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Heathrow to Hastings & Portsmouth.

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reb0118

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My friend's mother is flying into Heathrow on a Monday then heading for Hastings for two nights, followed by Gosport for another two, before heading back to Heathrow on the following Saturday. All travel can be off peak.

She doesn't have a senior railcard but would purchase one if practical.

What would be the cheapest option. I believe she's originally from Fife so every penny's a prisoner.

Thanks.
 
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JonathanH

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I think this is probably best done with single tickets via the Southern route in each direction to minimise fares

Anyway, I suggest, for absolute cheapness

£1.70 Contactless single each way - Heathrow to Clapham Junction via Acton Town / Turnham Green / Richmond or Earls Court / West Brompton

Depending on date, it may be possible to get £5, £8.50 or £12 "Southern only" advance fares from Clapham Junction to Hastings and Fareham to Clapham Junction via Gatwick.

An off-peak day single from Hastings to Fareham is £17.40.

Fareham Plus Bus (for Gosport) is £2.70.

I assume that there is some trade off between fares and convenience. For example, Heathrow to Clapham Junction changing at Earls Court and West Brompton is £1.70 on Contactless but it isn't particularly convenient.

Portsmouth for the Gosport ferry is an alternative to Fareham for the Gosport bus.
 

Gloster

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What about trying Hastings-Portsmouth Harbour and then the Gosport ferry? Someone else will have to calculate the rail fare, but the ferry is £3.90 Standard Open Ended Return or £2.70 for the same for Senior Citizens; Singles are not sold. Senior Citizen appears only seems to require that she can prove that she is 65 years or older if required.
 

JonathanH

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What about trying Hastings-Portsmouth Harbour and then the Gosport ferry? Someone else will have to calculate the rail fare, but the ferry is £3.90 Standard Open Ended Return or £2.70 for the same for Senior Citizens; Singles are not sold. Senior Citizen appears only seems to require that she can prove that she is 65 years or older if required.
The fare from Hastings to Portsmouth Harbour is the same as the fare from Hastings to Fareham. However, it looks like the ferry is cheaper than the bus, which suggests Portsmouth is the better destination.
 

Gloster

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And then she can head back to Heathrow using the return part of the ferry ticket to get her to Portsmouth Harbour at no extra cost, if that is the preferred option.
 

Iggy12a

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Perhaps you should find out exactly where in Gosport the lady is staying? In all probability, she will need to catch a bus from the Gosport ferry, to complete her journey. So it may be cheaper to just go to Fareham and then get an E1/E2 into Gosport, which will hopefully pass close to her actual destination.
 

swt_passenger

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Perhaps you should find out exactly where in Gosport the lady is staying? In all probability, she will need to catch a bus from the Gosport ferry, to complete her journey. So it may be cheaper to just go to Fareham and then get an E1/E2 into Gosport, which will hopefully pass close to her actual destination.
That’s the key thing. There’s plenty of “Gosport” addresses for which Fareham would definitely be nearer.

For travel via Portsmouth Harbour, aren’t there inclusive ferry tickets available?
 

30907

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I would hesitate to book an Advance following a flight, unless the lady is prepared to wait a couple of hours to allow for delays.

An Advance for the PMH-CLJ would be fine available. In that case get a walk-up single for CLJ-HGS and HGS-PMH.

If Advances are not an option, then CLJ-HGS and TBD-PMH Off-Peak returns would be reasonably economical (£77-odd altogether) though of course making the journey slower.
 

JonathanH

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I would hesitate to book an Advance following a flight, unless the lady is prepared to wait a couple of hours to allow for delays.
On the other hand, booking two advances to have one in reserve at a later time is going to be cheaper than the off-peak day single to Hastings.

It should be noted that a super-off-peak day travelcard from Hastings routed Haywards Heath at £26.80 https://www.brfares.com/!faredetail?orig=HGS&dest=VIC&grpd=0035&rte=725&tkt=AM3 is cheaper than any walk up single from London to Hastings and would include the cost of travelling from Heathrow into London.
 
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MarlowDonkey

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I assume that there is some trade off between fares and convenience. For example, Heathrow to Clapham Junction changing at Earls Court and West Brompton is £1.70 on Contactless but it isn't particularly convenient.
Would the alternative route by TfL (Elizabeth Line to be) via Ealing Broadway, Central Line to Shepherds Bush, then Clapham Junction be more expensive?
 

JonathanH

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Would the alternative route by TfL (Elizabeth Line to be) via Ealing Broadway, Central Line to Shepherds Bush, then Clapham Junction be more expensive?
Yes, very much so - £6.30 vs £1.70 - due to the premium on single fares into Heathrow.
 

reb0118

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JonathanH

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This looks interesting. Would this be valid by train from Heathrow or just the "tube"?
Valid on TfL Rail into Paddington but not on Heathrow Express. Need to be wary of the time restrictions from London though.
 

MarlowDonkey

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It should be noted that a super-off-peak day travelcard from Hastings routed Haywards Heath at £26.80is cheaper than any walk up single from London to Hastings and would include the cost of travelling from Heathrow into London.
Is it permitted to start short in London and use it as a Single, London Zones 1-6 to Hastings?
 

JonathanH

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Is it permitted to start short in London and use it as a Single, London Zones 1-6 to Hastings?
Yes, why wouldn't it be, so long as you obey the time restrictions?

We don't have compulsory compostage in this country. Full implementation of PAYG in the South East will of course take us closer, but for now, with paper tickets, you are free to do whatever is allowed within the validity of the ticket, that is starting short as you see fit.

