Stevenage to London Bridge Season Ticket advice

[Lee_Again]

Hi All,

At present I have a Stevenage to Zones 1-6 Annual. I travel to London Bridge. When Thameslink opens again in January 2018 I will purchase a Stevenage to London Bridge (via Thameslink ONLY) season, saving over £1000. In the meantime, from July, I'll purchase monthly tickets.

When investigating the cost of this new ticket I was surprised to see it's available for purchase now. Considering there are no Thameslink trains to London Bridge I am guessing tickets are valid on local buses from Blackfriars.

Can somebody confirm if this is the case or does some other easement apply during the upgrade works. Would be handy if the Northern Line was a valid easement.

Thanks in advance.

Lee

 

[Romilly]

You may find this guide to alternative travel options during the Thameslink Programme works useful. It is on the Southeastern website:

https://www.southeasternrailway.co.uk/travel-information/thameslink-programme/alternative-routes

With a season ticket to London Thameslink, walking from Blackfriars, or a bus or tube from Elephant & Castle, seem to be the most obvious options.

 

[Lee_Again]

The Thameslink website says this in the FAQ section...

...I usually travel from Thameslink destinations north of London including Luton Airport Parkway to London Bridge. Which route should I take?



You can:
•Take the Northern line from St Pancras International
•Take the Jubilee line from West Hampstead. This route does not have step-free access

Thameslink services will call at London Blackfriars as normal.


QUESTION - Is Stevenage a Thameslink Station?

 

[paul1609]

I reckon that when Crossrail and Thameslink works are complete its very likely that the whole fares concept for central London will change. My moneys on a ticket to a specified terminal In your case Kings X St Pancras or to Zone 1. The increased fares will be justified on the cost of the improvements. It is as I understand it already a franchise commitment from the South.

 

[Lee_Again]

My options at present are:

3612 to London Terminals
3932 to London Bridge (via City Thameslink) - unless the easement applies
4908 to Zones 1-6

You can see why the London Bridge option is attractive.

 

[Hadders]

QUESTION - Is Stevenage a Thameslink Station?

Well it is operated by Govia Thameslink Railway who also price the Stevenage-London Bridge ticket.

 

[maniacmartin]

I doubt Stevenage is a Thameslink station in the context of that web page

 

[Lee_Again]

Plenty of comment but no definitive answer. In this case, who should I ask for a definitive answer?

 

[maniacmartin]

I would buy another Stevenage to Zones 1-6 Annual from a National Rail operator and keep your options for the future open.

Once the future fares for Thameslink are known, you can then decide what is best and do a season ticket changeover of the remaining time left on the ticket to whatever you then decide to use from then on. You will end up paying the pro-rata difference in price.* You can do a changeover by visiting the ticket office where you bought the original ticket.

* Does anyone know how this is calculated when the new ticket is one that didn't have a fare in the fares database at the time the original ticket was purchased?

 

[Lee_Again]

I would buy another Stevenage to Zones 1-6 Annual from a National Rail operator and keep your options for the future open.

There's a £1000 fare difference so I'd rather not.

The fares are unlikely to change. From January I'll be fine because I can use TL from St Pancras. I don't think direct services from GN destinations start until May 2018.

It's just the period July > December I'm concerned about.

I've asked the GN website. They'll get back to me in about 8 weeks I expect.

 

[Lee_Again]

Bump...

Stevenage ticket office (GN) tell me that Stevenage counts as 'Thameslink' for the purposes of the easement via the Northern Line. In fact the term 'Thameslink' is misleading. Any ticket to London Bridge Routed 'via City Thameslink' is permitted.

This saves me about £1000 per year.

 

[island]

I'd get that in writing if I were you.