Three Bridges to London travel advice

[Traveller2024]

Hi

I am moving to three bridges soon and will travel from there to london victoria. I saw there is a train ticket available from three bridges to london zone 1-6. but it said Thameslink train only in the small terms. Does it mean I cant go to victoria using this annual tickets? Becuase Thameslink train never go to victoria? However, I thought zone 1-6 will cover victoria, hence not an issue to pass the barrier? Appreciate your advice in advance, dont want to buy the wrong tickets and get penalty.

 

[JonathanH]

Hi

I am moving to three bridges soon and will travel from there to london victoria. I saw there is a train ticket available from three bridges to london zone 1-6. but it said Thameslink train only in the small terms. Does it mean I cant go to victoria using this annual tickets? Becuase Thameslink train never go to victoria? However, I thought zone 1-6 will cover victoria, hence not an issue to pass the barrier? Appreciate your advice in advance, dont want to buy the wrong tickets and get penalty.

If you buy a 1-6 Travelcard ticket routed Thameslink only then it is valid on all trains within Zones 1-6 regardless of the interpretation of 'Thameslink only'.

That is, no one could be penalised for changing from a Thameslink service to a Southern service at East Croydon to go to Victoria.

 

[yorkie]

Hi

I am moving to three bridges soon and will travel from there to london victoria. I saw there is a train ticket available from three bridges to london zone 1-6. but it said Thameslink train only in the small terms. Does it mean I cant go to victoria using this annual tickets? Becuase Thameslink train never go to victoria? However, I thought zone 1-6 will cover victoria, hence not an issue to pass the barrier? Appreciate your advice in advance, dont want to buy the wrong tickets and get penalty.

Govia Thameslink Railway (GTR) operate all services between Brighton and London; the ticket is contractually valid on all their brands, and the company is not permitted to charge additional/excess/penalty fares to any passenger holding a Thameslink Only fare who uses the 'wrong' brand to get to the boundary of Zones 1-6.

However, GTR erroneously take the view that their Thameslink Only tickets are not valid on their other brands, but this only applies to the portion of the journey from Brighton to the boundary of Zone 6. The ticket is indisputably valid on all train companies (and certainly all brands of GTR!) within Zones 1-6.

This matter is expected to go to court later this year.

If you don't want to assert your full rights, and if you wish to avoid a potential argument, then you should stick to the company's Thameslink branded trains as far as East Croydon, from where you may take any train within Zones 1-6.

If anyone is charged extra for using the 'wrong brand', please contact us.

 

[Jan Mayen]

There are tickets (at least there were last year) Three Bridges to London Victoria (as well as London Terminals and Travelcards), so it may be worth considering getting one of those, then using contactless or an oyster card in London.

 

[spag23]

Does the OP's journey actually end at Victoria,? ie do they need any onward TfL element? eg a job in the West End might make a Farringdon/Elizabeth Line interchange worthwhile.

 

[maniacmartin]

The advice from yorkie is not going to result in hassle free journeys as not everyone has the same opinion about them being valid on all GTR brands. Unlike Yorkie, I think GTR (who operate the Southern and Thameslink brands) have a reasonable chance of winning the court case about this issue.

The intention behind that Thameslink only Travelcard ticket is you must take Thameslink as far as the London zones but once within the zones you can use the travel card bit to travel on any brand of train. Realistically that’d mean changing from a Thameslink to a Southern train at East Croydon, meaning that you wouldn’t be able to take a direct train.

Are you planning to continue your journey from London Victoria by bus or tube? If not then you don’t need a Travelcard with zonal validity at all and could just buy a cheaper ticket to London Terminals or London Victoria specifically instead.

 

[rufous]

I’m from the same area that you’re moving to and regularly commute to London, albeit outside of Zone 1 so my route is different from yours. It might be worth considering getting a bus into Gatwick Airport (which are relatively inexpensive, and pretty regular through most of the area) or a ticket from Three Bridges-Gatwick and then tapping in with oyster/contactless, which would allow you to get off at East Croydon to split your ticket by tapping out and back in before finishing at London Vic. Though I of course appreciate that some would consider this more faff than it’s worth.

 

[Traveller2024]

If you buy a 1-6 Travelcard ticket routed Thameslink only then it is valid on all trains within Zones 1-6 regardless of the interpretation of 'Thameslink only'.

That is, no one could be penalised for changing from a Thameslink service to a Southern service at East Croydon to go to Victoria.

