Maidstone to Bromley South Season

[DazCM]

Hi all

I’m about to move to Maidstone from Yorkshire and become a daily rail commuter from MDE to Bromley South (BMS). Whilst I thought I knew what I was doing with regards to rail tickets (I’ve even dabbled in the black art of splitting), the National Rail website Season Ticket Calculator confuses me as it gives 5 completely different prices for what is the same journey.

Looking at the standard class 12 month prices, they range from £2852 to £5024. The cheapest one is advertised as MAIDSTONE STNS to 5-6. I’m guessing this valid from Maidstone to any station in TFL zone 5 or 6? Would it also be a Travelcard that I could use on most London Buses in any zone?

What I don’t understand is why the direct MDE-BMS season is more expensive than the zone 5-6 one above, even though the zone 5-6 one actually offers me more.

Further prices talk about HS1, but as there’s not actually a reasonable route I could use I’m just going to ignore these.

Final question – could I also get to Maidstone West from BMS by going via Orpington and Tonbridge/Paddock Wood in times of disruption on the same ticket?

Really appreciate any help you can give.

Darren

 

[island]

On the mobile at the moment so can't give you a full answer, but the zones 5-6 ticket would indeed be valid on any TfL bus in any zone. It may be cheaper than the point to point ticket because the latter may allow you to go further in towards London and back out again - can't check the permitted routes to give you a definitive answer just now.

 

[mathmo]

Permitted routes from Maidstone to Bromley South are:
- via Tonbridge and Sevenoaks
- via Swanley
- via Swanley and Sevenoaks
so I think the answer to the OP's routing question is yes (though I don't know that area's rail services very well).

All routes would have to go direct to Bromley South so I don't know why the Z5-6 travelcard is cheaper...

 

[island]

In that case I don't know why it's cheaper either, must be an error of some sort. The ticket would be issued from MAIDSTONE STNS to LONDON ZONES 5-6 so would be valid to/from Maidstone West, Maidstone East, or Maidstone Barracks by any of the routes mentioned. I think you could also go from Maidstone West via Otford and Sevenoaks if you really wanted to, as that would be the shortest route.

 

[John @ home]

Permitted routes from Maidstone to Bromley South are:
- via Tonbridge and Sevenoaks
- via Swanley
- via Swanley and Sevenoaks

In addition, map LL allows Maidstone Group - Swanley - Grove Park - Bromley South Group.

All routes would have to go direct to Bromley South

It is best to avoid using the word direct in railway routeing matters because there is no consensus on what it means.

In this instance, some people may consider Maidstone - Tonbridge - Sevenoaks - Bromley South (over 43 miles) to be rather indirect compared with the shortest route of 29 miles.

 

[LexyBoy]

The ticket would be issued from MAIDSTONE STNS to LONDON ZONES 5-6 so would be valid to/from Maidstone West, Maidstone East, or Maidstone Barracks by any of the routes mentioned.

The Permitted Routes described by mathmo are for Maidstone group to Bromley South, which is not the same as to "Zones 5&6" (which I take to be Boundary Zone 6 from the description of Travelcards on NRE). I'm not aware of anywhere that permitted routes for Travelcards are described; I'd be interested to read it if there is something.

Question: Is a Maidstone - Zone5-6 Travelcard valid via Tonbridge to East Croydon (Zone 5)? If not, why not? Answers on a postcard edit: Seems to be some disagreement between the Routeing Guide and NRE here - NRE thinks Paddock Wood & Tonbridge is a valid route for Maidstone - ECR, but the RG says not, unless it's the shortest route. My question was based on it being a valid route (to ECR, not to London or BMS)

 

[bb21]

Answers on a postcard

You'll be waiting for a long time.

I've lost count of the number of times this issue has been discussed yet there is still no consensus.

 

[yorkie]

Question: Is a Maidstone - Zone5-6 Travelcard valid via Tonbridge to East Croydon (Zone 5)? )

It has to be. That's the shortest route. I can't see any reason why anyone could dispute that.