Croydon - Dorking - Guildford - Croydon

[themeone]

Next Saturday I need to travel from Croydon to Dorking, then return to Croydon the same day from Guildford.

I can go from either East or West Croydon.

Could someone suggest the best way to do this, other than getting two singles?

Thanks.

 

[stut]

Buy a return from East Croydon to Guildford via Redhill, travel via Redhill in both directions?

 

[sonic2009]

East Croydon to Guildford route not via Clapham Junction £10.90 CDR would be your best ticket.

 

[Paul Kelly]

East Croydon to Guildford route not via Clapham Junction £10.90 CDR would be your best ticket.

I seem to remember that wasn't previously valid via Dorking. But things have maybe changed with recent versions of the Routeing Guide.

 

[greatkingrat]

I seem to remember that wasn't previously valid via Dorking. But things have maybe changed with recent versions of the Routeing Guide.

No, it isn't valid, however you can buy a ticket to Chilworth for the same price which is valid via Dorking as the shortest route.

 

[David Goddard]

But Dorking (Deepdene) is on the route from Croydon to Guildford, why wouldn't it be valid?

 

[bb21]

But Dorking (Deepdene) is on the route from Croydon to Guildford, why wouldn't it be valid?

Define "on the route".

 

[Paul Kelly]

But Dorking (Deepdene) is on the route from Croydon to Guildford, why wouldn't it be valid?

Because it's neither a direct train, the shortest route (or within 3 miles) nor a mapped route. You need the more expensive "Via Redhill" ticket to travel on that route. But like I said, I haven't checked the latest routeing guide; just going on memory.

 

[bb21]

No, it isn't valid, however you can buy a ticket to Chilworth for the same price which is valid via Dorking as the shortest route.

I agree. A Croydon Stations - Chilworth Route Not Via Claphm J Off-Peak Day Return would do the job nicely. This ticket is even valid via Redhill.

 

[Romilly]

The East Coast website gives me the same itineraries on a Saturday for the £14.10 East Croydon-Guildford "via Redhill" offpeak day return and the £10.90 "not via Clapham Junction" offpeak day return, i.e. via Redhill and Dorking Deepdene. On the other hand, I cannot get National Rail Enquiries to give me any itineraries for the £10.90 fare. So what route is the £10.90 fare valid on?

----------------

To answer my own question, NRE will give me an itinerary for the £10.90 fare via Selhurst, Sutton and Leatherhead.

But the East Coast website will give me, as well as via Redhill, an itinerary for the £10.90 via Cheam to Dorking with a walk to Deepdene and then on to Guildford.

 

[FenMan]

For itineraries via:

East Croydon/Redhill/Dorking Deepdene
West Croydon/Sutton/Dorking/Dorking Deepdene
West Croydon/Epsom/Dorking/Dorking Deepdene

a Selhurst - Guildford NOT VIA CLAPHAM J does the job at £10.90.

 

[themeone]

Should have said originally, but I'd quite like to do the Guildford - Croydon leg via Clapham Junction, as it's a quicker route.

Southern website offers £14 Off Peak Day Return (not via London) Croydon Stations - Chilworth which allows travel via both Dorking (for the outward leg) and Clapham Junction for the return.

 

[FenMan]

Should have said originally, but I'd quite like to do the Guildford - Croydon leg via Clapham Junction, as it's a quicker route.

Southern website offers £14 Off Peak Day Return (not via London) Croydon Stations - Chilworth which allows travel via both Dorking (for the outward leg) and Clapham Junction for the return.

That's debatable.

The fastest time via CLJ is 49m when the minimum connection time is observed.
The fastest time via RDH is .... 49m

 

[bb21]

Yes, that is fine.

 

[SickyNicky]

Because it's neither a direct train, the shortest route (or within 3 miles) nor a mapped route. You need the more expensive "Via Redhill" ticket to travel on that route. But like I said, I haven't checked the latest routeing guide; just going on memory.

You are correct. Here are the diagnostics from trainscanbecheaper.info:

Validating ECR+PUR+RDH+REI+DPD+GOM+SFR+GLD ECR-GLD
not shortest route: 3.11 miles greater than shortest route by rail
Origin and destination are both routeing points - no fares check required
No route available on maps LB+WX+SC+PD. Off route at RDH
No route available on maps SC+PD. Off route at RDH
No route available on maps LB+LONDON+DK. Off route at RDH
No route available on maps LB+LONDON+PD. Off route at RDH
No route available on maps LB+LONDON+PD+SC+WX. Off route at RDH
No route available on maps LB+LONDON+SC+PD. Off route at RDH
No route available on maps LB+LONDON+WX+SC+PD. Off route at RDH
No route available on maps LK+LONDON+DK. Off route at G08
No route available on maps LK+LONDON+PD. Off route at G08
No route available on maps LK+LONDON+PD+SC+WX. Off route at G08
No route available on maps LK+LONDON+SC+PD. Off route at G08
No route available on maps LK+LONDON+WX+SC+PD. Off route at G08
No route available on maps TN+LONDON+DK. Off route at RDH
No route available on maps TN+LONDON+PD. Off route at RDH
No route available on maps TN+LONDON+PD+SC+WX. Off route at RDH
No route available on maps TN+LONDON+SC+PD. Off route at RDH
No route available on maps TN+LONDON+WX+SC+PD. Off route at RDH
Attempting journey on route: VIA REDHILL
Validating ECR+PUR+RDH ECR-RDH route allowed: follows shortest route
Validating RDH+REI+DPD+GOM+SFR+GLD RDH-GLD route allowed: follows shortest route
Through route not permitted, but tickets available on route VIA REDHILL

--- old post above --- --- new post below ---

Should have said originally, but I'd quite like to do the Guildford - Croydon leg via Clapham Junction, as it's a quicker route.

If you don't want to use one of the tickets suggested (you want a ticket to Guildford itself) you could buy a route: not via Clapham Junction ticket for £10.90. Then get a change of route excess on the outbound portion to route: not via London (extra £1.55) and excess the return portion to route: via Redhill (extra £1.60). That makes a maximum of £14.10, but remember that excesses can be done on the train without penalty (see our guide to this) and you may find that the guard between Guildford and Redhill will simply accept a "not via Clapham Junction" ticket anyway.

 

[themeone]

Many thanks all for your help.

 

[SickyNicky]

Digging around, I'm struggling to find any validity for the route: not via Clapham Junction ticket. You seem to have to go through either Clapham or Redhill to get to Guildford.

Edit: Ah, it looks like you could go West Croydon, Sutton London, Epsom, Guildford on this ticket.

Interestingly, it looks like WebTIS will give you itineraries via Redhill on this ticket, although other booking engines will not. Strange - it's clearly invalid in the routeing guide.

 

[FenMan]

Digging around, I'm struggling to find any validity for the route: not via Clapham Junction ticket. You seem to have to go through either Clapham or Redhill to get to Guildford.

Edit: Ah, it looks like you could go West Croydon, Sutton London, Epsom, Guildford on this ticket.

Interestingly, it looks like WebTIS will give you itineraries via Redhill on this ticket, although other booking engines will not. Strange - it's clearly invalid in the routeing guide.

Which is why I suggested a ticket originating at Selhurst if travelling from East Croydon via Redhill, as it is a mapped route.

When I travel from Blackwater to ECR via RDH I use a Selhurst ticket as it is unequivocally valid, unlike a Blackwater - ECR ticket.