Seeking a definitive answer on free travel for under-11s on National Rail in London

[SandsofEss]

On the National Rail website here, it states that children aged 5 – 10 can travel for free on certain National Rail services, when travelling with an accompanying adult with a valid ticket.

The list of services includes:

“Between West Hampstead Thameslink / Kentish Town and London Thameslink Group stations (London St Pancras Intl, Farringdon, City Thameslink, London Blackfriars, London Bridge, Elephant & Castle).”​

I’m trying to establish if this only applies for journeys that begin or end at West Hampstead or Kentish Town, or if it means a child can travel for free between intermediate stations (e.g. between London Bridge and St Pancras).

Reasons to think the former: Another route listed is “Between Amersham and Harrow-on-the-Hill (and intermediately)”. Because it explicitly states intermediately here, one might assume it would do the same for the others if applicable.

Reasons to think the latter: The accompanying map on that page (under the Validity dropdown) shows free travel for the whole route.

Does anybody have a definitive answer please?

EDIT: to explain rationale

 

[Haywain]

I’m trying to establish if this only applies for journeys that begin or end at West Hampstead or Kentish Town, or if it means a child can travel for free between intermediate stations (e.g. between London Bridge and St Pancras).

It includes intermediate journeys.

 

[SandsofEss]

Thank you. Is there a source I can point to other than the National Rail site (which could be ambiguous)?

I had a rather unpleasant ticket office experience this morning with a clerk who was adamant children don't travel for free anywhere on the Thameslink network. It culminated in them refusing to sell me a ticket.

I don't intend to go back and wave it in their face to prove they were wrong, but rather would like to have a source if needs be for when I try again at a different ticket window.

 

[RJ]

Thank you. Is there a source I can point to other than the National Rail site (which could be ambiguous)?

I had a rather unpleasant ticket office experience this morning with a clerk who was adamant children don't travel for free anywhere on the Thameslink network. It culminated in them refusing to sell me a ticket.

I don't intend to go back and wave it in their face to prove they were wrong, but rather would like to have a source if needs be for when I try again at a different ticket window.

Which ticket office was that and what did you ask them for?

 

[SandsofEss]

Tunbridge Wells. It was part of a complicated ticketing request, including for tickets to London International.

The clerk initially attempted to save me money by selling me a normal London return instead of a London International ticket. I thanked her but explained I wanted the CIV protections that come with the latter.

She said she’d never heard of anything like that, and was clearly put out that I didn’t take her advice, which coloured her attitude to the rest of the conversation.

When I mentioned the free child travel between London Bridge and St Pancras, she was adamant I was wrong – and her colleague agreed.

A frustrating conversation, because I made several delicate attempts to assert my position in a non-confrontational way, but I could also see I was dealing with someone who simply wouldn’t countenance the idea that they might be mistaken, and the passenger right.

 

[Benjwri]

Thank you. Is there a source I can point to other than the National Rail site (which could be ambiguous)?

As a source the TfL website on the matter is available here:

When you don't need a 5-10 Zip Oyster photocard​

Up to four children under 11 travel free with a fare-paying adult.

Your child doesn't need a photocard to:

• Travel free on buses and trams (unless they look older than 10)
• Buy child-rate paper tickets (unless they look older than 10)
• Travel accompanied by an adult on these National Rail services:

Which links to this map:


As clearly shown by the routes in green, Thameslink through the core is very clearly valid.

 

[SandsofEss]

Thanks, that's helpful.

It's the same map as the one on the National Rail page I linked to, but without the potentially contradictory accompanying text. So hopefully clear proof if needed.

 

[Haywain]

It's not clear to me what you're trying to get. Perhaps you can expand on that a little.

 

[SandsofEss]

It's not clear to me what you're trying to get. Perhaps you can expand on that a little.

Thanks. Possibly some confusion because I answered the question about the ticket office I went to.

Insofar as this thread is concerned, I've got what I need (confirmation that children travel free on intermediate journeys in the central Thameslink core). Thanks all for your help.