London Zone Boundary rail fares--how to buy

MilesT6060842

Depending on tickets you may already have, for some rail trips into/out of London the lowest cost option is to buy a "boundary" fare aka an extension fare.
(prompted by a discussion in the forums in the excellent oysterfares.com website, formerly known as oyster-rail.org.uk)

A Boundary fare is where you buy a ticket that extends from where your current ticket ends to where you want to go.  Depending on your current ticket you may need to leave the train at an intermediate station in the outermost boundary of validity, or just stay on the train (more details below)

However, it's not always clear where and how to buy boundary extensions, there doesn't seem to be a standard way

• Staffed ticket counters
• Some ticket machines, search for zone or boundary using the "other stations" button
• Some train operator websites/apps: e.g. GWR, GA, try searching for zone, travelcard, underground.  I've not done a check for all websites--volunteer your experience in the replies

However:  Can't seem to find how to do this on nationalrail, thetrainline, thameslink.  Haven't tried any of the split ticketing websites for boundary extensions or indeed having the website quote based on you ticking what travel tickets you have already (some will split automatically based on zonal railcards e.g. network, gold, regionals, but that's not the same as plitting based on having a 60+ for example)

Yes, I know it is possible to get nearly the same outcome by researching the last station in the zone on the route you plan to take and purchase from that station to your intended destination (and using that for split ticket websites), but it doesn't need to be that hard.  Worth a MSE campaign, maybe, to encourage more widespread provision of capability in a standardised way

I am aware that there are a couple of group action lawsuits progressing complaining about lack of availability to purchase boundary extension fares.

Examples of tickets where you can stay on the train and not experience a penalty fare

• Any form of TfL season ticket
• Any London travelcard that covers multiple zones
• 60+
• Freedom passes
• I think underage passes (e.g. Zip 5-15) and other specials like Job Seekers--happy to be corrected on this

Definitely need to exit and tap out for Oyster/Contactless PAYG when using a boundary extension, even if pre-purchased, to avoid a TfL penalty fare for not tapping out, and need to watch out for stations where Contactless is accepted but Oyster is not (these are all outside zones, but one way to get the cheapest fare is to tap out on Oyster at the last available oyster station and then tap in contactless for the remaining local journey).

yorkie2

MilesT6060842 said:

Depending on tickets you may already have, for some rail trips into/out of London the lowest cost option is to buy a "boundary" fare aka an extension fare.
(prompted by a discussion in the forums in the excellent oysterfares.com website, formerly known as oyster-rail.org.uk)

A Boundary fare is where you buy a ticket that extends from where your current ticket ends to where you want to go.  Depending on your current ticket you may need to leave the train at an intermediate station in the outermost boundary of validity, or just stay on the train (more details below)

A Boundary Zone fare is an extension of a Travelcard; this also includes Freedom Passes, which are treated as Travelcards for this purpose.

However, it's not always clear where and how to buy boundary extensions, there doesn't seem to be a standard way

• Staffed ticket counters
• Some ticket machines, search for zone or boundary using the "other stations" button
• Some train operator websites/apps: e.g. GWR, GA, try searching for zone, travelcard, underground.  I've not done a check for all websites--volunteer your experience in the replies

However:  Can't seem to find how to do this on nationalrail, thetrainline, thameslink.  Haven't tried any of the split ticketing websites for boundary extensions or indeed having the website quote based on you ticking what travel tickets you have already (some will split automatically based on zonal railcards e.g. network, gold, regionals, but that's not the same as plitting based on having a 60+ for example)

Yes, I know it is possible to get nearly the same outcome by researching the last station in the zone on the route you plan to take and purchase from that station to your intended destination (and using that for split ticket websites), but it doesn't need to be that hard.  Worth a MSE campaign, maybe, to encourage more widespread provision of capability in a standardised way

I am aware that there are a couple of group action lawsuits progressing complaining about lack of availability to purchase boundary extension fares.

Examples of tickets where you can stay on the train and not experience a penalty fare

• Any form of TfL season ticket
• Any London travelcard that covers multiple zones
• 60+
• Freedom passes
• I think underage passes (e.g. Zip 5-15) and other specials like Job Seekers--happy to be corrected on this

Definitely need to exit and tap out for Oyster/Contactless PAYG when using a boundary extension, even if pre-purchased, to avoid a TfL penalty fare for not tapping out, and need to watch out for stations where Contactless is accepted but Oyster is not (these are all outside zones, but one way to get the cheapest fare is to tap out on Oyster at the last available oyster station and then tap in contactless for the remaining local journey).

Boundary Zone extensions are not applicable to PAYG fares.

soolin

That's interesting thank you . Our ticket office says that we can buy an extension ticket and stay on the train only if the train stops at the last station- ie isn't a faster train that misses out some smaller stations (our local boundary station isn't a major station) so we always get charged from a station within the boundary that all trains stop at. . A friend we sometimes travel with says they are wrong and we only need a valid ticket for the whole journey, regardless of where the train stops.

So for instance, I paid £11 ish for a ticket to the local coast using my 60+ oyster card and then a 60+ railcard as the last stop on my train before the boundary was not on the boundary, she paid £7.95 for the same journey by buying a ticket from the boundary station .She just bought her ticket from a different clerk to me but my clerk said I could only have a ticket for the station the train stopped at, not one it missed. 

We end up getting confused and half the time the office clerks aren't sure either but tell us to take the more expensive ticket rather than face a fine on the train for an invalid ticket. 

