Train route between London Victoria and Portsmouth Harbour
operated by Southern

Initial problem

We were charged £49.40 for one way London Victoria to Hove this afternoon. We normally pay less then £30 return for family(2 adults, 1 child and 1 toddler).
When we asked why last Sunday we paid under £30 return for 4 of us we were told it was double the price to buy our ticket from London!!!!

Posted
  • By Dale Brown on 12 Aug 2012
  • Sent to Southern on 12 Aug 2012
Updates
Update
  • 1 Peter Dixon added an update close 18:26 12 Aug 2012

    Hello Dale

    FixMyTransport Volunteer here

    Please do keep all of your tickets. If the toddler is under 5, they should not be paying a fare.

    Have you got a friends and family railcard?

    Kind regards

    anorak
    admin
  • 2 Paul Hollinghurst added an update close 18:27 12 Aug 2012

    Dale,

    As far as I can make out the Off-Peak fare from London Victoria to Hove is £48.00 return for 2 adults and 1 child - under 5s are free (this is a Groupsave ticket where 2 people travel for the price of 2). It is £47.70 for a single from London to Hove for 2 adults and 1 child.

    Out of interest, When you travel for £30 return, what type of ticket is this for? Do you use a Railcard as I cannot see how you would travel for £30 unless a Railcard was used? The ticket should cost the same wherever you buy it.

    Southern will be able to provide some more information.

    Best regards,

    Paul (FixMyTransport Volunteer)

    anorak
    admin
  • 3 Peter Dixon added an update close 18:39 12 Aug 2012

    Hello Dale

    FixMyTransport Volunteer here again

    Just a quick addition. The reason appears to be that there is a Super Off Peak Return Ticket but no corresponding Single Super Off Peak. The only available single ticket is an Off Peak Ticket, which is more expensive because it only has restrictions in the morning travelling from London, and not in the evening like a Super Off Peak return ticket has.

    A Super Off Peak Return will have a lot of restrictions (the ticket has restrictions travelling into London in the morning Monday - Friday and travelling out of London in the evening Monday to Friday)

    Sadly this leads to a frustrating experience at the weekend where return tickets are cheaper than single tickets. My advice would be to buy the Return Ticket if you are travelling at the weekend and not use the return part.

    I hope this helps

    Kind regards

    anorak
    admin
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