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My friend lives near Wandsworth Common station and commutes to Turnham Green for work. She used to travel directly on Southern from Wandsworth Common to Turnham Green, changing to the District line at Victoria costing her £6.60 one way in the peak. Recently she asked me if I knew of a cheaper way to complete this journey and I suggested going via West Brompton and Earl’s Court to avoid Zone 1. Doing this from Wandsworth Common costs £3.60 one way in the peak.
However, I was intrigued to see if there was a cheaper routeing and as she is in walking distance of Tooting Bec I thought I’d check the price from that station. According to the Single Fare Finder, a one way peak journey costs £2.10 if she changes at Balham, takes Southern to Clapham Junction (changing onto the Mildmay line) or West Brompton directly, changing to the District line at West Brompton and then again at Earl’s Court.
Could someone please explain why it is £1.50 cheaper to travel from Tooting Bec, changing at Balham for a Southern service that will stop or at least pass through Wandsworth Common on its way to Clapham Junction? And why it costs £3 if she were to walk directly to Balham and touch in on the national rail gate line there? I have a rudimentary understanding of the different fare structures, TfL only vs NR+TfL etc. but I didn’t think it would apply to this journey as it is mixed mode regardless of starting at Wandsworth Common, Balham, or Tooting Bec.
I’m very interested in finding out the answer to this and passing on this information to her. Thank you!
Hi Hugo,
I’m afraid you’ve got a little confused by the options for getting from Balham to Clapham Junction. The expensive routes all use the Southern line from Balham (NR) via Wandsworth Common, whereas the cheaper ones take the Northern line from Balham (LU) to Clapham North and change onto the Windrush line at Clapham High Street. Travelling via Clapham North/High Street is solely using TfL services, even if you end up on the Southern service between Clapham Junction and West Brompton only. The decider for the fares depends on which station you use at Balham.
I hope that helps, but do come back if you’re still not sure.
Hi Mike,
Thanks for this response! I’m going based off the single fare finder. For this journey it says the £2.30 fare applies if “Avoiding Zone 1 via Clapham North/Clapham High Street (or Balham), Clapham Junction, West Brompton and Earl’s Court”, which is what my friend did.
Do you think this is a mistake on the SFF? I’ll ask my friend how much her journey cost to get confirmation. She’s confirmed it cost her £2.30 for each journey, going from Tooting Bec via Balham, Clapham Junction, West Brompton and Earl’s Court to Turnham Green.
Cheers!
My apologies, I’d looked at so many different variations I missed that. I think it is an error, but it may well work. Let me know what the charge was if you can.
No worries at all! She was charged £2.30 each way, changing at Balham both times.
I wonder if it’s something to do with the fact that the first touch in is at an LU station and is therefore set at the lower rate by default? Might explain why it’s more expensive from Balham or Wandsworth Common. Only speculation though.
Thanks!
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