Biggleswade to London - so many options.

[JennyP]

Hello,

I hope you can help. I am trying to get from Biggleswade to London tomorrow, with three children and a a Family and Friends Railcard. I am finding it very confusing. Departing around 0930, not sure when returing but I would like the flexibility to do so at any time.

Firstly, when I search on both the National Rail app and website, not all the trains are shown. For instance, in the morning the 0700 departure is not shown. Am I doing something wrong?

Secondly, I thought London Terminals included London Bridge/Blackfriars and Kings Cross and so the price would be the same. But it seems to vary. Is that right?

Thirdly there appear to be many options and no clear explanation of the differences. I am looking to depart on the 0931 which appears to cost £24.25 with return not allowed in peak hours. However, the 0949 shows as costing less at £22.55 but allows departure on some peak time return services. What is the logic that I am missing?!

All seems a bit complicated but do be blunt if I am missing something obvious!

 

[yorkie]

Where in London do you want to get to, and do you want to include travel on London Underground or buses? If so, what are the ages of the children?

If you just want to get to King's Cross/St Pancras, then an Off Peak Day Return to London Terminals will suffice:
http://www.brfares.com/#faredetail?orig=BIW&dest=1072&rlc=FAM&rte=1000&tkt=CDR

Or for a little more you can get an Off Peak Day Return to London Thameslink, this would include travel to London Bridge:
http://www.brfares.com/#faredetail?orig=BIW&dest=4452&rlc=FAM&rte=208&tkt=CDR

And again at a higher price, you can get a Travelcard including most public transport within London Zones 1-6:
http://www.brfares.com/#faredetail?orig=BIW&dest=0035&rlc=FAM&rte=1000&tkt=ODT

 

[JennyP]

Hello Yorkie,

Thank you very much for the quick reply. Either Kings Cross or Blackfriars was my plan - and possably the alternate on the return. But I had thought this on the assumption that both were "London Terminals" but now I have seen the price is different I am confused. No Travelcard required I think as the kids are free and I was just planning to use my contactless card.

 

[Hadders]

Just to add to what @yorkie has posted there are 3 types of day return ticket from Biggleswade to London:

Anytime - what it says, valid on any train at any time of day
Off Peak - outward portion valid after 09:15, return on any train
Super Off Peak - valid on trains arriving in London after 10:55, no travelling back between 16:29 and 19:02

Each of these ticket types is available to 'London Terminals' (i.e. Kings Cross/St Pancras), 'London Thameslink' (Kings Cross/St Pancras/Farringdon/City Thameslink/Blackfriars/London Bridge/Elephant & Castle) or a Zones 1-6 Travelcard (basically any train, Underground or Bus in Greater London - there are a handful of exceptions but we don't need to worry about them for the purposes of your trip)

From what you've said an Off Peak Day Return ticket will probably suit you best, either to London Thameslink or a Zones 1-6 Travelcard.

 

[Hadders]

Biggleswage - London Thameslink Off Peak Day Return will allow you to travel to Blackfriars/London Bridge and return from Kings Cross or v.v.

This costs £15.70 for an adult and £4.55 for a child with a Friends & Family Railcard.

 

[Chris Butler]

Hello,
Secondly, I thought London Terminals included London Bridge/Blackfriars and Kings Cross and so the price would be the same. But it seems to vary. Is that right?

I'll let the real experts answer the details, but one thing is that a ticket to London Terminals is not valid to all of the London Terminals. The exact rules are complicated, but think of it as kind of being valid to "London Terminals that are on a reasonable route and on 'my' side of London".

To allow for journeys where Thameslink is an option, there are also London Thameslink fares which are valid (on Thameslink) to terminals on the other side of London. The two diagrams attached show the valid stations for both tickets ... which are different depending whether you are nortbound or southbound.

For the full rules, in all their glory, go to
https://www.nationalrail.co.uk/times_fares/ticket_types/46587.aspx#terminals

 

[JennyP]

Thank you all. I am getting there...slowly. On the search issue, when I search on both the National Rail app and website, not all the trains are shown. For instance, in the morning the 0700 departure is not shown. Am I doing something wrong?

 

[JennyP]

Biggleswage - London Thameslink Off Peak Day Return will allow you to travel to Blackfriars/London Bridge and return from Kings Cross or v.v.

This costs £15.70 for an adult and £4.55 for a child with a Friends & Family Railcard.

However, am I correct that the National Rail site does not have "London Thameslink" as a destination, unlike "London [All Stations]"? And if a Biggleswade-Blackfriars outward ticket is chosen it suggests a return from Kings Cross is not permitted?

 

[Haywain]

Biggleswage - London Thameslink Off Peak Day Return will allow you to travel to Blackfriars/London Bridge and return from Kings Cross or v.v.

This costs £15.70 for an adult and £4.55 for a child with a Friends & Family Railcard.

Travelling with Thameslink or Great Northern the child fares will be charged at £2.00 return each.