New job in London 1st Feb - Train fare query

kylieM_2

Hi

I have a new job starting beginning of Feb in central London.

I will be commuting everyday about 1h 20mins, this will be costing £336 per month. Which is fine if there is nothing to be done about it.

But is there something I don't know about, that can cut the cost.

Thanks in advance
K

MORPH3US

Is £336 the standard fare, or for a month pass?!?!

kylieM_2

Its going to be for the monthly pass. I looked it up before I applied, so I did know. But now I am thinking "how can I make it cheaper"

zfrl

Can you get an annual pass? Do some companies pay for travel passes then deduct from salary?

bandraoi

Are you under 26?

kylieM_2

Almost 23, are you going to mention the young persons travel pass? if so doesn't that only apply on non-peek times?

dzug

kylieM wrote: »

Almost 23, are you going to mention the young persons travel pass? if so doesn't that only apply on non-peek times?

No - it covers peak trains as well, subject to a minimum fare. But that's on the daily fares, not the season ticket price. Could still save you though

Advice would be much easier if you gave your start and end points rather than a vague 1hr 20 min journey. There may be something specific we could recommend you to do.

bandraoi

Another option might be to drive/bus to the end of the nearest tube line or a station closer in, from where you could get a cheaper fare to the centre.

Keith

Buy a motorbike and save time, money and it keeps you away from London Transport. Thats what I did anyway!

Altarf

kylieM wrote: »

I will be commuting everyday about 1h 20mins, this will be costing £336 per month. Which is fine if there is nothing to be done about it.

A season ticket is going to be cheapest if you are travelling into London everyday.

Buying a monthly ticket is going to work out a lot more expensive than buying an annual season ticket. For example on my journey, a monthly ticket is £355.20 which works out at £4262.40 per annum, but an annual ticket is £3700, so saving £562.40 per year. If you do buy monthly tickets, they can be bought for periods covering more than a month. So if you are going to be on holiday in five weeks time for a fortnight, you could buy a five week 'monthly' ticket and then another monthly ticket when you get back. Do check with you employer whether they offer a season ticket loan scheme.

Another point, is £336 for your monthly ticket for a 'London Terminals' ticket or for a R1256 travelcard? If you are only making two tube trips a day within central London (to and from the office), then it may be cheaper to get a 'London Terminals' season ticket and an Oyster PAYG card. For example on my line a 'London Terminals' ticket is £3700, but a R1256 travelcard is £4660, so £960 more. Assuming that you will be travelling around 230 days, that would cost £690 on the tube (assuming zone 1 travel) or £414 on the bus using Oyster PAYG.

Finally, check the rules on what compensation your are entitled to for delayed train or tube journeys, and then stick in a claim everytime. Most people don't bother, but it does add up at the end of the year.

kylieM_2

good advice. I don't drive so that idea is out (I knew I should have done it ages ago)

Yes its only going to be zone 1, so will look into that idea.

I would get a bike, but I know I would !!!! myself on the thing expecially on the A41 and M25