On 23 May, 11:48, wrote:
On May 23, 10:40*am, wrote:





Hi folks,

A couple of questions if I may. *I was planning to travel on the Cross
Country services from Reading to East Croydon/Redhill sometime soon,
to say farewell (I need one of the curves at Acton Wells Jct).

Am I right in thinking that the only bits of track that these services
use that could be considered rare are Acton-Mitre Bridge, and
Latchmere-Factory Jcts, as per PSULhttp://www.avoe05.dsl.pipex.com/2008.htm

I was thinking of doing both ways from East Croydon/Redhill to Gatwick
(i.e. via Kensington Olympia, and via Guildford), can anyone suggest
the best ticket to get?

I see there are two Gatwick-Reading fares, one routes Guildford and
the other London.... does Kensington Olympia still count as a London
Terminal please?

I was going to look at a zone R1256 travelcard, then a boundary zone 6
to Reading ticket, but I see this is only available as either route
Slough or route Ascot, so perhaps doesn't help me that much.

Anyone care to say whether East Croydon to Reading via Guildford would
be considered a valid route?

Thanks in anticipation

The fares I can see are £18 CDR 'via Gomshall' and £24.10 'any
permitted' which presumably includes KO (not a London terminal) or
Ascot but not London. I couldn't get it to show me a via London fare- Hide quoted text -

- Show quoted text -

Reading to East Croydon via Redhill is a permitted route (map CS) so a
"Not London" ticket is fine - there is a lower priced "via Redhill"
ticket as well so some FGW conductors don't like "not London" tickets
via Redhill. One day travelcards are definitely not valid via
Guildford.

Kensington Olympia is "not London".

Gatwick to Reading is *not* currently valid via London according to
the routing guide even though there is an appropriate fare with cross
London connection.

The various services have different routes between Kensington Olympia
and East Croydon - I have been via Norbury, Streatham Hill and Herne
Hill - Tulse Hill at various occasions in the last few years.

You may find that cheap AP tickets e.g. Reading to Gatwick by AXC and
Gatwick to *Swindon* [1] by FGW are available at quieter times of the
day.

Hope this helps


Jonathan

[1] Breaking the rules on ending short.