But will the barrier let you pass? Otherwise I worried that will argue with those train staff everyday

 

[Watershed]

But will the barrier let you pass? Otherwise I worried that will argue with those train staff everyday

At any station within Zones 1-6, it should work. If it doesn't, show the ticket to the member of staff and they will let you through.

 

[Traveller2024]

The advice from yorkie is not going to result in hassle free journeys as not everyone has the same opinion about them being valid on all GTR brands. Unlike Yorkie, I think GTR (who operate the Southern and Thameslink brands) have a reasonable chance of winning the court case about this issue.

The intention behind that Thameslink only Travelcard ticket is you must take Thameslink as far as the London zones but once within the zones you can use the travel card bit to travel on any brand of train. Realistically that’d mean changing from a Thameslink to a Southern train at East Croydon, meaning that you wouldn’t be able to take a direct train.

Are you planning to continue your journey from London Victoria by bus or tube? If not then you don’t need a Travelcard with zonal validity at all and could just buy a cheaper ticket to London Terminals or London Victoria specifically instead.

My office is near Euston Square. If I can take the train directly to Victoria then jump on tube will save me a lot of time everyday. E.g. 40mins. So if the Thameslink only plus zone 1-6 tickets let me to get out of the Victoria barrier will be great...but I can't verify this.

 

[westcoaster]

My office is near Euston Square. If I can take the train directly to Victoria then jump on tube will save me a lot of time everyday. E.g. 40mins. So if the Thameslink only plus zone 1-6 tickets let me to get out of the Victoria barrier will be great...but I can't verify this.

It would but you'd need to change en- route.
As your near Euston square would it not be easier to travel to St Pancras and walk from there, you'd also have upto 8 trains an hour to choose from.

 

[Mcr Warrior]

Potentially having to change trains at East Croydon on the outbound and return legs, will, IMHO, soon become tedious, particularly so if travelling during the busy peak hours. Travelling via St. Pancras International will probably slightly extend journey times, but should make for a more straightforward journey experience.

 

[island]

The advice from yorkie is not going to result in hassle free journeys as not everyone has the same opinion about them being valid on all GTR brands. Unlike Yorkie, I think GTR (who operate the Southern and Thameslink brands) have a reasonable chance of winning the court case about this issue.

The intention behind that Thameslink only Travelcard ticket is you must take Thameslink as far as the London zones but once within the zones you can use the travel card bit to travel on any brand of train. Realistically that’d mean changing from a Thameslink to a Southern train at East Croydon, meaning that you wouldn’t be able to take a direct train.

Are you planning to continue your journey from London Victoria by bus or tube? If not then you don’t need a Travelcard with zonal validity at all and could just buy a cheaper ticket to London Terminals or London Victoria specifically instead.

This would also be my recommendation.

You could also consider a ticket from Three Bridges to London Thameslink (route Not Underground), about three quarters of a mile walk from Euston Square, though the price difference is only £7 a week.

 

[Haywain]

As your near Euston square would it not be easier to travel to St Pancras and walk from there, you'd also have upto 8 trains an hour to choose from.

Bus and underground would also be options from St Pancras in the event of bad weather.

 

[spag23]

As your near Euston square would it not be easier to travel to St Pancras and walk from there, you'd also have upto 8 trains an hour to choose from.

Plus a better chance of getting an evening seat, southbound from STP, compared to Victoria? Especially for this long journey, I'd check out the de-classified first class section at the back.

 

[maniacmartin]

Now we know that the final destination is Euston Square I will echo island and westcoaster’s advice. Forget about Victoria. Get a Thameslink train direct from Three Bridges to St Pancras and walk from there. There’s no changes or faffing with the tube needed. It can be done on a Three Bridges to London Thameslink ticket.

 

[Traveller2024]

Thing is from three bridges to euston sqaure is only 52min (departing at 8:07) , while three bridges to st pancras + walk will be 65mins (departing at 7:40). So if you take the departure time into account, it gives me more time to sleep and less travelling time. It will be a lot of time if you thinking whole year. Will that make sense ? So if Thamelink+Zone 1-6 seasonal ticket allows me to get out from victoria, will be a big game changer.

 

[Haywain]

Thing is from three bridges to euston sqaure is only 52min (departing at 8:07) , while three bridges to st pancras + walk will be 65mins (departing at 7:40). So if you take the departure time into account, it gives me more time to sleep and less travelling time. It will be a lot of time if you thinking whole year. Will that make sense ? So if Thamelink+Zone 1-6 seasonal ticket allows me to get out from victoria, will be a big game changer.

