On Tue, 30 Nov 2004 12:25:39 +0000, Ian Tindale
wrote:

wrote:

Pre-pay can't be used on National Rail except where there is a joint
line (e.g. Richmond - Gunnersbury). So to travel legally you need to
buy a 'paper' extension ticket from Boundary Zone 3 to Richmond, then
use you pre-pay to touch-in at Richmond and out again at Kew Gardens.

Is this because such lines don't have staff with Oyster readers to check? If
so, what if you just waved your pre-pay Oyster at them claiming that it has
a valid weekly travelcard on it? What would they be able to do about that?

No, it's because National Rail fares do not come into the TfL zonal
pricing structure (apart from certain joint lines), so even a 'paper'
Underground zone ticket is not valid on a National Rail service.

For example, if you bought a single from Richmond to Piccadilly by
tube (Underground Zone 4 to Zone 1), it is not valid for use from
Richmond to Waterloo by SWT, even though the 'Zones' you pass through
are the same.

Similarly, if you have a Travelcard Zones 1&2 on Oyster, plus £10
pre-pay, and you want to travel to Waterloo, you must still buy a
single from Richmond to Putney (first mainline station within Zone 2)
if travelling by SWT because the fares are not interchangeable, and
pre-pay does not apply on National Rail - at the moment.

Hope that's clearer!