London Banter - View Single Post - being let through barriers with an Oyster, a couple of Qs

Kat · January 9th 04, 10:18 PM posted to uk.transport.london

In message ,
writes
Hi Guys,

Was travelling with a 7 day Z12 Oyster travelcard today.

I had just entered Leicester Sq tube this evening when, because of
announced delays, I decided I'd change my mind and walk up to
Tottenham Court Road station and catch the Central line instead.

However, when I tried to leave Leicester Sq station,
the barrier refused my Oystercard (I didn't notice the code), and
when I approached the barrier supervisor he just waved me out through
his gate, leaving my card with no exit record.

This left me worrying all the way up Charing X Road, that my
Oystercard was now going to be all out of sync somehow, and that I
might not be allowed back into the system at TCR.

Luckily the barriers let me in as normal at TCR, but this left me with
a couple of questions, which I wondered if any of you wouldn't mind
answering?

Q1)
When travelling with an Oyster Travelcard, how does the system handle
a situation where you somehow exit a journey without exit-validating
your card?

But from your description of the journey you did validate your card when
trying to exit at Leicester Square. You said the barrier refused your
Oyster card. It didn't; it read it and would have recorded a 26 (Entry
and Exit at same station)

If you had exited at a different station without validating your card
then you would be charged the maximum fare and then need to have your
unresolved journey resolved and the correct fare taken.

Is there a danger that you could be charged a full 6 zone single
ticket from your pre-pay balance like would happen on a pure pre-pay
journey, or does the system assume you made a legal journey if your
next entry is 'within your zone'?
Q2)
In the above scenario where you exit from your entry station without
travelling, what would have happened if I had been travelling on an
Oyster PRE-PAY ticket?
a) Would I have been let back out of the barrier at Leicester Square
and charged a zone1 single?
b) or, not let back out of the barrier at Leicester Square, and
therefore charged a full 6 zone single if the assistant waved me
through?

No, 26 wouldn't take anything from your Pre Pay

c) or could I have got back out of Leicester Square with no charge?

Yes.
--
Kat Me, Ambivalent? Well, yes and no.