Brighton - London Train: Reservation Necessary?

jamesco

After reading Vermin's thread, my girlfriend is keen on a casual London to Brighton ride this weekend, but from experience there's no way of knowing how long it will us to get into Brighton and be ready to return, so some flexibility would be great.

Is it reasonable to turn up at the station and expect to get on the next train with the bikes? Also, does the price go up enormously if you buy at the station rather than in advance? Advance fares to London Bridge or Victoria for this Sunday are about £10, which seems fine.

cyclingprop

Varies depending on if you want the FCC only (for london br) or ALL routes ticket (Victoria). Walk up is fine - should be about £16.

t4tomo

if this is the big BHF London to Brightton ride, all bikes, without exception are banned from train on the saturday afternoon from Brighton to London. They cant cope with demand so ban everyone, even folding bikes.

actually i've just read your post and I think your doing an unoffical do your own thing, in which case you should be fine and it will be far more pleasent than sahring the road with 27000 other cyclists

cyclingprop

t4tomo wrote:

if this is the big BHF London to Brightton ride, all bikes, without exception are banned from train on ALL WEEKEND. They cant cope with demand so ban everyone, even folding bikes.

FTFY. 15/16th June this year.

jamesco

@t4tomo - nope, not the charity ride, just a fun day getting lost and sweaty

@cyclingprop - thanks, that's perfect!

asprilla

okgo and I did it the year before last for the Pheonix Kingston - Worthing TT.

Coming back on a Sunday at about 12 and we could take our bikes on any train we wanted.

stuaff

Done multiple FNRttCs, neither returnees to London, nor me going west (when I haven't ridden back) have ever had any trouble getting on a Saturday morning one. Queues for the ticket machines are usually chronic though, so be prepared for that.