You obviously see your time as more important than the cost, which is fine but not everybody sees things that way. The season ticket to St Pancras is £96.30 a week or £3852 for an annual, and the Travelcard is £103.30 a week or £4132 for the annual. And going to St Pancras cuts out the hassle of changing and faffing with the underground as well as removing any potential discussions about whether a Thamesllink only ticket is actually valid on a Southern branded service.

 

[paul1609]

Thing is from three bridges to euston sqaure is only 52min (departing at 8:07) , while three bridges to st pancras + walk will be 65mins (departing at 7:40). So if you take the departure time into account, it gives me more time to sleep and less travelling time. It will be a lot of time if you thinking whole year. Will that make sense ? So if Thamelink+Zone 1-6 seasonal ticket allows me to get out from victoria, will be a big game changer.

I agree with you. I'd always go via Victoria from a Brighton line station to Euston and if it my final destination wasn't on Thameslink I'd use the Victoria Line to Kings x St Pancras as well it's quicker in all but a very small proportion of journeys and the Vic line is more reliable than the Thameslink Core.

 

[RUFJAN15]

Thing is from three bridges to euston sqaure is only 52min (departing at 8:07) , while three bridges to st pancras + walk will be 65mins (departing at 7:40). So if you take the departure time into account, it gives me more time to sleep and less travelling time. It will be a lot of time if you thinking whole year. Will that make sense ? So if Thamelink+Zone 1-6 seasonal ticket allows me to get out from victoria, will be a big game changer.

I think you may not have fully understood the message of the earlier posts.

The Thameslink + Zone 1-6 ticket is not recognised by GTR as being valid on the 08.07 train from Three Bridges (this is a Southern service from the Arun valley/Horsham). To avoid challenges to validity you would need to catch the preceding 08.01 Thameslink service to Bedford and change at East Croydon on to the Southern train. This extends the journey time to 58min via Victoria (as against 65min via St Pancras).

If you decide to use the ticket via Victoria then, from my experience of using this route, you will need to accept that you will be standing from East Croydon. Also, getting from platforms 15-19 at Victoria to the Victoria line is not straightforward at 08.45 (pre-covid it was not unusual for LU to temporarily close the main entrance to the tube station due to congestion); I doubt that you are going to reliably arrive at Euston Square by 08.59 if you catch the 08.01/08.07. In comparison, if you stay on the 08.01 Thameslink service to St Pancras then you should be at Euston Square by 09.10 (08.50 arrival at St Pancras, 5min to exit the station and 15min walk).

If you opt for the Thameslink + Zone 1-6 ticket then it can be used via either route so you would have the option of trying them both (also an 'any permitted' + Zone 1-6 ticket would be valid via St Pancras).

 

[spag23]

Aside from time and money, there is also the comfort factor to consider (crowding, seating, temperature and noise).
When I fist commuted on the Vic Line (50 years ago!) it was constantly at a pleasant 18 degrees C; warm in the winter, and refreshingly cool in the summer.
But now it seems to have a seasonal range from a hot 24 to a sweltering 38. Add in the tube's overcrowding, and - for me - a quiet A/C'd seat on a TL 700 is worth an extra 10 minutes travel time.
And toilets .

 

[Somewhere]

How many Victoria Line trains are you not going to be able to get on at Victoria at that time of the morning do to the trains too packed to get on and four people deep queues of crowds on the platform trying to get on? Have you tried this journey at this time of day?

 

[westcoaster]

Thing is from three bridges to euston sqaure is only 52min (departing at 8:07) , while three bridges to st pancras + walk will be 65mins (departing at 7:40). So if you take the departure time into account, it gives me more time to sleep and less travelling time. It will be a lot of time if you thinking whole year. Will that make sense ? So if Thamelink+Zone 1-6 seasonal ticket allows me to get out from victoria, will be a big game changer.

But the ticket you wish to purchase is Thameslink only from Three Bridges, so can not be used on Southern services from Three Bridges.

A 54 minute journey shows up using Thameslink.
Three Bridges to Farringdon cross the bridge on tube to Euston square.

 

[Hophead]

Perhaps the best option would be an any operator Travelcard, for a week or a month, which obviously is valid via any conceivable route, so that the OP can evaluate the options to see which works best. A kind of try before you buy (big) approach.

 

[Somewhere]

But the ticket you wish to purchase is Thankeslink only from Three Bridges, so can not be used on Southern services.

A 54 minute journey shows up using Thameslink.
Three Bridges to Farringdon cross the bridge on tube to Euston square.

