Keith Raeburn wrote:


Yes you can ask for a ticket to the beginning of the zone.

Don't count on the fare being cheaper than that to the first station
inside the boundary, though. That would be far too simple.


Certainly you can *ask* and the booking clerk will understand you,
but (in my experience) you will *not* receive.
Twice recently I have landed at Gatwick and asked for a single to
"the edge of Zone 6"; each time, without comment, I have been handed
a ticket to (IIRC) Coulsdon South, the first station inside the
"Zones". The clerk also volunteered the information "any train from
platform ... " (in other words, anything except Gatwick Express,
whether or not it stops at Coulsdon South).
On the other hand, going outward to anywhere, I get a ticket which
states "from boundary Zone 6". The wording is different in the two
directions, but the rules and the price seem to be the same.
I have a pensioner's "Freedom Pass" but I imagine the rules are the
same as for Gold Cards.
--
Bill Borland

Bill wrote:
Keith Raeburn wrote:

Yes you can ask for a ticket to the beginning of the zone.

Don't count on the fare being cheaper than that to the first station
inside the boundary, though. That would be far too simple.


Certainly you can *ask* and the booking clerk will understand you,
but (in my experience) you will *not* receive.
Twice recently I have landed at Gatwick and asked for a single to
"the edge of Zone 6"; each time, without comment, I have been handed
a ticket to (IIRC) Coulsdon South, the first station inside the
"Zones". The clerk also volunteered the information "any train from
platform ... " (in other words, anything except Gatwick Express,
whether or not it stops at Coulsdon South).

[see my other post]

Sometimes when I ask for Hertford East to Bounday Zone 3, my ticket says
"Boundary Zone 3". Other times it says "Seven Sisters", "Tottenham
Hale", "Northumberland Park" or "White Hart Lane". I assume it's a case
of the ticket seller either knowing how to issue BZ tickets or, if they
don't, just guessing what the appropriate destination should be.

In fact, last time I did it in the opposite direction, and asked for
"BZ3 to Hertford East", the ticket seller at Tottenham Hale thought for
a millisecond, then asked me "How much do you normally pay for that
then?" I replied, "Oh, about £6.20 I think", and he issued me with an
LUL Extension ticket for £6.20, i.e. no destination of any sort printed
on it.

Is this because they don't know, or because it involves pressing too
many buttons, or is there actually a good reason for it?

"Dave Newt" wrote in message
...

Sometimes when I ask for Hertford East to Bounday Zone 3, my ticket says
"Boundary Zone 3". Other times it says "Seven Sisters", "Tottenham Hale",
"Northumberland Park" or "White Hart Lane". I assume it's a case of the
ticket seller either knowing how to issue BZ tickets or, if they don't,
just guessing what the appropriate destination should be.

Is this because they don't know, or because it involves pressing too many
buttons, or is there actually a good reason for it?

I have always assumed that its to stop you taking a journey round the
outside of zone 6 by NR, by issuing to a particular station just inside zone
6, the permitted route rules can be enforced easier. The fares manual
clearly states that fares to zone boundaries are not to be sold - that
doesn't mean the ticketing system used by 'one' can't print them...

Paul

Dave Newt wrote:

Sometimes when I ask for Hertford East to Bounday Zone 3, my ticket says
"Boundary Zone 3". Other times it says "Seven Sisters", "Tottenham
Hale", "Northumberland Park" or "White Hart Lane". I assume it's a case
of the ticket seller either knowing how to issue BZ tickets or, if they
don't, just guessing what the appropriate destination should be.

It *should* say one of Bowes Park, White Hart Lane or Northumberland
Park, depending on what route you're taking. Tickets must NOT be sold TO
Boundary Zones, as otherwise it all gets very confusing. (Boundary Zone
3 heading outward, becomes Boundary Zone *4* heading inbound)

In fact, last time I did it in the opposite direction, and asked for
"BZ3 to Hertford East", the ticket seller at Tottenham Hale thought for
a millisecond, then asked me "How much do you normally pay for that
then?" I replied, "Oh, about £6.20 I think", and he issued me with an
LUL Extension ticket for £6.20, i.e. no destination of any sort printed
on it.

Is this because they don't know, or because it involves pressing too
many buttons, or is there actually a good reason for it?

It's more likely because the LU ticket machines aren't *that*
sophisticated. Though they *can* show certain NR destinations.

Cheers,

Barry

On Sat, 11 Nov 2006 17:47:31 +0000, Dave Newt wrote:

In fact, last time I did it in the opposite direction, and asked for
"BZ3 to Hertford East", the ticket seller at Tottenham Hale thought for
a millisecond, then asked me "How much do you normally pay for that
then?" I replied, "Oh, about £6.20 I think", and he issued me with an
LUL Extension ticket for £6.20, i.e. no destination of any sort printed
on it.

Is this because they don't know, or because it involves pressing too
many buttons, or is there actually a good reason for it?

It saves him having to look up the fare in a book.