Does Everyone Pay £40+ Daily to Commute to Office in London?
I recently moved to Reading and commute to Hammersmith four days a week. One day, while taking the GWR back home from Paddington, I was told by the agent that I should take the Elisabeth line with an off-peak ticket instead of the GWR. Since then, I have been using the off-peak ticket from Elisabeth line to Ealing Broadway from Reading for £14 daily. However, I was later charged by a TFL agent for not paying the full regular ticket (which is £40 after a network railcard discount) because I take the train before 6:30 am (which they considered peak).
I am now confused – do people really pay that much daily to commute to their workplace in London without an annual seasonal ticket? Am I doing something wrong, or is there a more affordable ticket option available?
It sounds like you are experiencing some difficulties with understanding the ticketing options for your commute from Reading to Hammersmith in London. Commuting in London can be quite expensive, especially if you do not have an annual season ticket.
In your situation, it seems that you have been using an off-peak ticket on the Elizabeth line to Ealing Broadway from Reading, which costs you 14£. While this may seem like a reasonable price, you have encountered some confusion with the TFL agent regarding peak and off-peak times.
It is important to note that peak times for train travel in London can vary depending on the service provider. In your case, traveling before 6:30 am may be considered peak time by TFL, which is why you were charged more for not having a full regular ticket (40£ after network railcard discount).
To ensure that you are getting the most affordable ticket for your daily commute, consider the following options:
Check with the train service providers for the peak and off-peak times on your route. Make sure you understand when the peak times start and end so you can avoid paying extra for your ticket.
Look into purchasing a season ticket if you commute regularly. Annual season tickets can offer significant savings compared to daily tickets. It might be worth calculating whether a season ticket would be more cost-effective for your commute.
Consider other ticketing options such as railcards or discount schemes. These can help reduce the cost of your daily commute, especially if you qualify for certain discounts.
Overall, it is important to do your research and stay informed about the ticketing options available for your commute. By understanding the peak and off-peak times, as well as exploring different ticketing options, you can potentially save money on your daily commute to the office in London.