Skip to Buy Tickets Skip to Content Skip to Footer
LoadingA circular icon that animates to indicate a loading state.

Loading service updates...

Train ticket collection and delivery options

a close up of a piece of paper

Collection and delivery overview

When purchasing tickets online there are a number of options to choose from depending on the ticket you have booked and the journey you are making.

Collection options

  • Mobile app: You can buy, access and manage your train tickets all in one place
  • eTickets: Access your ticket on your smartphone by downloading it into your digital wallet or access it using your email
  • Print at Home: Once your booking is confirmed, we’ll email your tickets to you as a PDF attachment, with each individual ticket on a separate page.
  • Contactless at the gateline: You can buy and collect your ticket using keyGo, Oyster or Contactless with Pay As You Go
  • Ticket office: If you’d prefer to speak to someone about your train ticket, you can buy and collect at a ticket office
  • Ticket machine: As well as collecting tickets bought online, you can use our self-service ticket machines to buy tickets using cash or a credit/debit card
  • Postal delivery: If you buy your train tickets online you can choose various delivery service options to have your tickets delivered to you

Things to remember

It's free to collect your tickets:

  • Using our mobile app
  • As an eTicket
  • When you print your ticket at home
  • Collecting from the ticket office
  • Collecting from a ticket machine

If you choose to have your tickets posted to you there will be a delivery charge, and they can only be posted to UK addresses

If you board a train without collecting your ticket you may be liable for a Penalty Fare

Postal delivery options

We want to get your tickets to you are quickly as possible. That’s why we encourage customers to use one of our free delivery methods. However we do make a small charge if you choose to have tickets posted to you although we offer free signed for 1st class delivery for all purchases over £100.

1st Class Mail (£1.65)

Tickets purchased by 16:00 will be processed and dispatched within 24 hours of booking using Royal Mail First Class post. Please allow five working days for delivery.

Please note we are unable to guarantee delivery of any unsigned for first class post, and would suggest using a ticket machine at the station as it’s quicker, easier and free of charge.

Applicable to UK addresses only.

Don’t forget you can get your tickets for free if you purchase them as an eTicket or collect from a ticket vending machine at a station.

Royal Mail Signed For™ 1st Class (£3.35)

We now offer this service free for bookings over £100

For bookings less than £100 you can select this delivery option for a cost of £3.35, it offers:

  • Proof of postage
  • Signature on delivery
  • Online confirmation of delivery

Please note, we are unable to guarantee next day delivery, if this is a requirement then we recommend you use the Next Day Special Delivery option.

Don’t forget you can get your tickets for free if you purchase them as an eTicket or collect from a ticket vending machine at a station.

Royal Mail Special Delivery Guaranteed™ (£8.35)

  • Guaranteed delivery by 9am or 1pm next working day
  • Online tracking and signature on delivery included

Don’t forget you can get your tickets for free if you purchase them as an eTicket or collect from a ticket vending machine at a station.

Remote areas and Islands of Scotland will take longer to reach. Orders placed on Saturday or Sunday are despatched on Monday and delivered on Tuesday. Orders placed on a Bank Holiday are despatched on Tuesday and delivered on Wednesday.

At the station ticket office or ticket machine

Using a ticket office

When you book online, you’ll have the option to collect your train tickets from your chosen Gatwick Express or Southern station. You can collect train tickets from the ticket office (or ticket machine) at your selected station two hours after you book.

You will need your collection reference, which you received in your email confirmation. It is important that you have this reference, otherwise you won’t be able to collect your train tickets.

At our larger stations, you can book and pay for tickets at a staffed ticket office. We can accept payment by cash, debit card or credit card and National Rail vouchers.

Please note: On the Gatwick Express route London Victoria and Brighton stations have ticket offices, while Gatwick Airport train station does not have a ticket office. Check our stations list to check if your local station has a ticket office, or you can use one of our other collection/delivery options:

 

Find a ticket office

Using a ticket machine

At our self-service ticket vending machines you can:

  • Buy tickets
  • Collect tickets purchased online
  • Buy weekly season tickets
  • Buy car parking tickets
  • Top up your Oyster card (at London stations)

You can pay for your tickets using cash or a credit or debit card.

If you booked your tickets online, to collect them at a ticket machine select the ‘Collect’ button on screen and insert your credit or debit card. It doesn’t have to be the card you paid with as we allow ‘any card collection’. You will be asked to type in your collection reference, which you received in your email confirmation. It is important that you have this reference, otherwise you won’t be able to collect your train tickets.

If you need help using our machines or finding the right ticket, ask a member of staff for assistance where possible.

Self-service ticket machine price guarantee

In the unlikely event you buy a ticket from one of our self-service machines, and realise it was not the right ticket, please speak to our staff at the ticket office or our Customer Services team, ideally before travel, otherwise as soon as possible. You may be entitled to a refund for the difference in fare.

Frequently asked questions