Guildford Z2-6 travelcard and occasional journeys via zone 1

[paul_l]

I started a new job last month that usually involves travel to Shepherds Bush, and occasionally to Ealing Broadway. I'm trying to work out the best way of handling this.

If I buy a season to zones 2-6, is there a way of adding zone1 on a day by day basis so that I can travel on a peak train in to Waterloo?

 

[Romilly]

I assume that the travel into Waterloo would be for the days when you need to go to Ealing Broadway.

On days when you to Shepherds Bush, I assume that you plan to change at Clapham Junction.

One alternative for Ealing Broadway days would be to go to Shepherds Bush and then use the Central Line from Shepherds Bush to Ealing Broadway, which is already covered by your travelcard.

Otherwise, if you prefer to go via Waterloo and Paddington, you would need to alight at Clapham Junction and touch in with PAYG oyster/contactless before continuing to Waterloo.

Or you could before departing Guildford buy a Clapham Junction-Ealing Broadway paper ticket: as you would be combining that with a season ticket, you could then (condition 19 of the National Rail Conditions of Carriage) travel into Waterloo without alighting at Clapham Junction, and even do so on a train that doesn't stop at Clapham Junction.

Edit: I should add that there is a "not via London" season ticket, a bit cheaper than the one to Zones 2 to 6, for the Guildford-Clapham Junction-Shepherds Bush route, although that would not give validity off-route or on buses or tubes. With that ticket, you would need to use PAYG oyster/contactless for Shepherds Bush-Ealing Broadway on the central line.

 

[James Wake]

If you are on a train that stops at Vauxhall, that is on the zones 1/2 boundary, so you could alight there, then touch in and continue by tube, probably Victoria line to Oxford Circus then Central Line to Ealing Broadway, although I too would recommend just getting a train from Clapham Junction to Shepherds Bush, then the Central Line to Ealing Broadway.

 

[bb21]

Going via Vauxhall is unlikely to be faster than catching LOROL from Clapham Junction, as generally speaking only stoppers from Guildford call there, so a change is normally required at Clapham Junction anyway. It is however a cheaper alternative than Waterloo when the route via Shepherd's Bush is unavailable.

 

[TEW]

If you're travelling in the peak it's only stopping services which call at Clapham Junction anyway. So there is a time benefit in travelling via Waterloo on a fast service, but obviously at a cost.

 

[Tetchytyke]

If I buy a season to zones 2-6, is there a way of adding zone1 on a day by day basis so that I can travel on a peak train in to Waterloo?

Yes, but not cheaply.

If you want to take the fast trains to Waterloo you'd need to buy a Z1-4 paper day travelcard at £12.10. This is valid on non-stop trains in conjunction with your Guildford-Z2 season ticket because both tickets are zonal.

The other options are to get an Oyster or contactless payment card and touch in at Clapham Junction or Vauxhall. You could also travel via Shepherd's Bush and the Central Line or West Brompton/Earls Court and the District Line on your season ticket if you're heading to Ealing Broadway.

 

[OwlMan]

A Guildford to Zones 1-6 season is only £12 per week more than the zones 2-6 version. A return from Clapham Junction to Waterloo is £6 per day (to Ealing Broadway £11.90).
You may find it cost effective to buy a season to zones 1-6

 

[paul_l]

thanks all, looks like a toss up between paying for zone 1-6, or just carry on from sheperds bush to ealing on the central line with a z2-6.