The legacy of Connex on both the South Central and South Eastern divisions is a number of journeys on which there are cheaper super off peak day returns to London (originally known as Pricebuster) than the single fares from London.
 

30907

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Yes, why wouldn't it be, so long as you obey the time restrictions?

We don't have compulsory compostage in this country. Full implementation of PAYG in the South East will of course take us closer, but for now, with paper tickets, you are free to do whatever is allowed within the validity of the ticket, that is starting short as you see fit.
It is an excellent suggestion, but would need to be purchased online.
ISTR there are ticket machines at Heathrow somewhere, or it could be purchased before the flight (assuming in the UK) to take advantage of the tube.
 

Gloster

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I do think this thread is heading towards a situation where (with no disrespect intended) the lady is going to be provided with an answer or answers to the original request that is far too complicated. We should remember that there is a limit to the knowledge of non-enthusiasts.
 

30907

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I do think this thread is heading towards a situation where (with no disrespect intended) the lady is going to be provided with an answer or answers to the original request that is far too complicated. We should remember that there is a limit to the knowledge of non-enthusiasts.
True, but I'm sure the OP as a Forum Fares Advisor can filter the suggestions :)
 

paul1609

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The cheapest route from Heathrow to Hastings will be the X26 bus from Heathrow Central bus station to East Croydon Station £1.55 then a Southern advance £5 from there. It won't be quick, the bus element is 1 hr 44 but it does avoid the central London faff. At £5 a throw you can hedge your advances or consider a Daysave at £21.
 

Alex365Dash

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For travel via Portsmouth Harbour, aren’t there inclusive ferry tickets available?
They’re defined in the fares database (generally only on flows where South Western Railway is the fare setter, I believe, so splitting might be required for a Hastings - Gosport journey). Last time I tried purchasing one (September 2020?) the TIS wouldn’t let the ticket office sell it to me, but the SWR app lets me get to the purchase screen with one, so I guess something’s changed since.
 
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paul1609

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They’re defined in the fares database (generally only on flows where South Western Railway is the fare setter, I believe, so splitting might be required for a Hastings - Gosport journey). Last time I tried purchasing one (September 2020?) the TIS wouldn’t let the ticket office sell it to me, but the SWR app lets me get to the purchase screen with one, so I guess something’s changed since.
Its not worth the faff to be honest, there are ferry ticket machines on the ramp on the Pompey side and the ferries are frequent during the day.
 

reb0118

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True, but I'm sure the OP as a Forum Fares Advisor can filter the suggestions :)

Correct.

All ideas are welcome. Because they also help me & others for future travels.

In essence we have now pretty much decided on the fares required.

1) Using the return portion of a Hastings to London Zones 1-6 Super Off Peak Travelcard (via Haywards Heath) to travel from Heathrow to Hastings.

2) An off peak single from Hastings to Portsmouth for the ferry to Gosport.

3) The outward portion of a Portsmouth to London Zones 1-6 Super Off Peak TC (via Three Bridges) to return back to the airport.

I believe that these offer a good balance between price & convenience.

Many thanks for your advice & information.
 

reb0118

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Update: my colleagues flight to Heathrow has been cancelled & replaced with one to London City.

I will assume that the above choice of tickets will still be valid.

With regard to outboundary travelcards do these come with a zones 1-3 option or are they just all zones (1-6)?
 

30907

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Update: my colleagues flight to Heathrow has been cancelled & replaced with one to London City.

I will assume that the above choice of tickets will still be valid.
The Travelcard options are exactly the same.
Bear in mind that the via Haywards Heath super offpeak has a significant evening restriction.

It is also much less convenient to use that route coming from LCY instead of LHR. If the lady doesn't mind navigating smaller stations, an Anytime Single NOT LONDON is £32.10 from Lewisham or Woolwich A, both of which can be reached on the DLR; it is as fast as via London Br and Haywards Heath.
Lewisham is level interchange, Orpington is steps or lifts.
Your colleague will know whether this is a sensible option or not, but is has the advantage of being available on the day.

If they wish to use Advance tickets, these are available from East Croydon (zone 4 IIRC) at £12 next Monday, but they would have to touch out on the journey from the airport.
With regard to outboundary travelcards do these come with a zones 1-3 option or are they just all zones (1-6)?
They are all 1-6.
 
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reb0118

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Are we still flying out of Heathrow on the return?

Good question. I shall enquire.

As an aside my colleague (TOCNE) is accompanying his mother and as he is a big strapping lad I'm sure he will navigate any interchange/luggage scenarios

Are we still flying out of Heathrow on the return?

Yes.
 
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sonic2009

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Good question. I shall enquire.

As an aside my colleague (TOCNE) is accompanying his mother and as he is a big strapping lad I'm sure he will navigate any interchange/luggage scenarios

I was going to suggest using the Rail-Air 2 link between Guildford/Woking & Heathrow services run every hour with an approx journey time of 1hr 7 minutes - the timetable can be found here.

A through single from Portsmouth to Heathrow BUS is £31.70, so only £5 more than the travelcard option via Three Bridges. You would catch the train to Guildford from Portsmouth and the RailAir Link goes from outside the station in Guildford.
 

paul1609

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By far the easiest way from London City to Hastings is to get the DLR to Stratford International, HS1 to Ashford and then the Marshlink (Eastbourne) train to Hastings. There are through tickets from London City to Ashford available from the ticket machines not sure about Hastings.
 
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