Hi all,

This weekend, I needed to travel from Croydon to Amersham, going on
Saturday and coming back on Sunday. I have made this journey a number of
times before, usually buying single tickets for each day. Last time,
which was late last year, the cost was about £6.80 for each single ticket.

This time, I checked in advance on the TfL website, and found that a
weekend travelcard exists that covers this whole journey - East Croydon
is in zone 5, Amersham is in zone D, outside the main zoning system at
the far western end of the Metropolitan line and also served by Chiltern
Trains. This zones 123456ABCD weekend travelcard costs £10.30.

I tried to buy this ticket at East Croydon station and was told that
they were not able to sell it. The best that they could offer me was a
zones 1-6 weekend travelcard, or a single to Amersham at a price of
£10.10 (I've subsequently checked this price and it would appear to be
correct).

I also tried a couple of London Transport ticket agents in Croydon, who
both said that they could not sell the zones 1-D ticket, only a zones 1-6.

I have a couple of questions:

- Is it correct that a national rail station cannot sell a zone 1-D
weekend travelcard (or a zone 1-D day travelcard)?
- If it is correct, how should I buy this ticket in Croydon, several
miles from the nearest underground station, but within the London
Transport area?
- Why has the price of an East Croydon to Amersham single increased from
about £6.80 to £10.10 in less than 12 months?

To make my journey, I bought a Croydon to London single for £3.60, and
the zone 1-D weekend travelcard from a ticket machine in Victoria
underground station. Is this really the only way for Croydon residents
to get hold of this ticket?!

Thanks!

A