Skip to Buy Tickets Skip to Content Skip to Recite Me Skip to Footer
departures
arrivals
There are also planned engineering works for today Check before travelling
Last updated: 20:49

Automatic number plate recognition

The car parks shown below are managed and operated using automatic number plate recognition (ANPR).

No time to pay for parking at the train station? Pay up to 24 hours later after you first arrived with LatePay, available at all ANPR station car parks. Find out more on the APCOA Connect website.

Angmering Flitwick Potters Bar
Arlesey Harlington Pulborough
Arundel Harpenden Purley
Ashtead Hatfield Purley Oaks
Barnham Haywards Heath Radlett
Bedford Herford North Redhill
Biggleswade Hitchin Royston
Billingshurst Horsham Sanderstead
Bognor Regis Hove Sandy
Brighton Huntingdon Shoreham by Sea
Caterham Kings Lynn South Croydon
Cheam Leagrave St Albans Station Way
Coulsdon South Leatherhead St Albans Victoria Street
Crowborough Lewes St Neots
Cuffley Lingfield Sutton
Dorking Luton Three Bridges
East Grinstead Luton Airport Parkway Upper Warlingham
Eastbourne Merstham Wallington
Elstree and Borehamwood Oxted Welwyn North
Eridge Polegate Whyteleafe
    Worthing

How does it work?

At these locations payment is made on arrival where you will also have to accurately add your vehicle registration number. There is no need to return to your vehicle to display anything as our camera systems will capture and record your vehicle on entry/exit and your payment details will then be cross matched. Please ensure that you pay on arrival and that you carefully add your details as failure to pay or the adding of incorrect vehicle details will result in a postal penalty notice being issued.

Payment can be made using the car park payment machines, by text, by phone, through our online retailing platform or through either APCOA or Cashless Connect sites. Details of these cashless payment platforms are shown below.

APCOA – Find out more on APCOA's website

Cashless Connect – visit www.connectcashlessparking.com

On Line – visit www.apcoa.co.uk/thameslink/

Our Customer Service Patrollers will continue to visit and manage the car parks on a daily basis (7 days a week) and they will also ensure that vehicles park in line with the full terms and conditions shown at each location. They will be happy to assist you with any parking query you may have.

Blue Badge Parking

If you have a valid blue badge you must following the instructions shown to register your use of the bays if you wish to enjoy free parking. Our patrollers will also verify that a valid blue badge pack is on clear display within your vehicle. Penalty notices will be issued where badges are not displayed or the advertised process followed.

Frequently asked questions

Please see some frequently asked questions below regarding ANPR

Why are we using ANPR?
ANPR is a modern, popular and easy way for customers to pay for the use of the car park and it ensures consistency in the management of non-payment. The camera system also offers 24/7 coverage and further security at our car park locations.
Is payment required 24/7?
Yes, nothing has changed with regard to the periods of validity for use of the car park. The camera system will now pick up all usage regardless of time.
Will there still be car park patrollers?
Yes, this valuable team will continue to assist in the management of the estate 7 days a week and they will continue to visit and enforce against misuse of blue badge bays, Premier bays, pick up and drop off areas as well as undertaking the full range of other duties including litter picking and minor maintenance. Penalty notices will continue to be issued by the team in line with the parking terms and conditions which are shown at the entrance to the car park.
How do I pay for parking?

How to pay for parking at a Thameslink station car park

Parking can be paid for by downloading the APCOA Connect App or by calling 0189 526 2122 from your mobile phone when you park.

If you are calling and using the APCOA Connect service for the first time, please call 0189 526 2122.

  • When you call you will need to provide the length of your stay and your payment details
  • You will then be sent a text, please reply to this text with your vehicle's registration number
  • You will then receive a text confirming that your parking is paid

If you are a returning user and have previously registered for connect services in our car parks you can call 0189 526 2122, who will recognise your registered mobile number and offer you the same parking detail previously used, you can change the details if required.

If you have previously registered, you can simply text park followed by your payment card's 3-digit security code and the SMS code for the parking that you require to 078 6000 6000. For further details please visit the APCOA Connect support page.


Why can't the ticket offices or TVMs continue to sell car park tickets to customers?
The new system requires all sales to be consolidated through the APCOA sales points.
Do I need to display anything?
No, the vehicle details must be carefully input when paying for parking. Once this is done and payment made, that’s it. Receipts are available through the different modes of payment. If required. Registration details and applicable payments are cross-matched by the back-office system. You can literally park and go.
I have an annual permit what do I need to do?
Nothing we will ensure that all of your vehicle details held on file are transferred onto the back office system for the period of validity left on your permit. Please continue to display your permit throughout.
Is there a grace period for dropping off?
A short grace period of 15 minutes is allowed once the vehicle has entered the camera zone to allow for dropping off, picking up etc. After this period payment is required at the applicable tariff. Non-payment will result in a postal penalty notice being issued.
What happens if the trains are delayed?
Customers will need to be aware of the time spent in car parks and make the necessary decision as to whether to stay and pay or move from site.
I live next to the station and often use the car park myself and also when guests visit. Does this affect them?
All users of the car park will be required to pay for the period of time on site. The camera systems will collect and process all movements and will expect the applicable payment to be made. Non-payment will result in a postal penalty notice being issued.
Do blue badge customers have to pay?
No, they will however need to follow instructions on how to register their vehicle for their stay, they must continue to display their blue badge pack to avoid a penalty notice being issued. Manual checks of blue badge usage will be made at all locations. Non-compliance with this process will result in a postal penalty notice being issued.
How much is a penalty notice?
If paid within 14 days it is £60.00. If not paid within this timeframe the full cost of £100.00 is applied. If a penalty notice remains unpaid it is passed to our Debt Management agency for them to process in line with their additional charges.
Can this be appealed?
Penalty notices can be appealed and how to do this is shown on the penalty documentation sent to the driver.
What do I do if I receive a penalty notice?
The penalty notice documentation that you receive will show clear images of your vehicle entry and exit on the day(s) ion question. There will also be instructions on how to appeal if you believe that the penalty has been incorrectly issued. Please note that retrospective payment of the parking tariff is not accepted. Payment must be made in line with the terms and conditions of the car park and at the time of entry.