Another example was that we travelled to see friends in Oxford, my local station told us we couldn't have an extension ticket as we couldn't be sure what train we would catch and therefore we might catch one that didn't stop at the boundary station, so we had to buy a ticket from the London terminus. Other friends travelling that day just went to the ticket machine and bought tickets themselves from the boundary to oxford and return, and then used their Freedom or 60+ oyster cards to get through the barriers in London. Our tickets were checked both ways on the train and nothing was said about any of the tickets being invalid.

yorkie2

soolin said:

That's interesting thank you . Our ticket office says that we can buy an extension ticket and stay on the train only if the train stops at the last station- ie isn't a faster train that misses out some smaller stations (our local boundary station isn't a major station) so we always get charged from a station within the boundary that all trains stop at. . A friend we sometimes travel with says they are wrong and we only need a valid ticket for the whole journey, regardless of where the train stops.

There is no requirement for the train to call anywhere; that is the main purpose of a Boundary Zone fare.

So for instance, I paid £11 ish for a ticket to the local coast using my 60+ oyster card and then a 60+ railcard as the last stop on my train before the boundary was not on the boundary, she paid £7.95 for the same journey by buying a ticket from the boundary station .She just bought her ticket from a different clerk to me but my clerk said I could only have a ticket for the station the train stopped at, not one it missed.

The clerk is talking nonsense; you are entitled to a ticket from Boundary Zone 6 and there is no need for the train to call anywhere.

 

We end up getting confused and half the time the office clerks aren't sure either but tell us to take the more expensive ticket rather than face a fine on the train for an invalid ticket. 

Another example was that we travelled to see friends in Oxford, my local station told us we couldn't have an extension ticket as we couldn't be sure what train we would catch and therefore we might catch one that didn't stop at the boundary station, so we had to buy a ticket from the London terminus. Other friends travelling that day just went to the ticket machine and bought tickets themselves from the boundary to oxford and return, and then used their Freedom or 60+ oyster cards to get through the barriers in London. Our tickets were checked both ways on the train and nothing was said about any of the tickets being invalid.

Ticket office clerks are often useless; the sooner all tickets can be bought online (or from machines) the better and then there will be no need to waste time arguing with them.

martindow

I understood that if one of the tickets is zonal such as a Travelcard there is no necessity for the train to stop at the zone boundary station.  If you choose to use a single ticket to the boundary and then another single ticket for the rest of the journey then I think the train must stop there as per split ticketing.

I have only had success buying a ticket to a zone boundary at a manned ticket office.  Sometimes it has had zone boundary 6 printed on it and sometimes the name of the boundary station.

soolin

Thank you, in future I will be much more assertive when buying my tickets from a manned ticket office. 

martindow

I must admit my experience is from a few years ago and so it's possible that things may have changed.  It sometimes involved lengthy discussions at the booking office window and like you I found that staff themselves were not entirely sure.  I always had in the back of my mind that I might have a hassle with an on board ticket inspector, but I never had them checked when travelling with zone boundary tickets ...

Jumblebumble

MilesT6060842 said:

Depending on tickets you may already have, for some rail trips into/out of London the lowest cost option is to buy a "boundary" fare aka an extension fare.
(prompted by a discussion in the forums in the excellent oysterfares.com website, formerly known as oyster-rail.org.uk)

A Boundary fare is where you buy a ticket that extends from where your current ticket ends to where you want to go.  Depending on your current ticket you may need to leave the train at an intermediate station in the outermost boundary of validity, or just stay on the train (more details below)

However, it's not always clear where and how to buy boundary extensions, there doesn't seem to be a standard way

• Staffed ticket counters
• Some ticket machines, search for zone or boundary using the "other stations" button
• Some train operator websites/apps: e.g. GWR, GA, try searching for zone, travelcard, underground.  I've not done a check for all websites--volunteer your experience in the replies

However:  Can't seem to find how to do this on nationalrail, thetrainline, thameslink.  Haven't tried any of the split ticketing websites for boundary extensions or indeed having the website quote based on you ticking what travel tickets you have already (some will split automatically based on zonal railcards e.g. network, gold, regionals, but that's not the same as plitting based on having a 60+ for example)

Yes, I know it is possible to get nearly the same outcome by researching the last station in the zone on the route you plan to take and purchase from that station to your intended destination (and using that for split ticket websites), but it doesn't need to be that hard.  Worth a MSE campaign, maybe, to encourage more widespread provision of capability in a standardised way

I am aware that there are a couple of group action lawsuits progressing complaining about lack of availability to purchase boundary extension fares.

Examples of tickets where you can stay on the train and not experience a penalty fare

• Any form of TfL season ticket
• Any London travelcard that covers multiple zones
• 60+
• Freedom passes
• I think underage passes (e.g. Zip 5-15) and other specials like Job Seekers--happy to be corrected on this

Definitely need to exit and tap out for Oyster/Contactless PAYG when using a boundary extension, even if pre-purchased, to avoid a TfL penalty fare for not tapping out, and need to watch out for stations where Contactless is accepted but Oyster is not (these are all outside zones, but one way to get the cheapest fare is to tap out on Oyster at the last available oyster station and then tap in contactless for the remaining local journey).

I have no idea if they still do this but GWR used to sell you a ticket from West Drayton even if you asked for a boundary Z6 Ticket
They assured me that the train not stopping would not be a problem. This was in the days when the train should have had to stop at WD
I assume that they took the pragmatic view that if they left people alone whether the train stopped at West Drayton or not they benefited because of ORCATS