Doncaster to London (and back)

[thewiltog]

During the next few months, I'll have to travel down to various London boroughs (inner and outer) once or twice a week. The journies will be at short notice, and liable to cancellation, so advance tickets aren't really an option. I'd like to have as long as possible in London. Doncaster is my nearest main-line station.

The best I can come up with is

Doncaster -> Peterborough £45.10 (Off-peak but seems OK anytime)
Peterborough -> Finsbury Park £33.10 (Anytime FCC)
London travel card zones 1-6 £15.00

This gives me a whole day in London for £93.20 as opposed to the Doncaster - London anytime return of £179.00 (plus travelcard)

Can anyone come up with anything better?

 

[yorkie]

Not without knowing what time trains you wish to catch, and how slow the journey can be in order to save money.

The DON - PBO off Peak Return (SVR) is valid outward: any train except those timed to depart between 0115 and 0400 inclusive (none are), and return: any train.

The time restrictions are superfluous and merely exist to 'justify' the existence of an Anytime return fare of £87.00. Anytime fares are the fares normally charged to customers in possession of Advance tickets on the wrong train, so are a nice earner for EC.

 

[MikeWh]

Depending on which boroughs you are visiting you may find that you don't need a zone 1-6 travelcard as a 1-4 or 1-2 may suffice. You may also find that you are only making one short journey before 09.30 meaning that the extra for the anytime travelcard isn't really worth it. As long as you can touch in at the start of your travelcard travel you might therefore find an Oyster card will save you money. It will calculate whether to apply the off-peak cap plus an odd peak single journey or the full anytime cap. Indeed, if you end up not doing much travel on one particular day it won't even charge more than the appropriate single fares.

 

[CompactDstrxion]

Peterborough to Boundary Zone 6 is cheaper (at £30) than Peterborough to Finsbury Park.

Why anyone would buy the Peterborough to London Zones 1-6 at £55 for an Anytime FCC ONLY is beyond me when splitting at the boundary saves £10.

 

[thewiltog]

Thanks for all the replies. The meetings could be any time from mid-morning to mid-afternoon, so I can't be specific about what time I travel. Cost is more important than speed.
I'll think about getting an Oystercard - but it does look a bit complicated!
How would I buy a Peterborough to Boundary Zone 6 ticket?

Thanks again

 

[LexyBoy]

I'll think about getting an Oystercard - but it does look a bit complicated!

It's not really - the only thing to remember is that you must always touch in and out on every journey (on buses and trams you only touch in as there's a flat fare). Usually this is easy to remember as you have to do it to get through the gatelines! (Don't try and touch out when you are using a paper ticket though - Oyster won't know where you started and will charge a maximum fare).

The problem for you would be that - to use a Peterborough - Finsbury Park ticket for example - you would have to get off at Finsbury Park. You could then touch in on Oyster and continue to King's Cross, or use the Underground from there.

Oyster means that you don't need to think about what fare is best value - you will always be charged at the cheapest rate - whether this is a combination of single fares or a a Travelcard.

How would I buy a Peterborough to Boundary Zone 6 ticket?

Say "Could I have an Anytime Day Return from Peterborough to Boundary Zone 6 please" . You might need to show your Travelcard (or buy it at the same time).

 

[cuccir]

A Grand Central carnet might help you. You can buy 10 off-peak or anytime single tickets, at £30 a time for off-peak or £50 for anytime. The obvious disadvantage would be that it restricts you to three trains a day in either direction, though there is also the option to use the trains to/from York as an alternative, and then to travel back to Doncaster. Depending on how many times you are planning on travelling, it might be worth picking up one carnet of off-peak tickets to use when it works out. Don't bother with the anytime carnet: as Yorkie's post says, the standard off-peak return will be valid on all services which leave Doncaster after 04:00!

How would I buy a Peterborough to Boundary Zone 6 ticket?

Thanks again

I think that you should be able to do that at Doncaster station, someone will correct me if that's not true

I'll think about getting an Oystercard - but it does look a bit complicated!

They're not too complicated if you're just doing straight-forward journeys in and around London. Mike Wh's website provides a good guide.