In message
s.com of Wed, 27 Oct 2010 01:38:21 in uk.transport.london, Jack
writes
[snip]
Thank you for a very useful description, with which I am likely to
understand what I see of how the system operates.
Correct:
Entry then exit at the same station (using one or more gates locked to
either entry or exit):
- 0 to 2.5 minutes between touches: on exit, a "same station exit"
token is written to the card, the balance remains unaffected. So the
initial maximum entry fare is what has been paid at this point. If
the card is used to reenter any rail station within 45 minutes, the
first entry fare is refunded and a new journey is started.
I've seen both those scenarios and not understood the distinction.
I take it that buses are insensitive to same station exits.
AFAIK, all customer presented times are in HH:MM format. HH:MM:SS would
be needed to see what you describe.
- 2.5 minutes - 30 minutes: on exit, the balance is adjusted according
to the highest station zone, the "journey" is completed:
e.g.
Earls Court entry 7:00 on a Tuesday £6 deducted on entry
Earls Court exit 7:15 same day £4.70 given back on exit (Z2
charge applied)
I think I have also seen that.
- more than 30 minutes between entry and exit: another maximum fare
is deducted. If the balance is too low prior to the exit touch, a red
light and "seek assistance" message is presented. If the exit touch
is made at a bidrectional validator (manual side gate for example) in
this scenario, an entry is written to the card (or if the balance is
too low, the entry is rejected).
I hit that regularly. When I remember, I do Moorgate - Liverpool Street
to avoid it. I believe it trips with Moorgate to Finsbury Park + FPK to
MGT if the 2 touches at FPK are less than 30 minutes apart. (FPK is
ungated.)
Entry then exit at the same station: ungated station:
There is a manual system for refunds and an automatic system. The
automatic system now seems to trump the manual system and gets things
wrong as it does not apply caps. The automatic system neglects to say
when the overcharge was made and how the refund was calculated.
--
Walter Briscoe