express, you won't use platform 13 or 14.

Also, small correction - the contactless/Oyster fare for Gatwick Express is £19.80, not £22.20.

One could have just have easily asked how many visitors/tourists were being 'caught out' by using the premium-priced Gatwick Express in the past.

(And in terms of saving 10p at the weekend by buying a paper ticket for the journey on Thameslink ... I suspect many people would consider the 10p extra well spent when it comes to avoiding having to go to a ticket counter or machine and buy a paper ticket!)

yorkie2

The_Groat_Counter wrote: »

That needs a bit more explanation. Platforms 13 & 14 are used by the Gatwick Express train service, which charges premium fares, and is best avoided however one is paying (contactless/Oyster or traditonal paper ticket). Other trains don't normally use these platforms - in other words, if you're avoiding the Gatwick Express, you won't use platform 13 or 14.

Yes, the premium charge for platforms 13/14 is intended for the Gatwick Express route, for which the train operating company (GTR) attempts to charge a premium when travelling from London to Gatwick (it's not really a premium service, and normal tickets are still valid on it, in accordance with the Conditions of Carriage).

Yesterday the 1830 Southern route service to Brighton used platform 14. http://www.realtimetrains.co.uk/train/W60029/2016/02/01/advanced (admittedly not calling at Gatwick, but passengers could have changed at East Croydon)

You could, however, avoid the surcharge by going through the platform 15-19 gates and ask to be let through the side gate.

The_Groat_Counter wrote: »

Also, small correction - the contactless/Oyster fare for Gatwick Express is £19.80, not £22.20.

I was quoting the fare from St Pancras to Gatwick, via the Gatwick Express route.

The_Groat_Counter wrote: »

One could have just have easily asked how many visitors/tourists were being 'caught out' by using the premium-priced Gatwick Express in the past.

Indeed; many people are caught out.

The_Groat_Counter wrote: »

(And in terms of saving 10p at the weekend by buying a paper ticket for the journey on Thameslink ... I suspect many people would consider the 10p extra well spent when it comes to avoiding having to go to a ticket counter or machine and buy a paper ticket!)

Yes,but it's worth mentioning the existence of the fare, as not everyone wants (or is able) to use contactless. It can also be useful at times of disruption; the ticket would then be accepted via Victoria, without hassle, without incurring extra charges.

(Though arguably it's valid via Victoria anyway - not including LU of course - but that would not be hassle-free!)