Hertford East - Boundary Zone 2: Break of Journey

[alholmes]

I hold a zone 1 & 2 travel card (on Oyster) and purchased an off-peak day return at Liverpool Street station for Boundary Zone 2 - Hertford stns.

On the return journey, I chose to change trains at Tottenham Hale and travel down to Stratford (zone 3) and break my journey there. Ticket was rejected at the barrier and two members of staff both told me that the ticket was not valid. The first one said that the ticket was valid to zone 2, and that Stratford was zone 3 (but didn't comprehend that I was still travelling towards zone 2, when I was breaking my journey). The second said that my ticket was only valid on the direct route from Tottenham Hale towards London (as I had explained that I also had a Z12 travelcard), not via Stratford, and therefore not valid for break of journey at Stratford.

On the basis that there are a very small number of trains from the Lea Valley route that run via (and stop at) Stratford on their way to Liverpool Street, I believe it's a valid route, and therefore I should have been allowed to break my journey.

Can anyone advise - who is correct in this case?

 

[reb0118]

It seems that if Stratford is in Zone 3 and if you don't hold a ticket (or combination of tickets) valid in zone 3 then it seems that the staff in this case are correct.

What action was taken against you on the day?.........

 

[sheff1]

It seems that if Stratford is in Zone 3 and if you don't hold a ticket (or combination of tickets) valid in zone 3 then it seems that the staff in this case are correct.

* The Boundary Zone 2 ticket is valid in Zone 3.

* A journey from Hertford East to London Group is valid via Stratford on map ST.

* The ticket is valid for Break of Journey.

What makes you say the staff were correct ?

 

[alholmes]

It seems that if Stratford is in Zone 3 and if you don't hold a ticket (or combination of tickets) valid in zone 3 then it seems that the staff in this case are correct.

What action was taken against you on the day?.........

To travel from Hertford East to Boundary Zone 2, it is necessary to travel through zone 3, so the ticket must be valid in zone 3.

The two guys at the gate told me to go to the ticket office (even though I was the 'wrong' side of the gates to get to the ticket office). I asked them which ticket I should buy, and they simply said that I should buy one from anywhere to Stratford, to allow me through the gates.

What I ended up doing was walk to the other exit at Stratford, where I was allowed through the gates by another member of staff with no questions asked (although I don't think he took much notice of what was on the ticket).

Of course, at Stratford, the gatelines are manned by LU staff rather than Greater Anglia. Dare I suggest that LU staff may not know all of the intricacies relating to National Rail ticketing...

 

[reb0118]

What makes you say the staff were correct ?

Ooops! I've seemed to have jumped in without checking first. In my defence I do not regularly travel in London. You will also note that I couched my answer like a politician - but I'll stand by what I implied.

How does one work out a valid route to a zone as opposed to an actual station?

 

[sheff1]

How does one work out a valid route to a zone as opposed to an actual station?

With great difficulty .. judging by previous threads.

In this case, though, I think* taking the journey as Hertford East to London Group is the obvious way as the Travelcard held is for central London.

Now if the Travlecard had been for Zones 1-6 we would be back in St Albansgate territory .

* Note, too, my politician's answer .

 

[jon0844]

I've often wondered about the validity of a Hatfield to Cheshunt any permitted ticket.

You can go into King's Cross, over to Liverpool Street and out (as well as the more obvious FPK to TOM route on the Victoria Line), but I have always assumed you can go via Stratford too. Indeed, I've tried it and the gates all let me through.

This means I sometimes pop to Westfield (breaking my journey) and then get a train from Stratford to Cheshunt.

I assume that it IS valid, as we all know that gateline acceptance (or rejection) doesn't always mean much.

 

[VauxhallandI]

I've had issues at Stratford with my Cheshunt to Liv St season ticket.

I don't have a definitive answer if I can go via Stratford, it would be nice as it is handy for the shops (if I brace myself enough to go!)

 

[bb21]

* The Boundary Zone 2 ticket is valid in Zone 3.

* A journey from Hertford East to London Group is valid via Stratford on map ST.

* The ticket is valid for Break of Journey.

What makes you say the staff were correct ?

For the same reasons I agree that the OP's ticket was valid at Stratford.

Judging by the responses in this thread, it would appear that there may be a systematic issue at Stratford. I would recommend noting down the name of the member of staff concerned and complaining to the relevant company.

 

[Be3G]

How does one work out a valid route to a zone as opposed to an actual station?

I believe we have it in writing from ATOC somewhere on this forum that one is allowed to choose any station within the zones held for the purpose of calculating permitted routes using a Boundary Zone ticket. On that basis it is perfectly plausible that the OP might have been breaking a Hertford East to Hackney Wick journey at Stratford.

Of course, at Stratford, the gatelines are manned by LU staff rather than Greater Anglia. Dare I suggest that LU staff may not know all of the intricacies relating to National Rail ticketing...

Yes, as bb21 mentions above me, this is a frequent and recurring problem at Stratford. LU have different break of journey rules to National Rail (and tend to apply those rules to NR tickets anyway); their knowledge of NR ticketing generally seems to be rather poor too. This causes all manner of problems.

I've had issues at Stratford with my Cheshunt to Liv St season ticket.

I don't have a definitive answer if I can go via Stratford, it would be nice as it is handy for the shops (if I brace myself enough to go!)

It is categorically valid.

 

[alholmes]

The response from Abellio Greater Anglia:

"I was sorry to learn of the difficulties you had when travelling via Stratford.

Any ticket (except Advance tickets on Cambridge to London services) from the Lea Valley line (Tottenham Hale to Broxbourne, Hertford, Stansted, Cambridge and beyond) to Liverpool Street is valid via Stratford as well as via Hackney Downs. This includes a combination of a 1-2 Travelcard and a Boundary Zone 2 ticket. To break your journey is allowed on these tickets so for you to do so at Stratford is permitted.

Unfortunately, the gateline and the staff who operate this are not managed by us but rather London Underground. I have asked for this to be passed on directly to the Management Team so that they can ensure staff are aware of ticket validity."