If you frequently travelled on Thameslink, Southern, Great Northern, or Gatwick Express (collectively known as TSGN), you might be owed compensation for overpaying on your journeys.
A major legal claim is now underway, focusing on passengers who were not properly informed about cheaper “boundary fare” options when travelling beyond their Travelcard zones. This claim could affect thousands of TSGN passengers, and if you’ve been overcharged for your train journeys, you may be eligible for a share of the compensation.
Here’s everything you need to know about the TSGN boundary fare claim and how to check if you qualify.
What is the “boundary fare” issue?
Many London commuters use Travelcards that cover specific fare zones. For example, a Zone 1-4 Travelcard allows unlimited travel within those areas. But when you travel beyond the zones covered by your Travelcard, you should only be charged for the extra part of the journey, which is known as a boundary fare.
Unfortunately, many passengers on the TSGN network weren’t given this option when travelling beyond their Travelcard zones. Instead of being charged only for the additional distance, they were sold full-price tickets, meaning they effectively paid twice for the zones already covered.
For instance, if you had a Zone 1-4 Travelcard and needed to travel from London to Brighton, you should only have been charged for travelling from the boundary of Zone 4 to Brighton. However, many passengers were charged for the entire journey from central London, leading to significant overpayments.
How did this claim come about?
This legal action is part of a broader effort to hold UK train operators accountable for failing to offer the right fares to passengers. The claim against TSGN is one of several boundary fare lawsuits currently in progress, following a successful £25 million settlement in a similar case involving South West Trains.
Consumer rights advocate Justin Gutmann, who led the South West Trains case, has extended his efforts to include TSGN. With legal support from Charles Lyndon, a law firm specialising in competition law, this claim aims to recover the money passengers were overcharged during their journeys.
TSGN, which includes Thameslink, Southern, Great Northern, and Gatwick Express, operates one of the busiest networks in the UK. So there was likely widespread overcharging.
Who can claim?
You may be eligible to claim compensation if you held a Travelcard and travelled on the TSGN network between November 24, 2015 and 20 August 2017.
Importantly, you may still be eligible even if you don’t have records or receipts of your journeys from several years ago. The legal team understands that proving older travel can be challenging, and they are working to ensure that a portion of the settlement is available without needing detailed evidence.
Why it’s important to check your eligibility
The TSGN boundary fare claim is still in progress, but that doesn’t mean you should wait to take action. By signing up for more information now, you’ll ensure you’re kept informed about the status of the claim and can be among the first to register for compensation once the claim is resolved.
This claim could result in a refund of overcharged fares for thousands of passengers. If you regularly travelled beyond your Travelcard zones without being offered a boundary fare, you’ve likely paid more than you should have. This is your chance to get that money back.