I can assure the OP that this journey will be far less hassle than changing at both East Croydon and then Victoria onto the Underground

 

[Skimpot flyer]

The Thameslink Only + Zones1-6 option is, i think, the best option.
Personally, I would get the 08:01 train every day, to Farringdon, and swap to the tube to reach Euston Square. Faffing about with changing at East Croydon, to stand all the way to Victoria, and then take a long walk from the Victoria gateline to the tube platform (via a now-longer circuitous walk) to save a few minutes? No thanks! It’s prone to the connection at ECR being late or cancelled, negating any time-saving.
On the return journey, you will have a higher chance of a seat when boarding a Thameslink service at Farringdon. The southbound peak services get extremely crowded at London Bridge.
Keeping the Travelcard element gives you maximum flexibility if and when services through the Thameslink core are disrupted.
Personally, a seat, table, plug socket* and air conditioning are of more value to me than enduring sweaty tube, big crowds and no seat, to (theoretically) save a few minutes a day

*using the declassified 1st Class section at the back of the train

 

[Traveller2024]

The Thameslink Only + Zones1-6 option is, i think, the best option.
Personally, I would get the 08:01 train every day, to Farringdon, and swap to the tube to reach Euston Square. Faffing about with changing at East Croydon, to stand all the way to Victoria, and then take a long walk from the Victoria gateline to the tube platform (via a now-longer circuitous walk) to save a few minutes? No thanks! It’s prone to the connection at ECR being late or cancelled, negating any time-saving.
On the return journey, you will have a higher chance of a seat when boarding a Thameslink service at Farringdon. The southbound peak services get extremely crowded at London Bridge.
Keeping the Travelcard element gives you maximum flexibility if and when services through the Thameslink core are disrupted.
Personally, a seat, table, plug socket* and air conditioning are of more value to me than enduring sweaty tube, big crowds and no seat, to (theoretically) save a few minutes a day

*using the declassified 1st Class section at the back of the train

I think I am going for your method. Thanks for everyone's advise.

Could I double check, when you mention the "declassified 1st Class", do you mean when the train is fully packed, then you can use the 1st class seat? Many thanks!

I think you may not have fully understood the message of the earlier posts.

The Thameslink + Zone 1-6 ticket is not recognised by GTR as being valid on the 08.07 train from Three Bridges (this is a Southern service from the Arun valley/Horsham). To avoid challenges to validity you would need to catch the preceding 08.01 Thameslink service to Bedford and change at East Croydon on to the Southern train. This extends the journey time to 58min via Victoria (as against 65min via St Pancras).

If you decide to use the ticket via Victoria then, from my experience of using this route, you will need to accept that you will be standing from East Croydon. Also, getting from platforms 15-19 at Victoria to the Victoria line is not straightforward at 08.45 (pre-covid it was not unusual for LU to temporarily close the main entrance to the tube station due to congestion); I doubt that you are going to reliably arrive at Euston Square by 08.59 if you catch the 08.01/08.07. In comparison, if you stay on the 08.01 Thameslink service to St Pancras then you should be at Euston Square by 09.10 (08.50 arrival at St Pancras, 5min to exit the station and 15min walk).

If you opt for the Thameslink + Zone 1-6 ticket then it can be used via either route so you would have the option of trying them both (also an 'any permitted' + Zone 1-6 ticket would be valid via St Pancras).

Thanks! I will try each line 1 month each and see which one make more sense to use, then switch to annual

Perhaps the best option would be an any operator Travelcard, for a week or a month, which obviously is valid via any conceivable route, so that the OP can evaluate the options to see which works best. A kind of try before you buy (big) approach.

Yes Will do

 

[Hadders]

Could I double check, when you mention the "declassified 1st Class", do you mean when the train is fully packed, then you can use the 1st class seat? Many thanks!

No, it doesn't mean this.

What it means is that the 1st class compartment at the very rear of Thameslink trains is declassified and may be used by passengers holding a standard class ticket. Be warned that although the seating is better in my experience this compartment does become very busy. For the avoidance of doubt the 1st class at the front of the train isn't declassified and you need a 1st class ticket to travel in this compartment. (For full disclosure there are some Thameslink services where the front 1st class compartment is also declassified but this isn't relevent to trains that serce Three Bridges)

 

[Traveller2024]

ok, so has to be the rear of the train? because rear is relatively to which direction the train is heading.

 

[MrJeeves]

ok, so has to be the rear of the train? because rear is relatively to which direction the train is heading.

It's always at the rear of the direction of travel. Thameslink trains never (during standard journeys) reverse.

The displays in the first compartment will display a message saying it can be used by standard class ticket holders every few minutes.