TKD wrote:
I was reading something on the net about the layout of Stratford station
on the Central Line. I have been there before a few years ago, but I
don't remember the layout myself. The page indicated that it's possible
to transfer between Central Line trains and mainline trains across the
platform. Doesn't this imply that it's possible to board a tube train
without entering a fare-control area? If so, how does one get charged
the proper amount on one's farecard upon exit on the other end of one's
journey?
If arriving at Stratford on a mainline train and using an Oystercard to
continue your journey you need to touch in before boarding the tube (or
v.v.) - there are around 6-8(?) readers on each of the Central line
platforms.
I suppose the same holds if one enters the platform area from the station ticketing hall?

The whole station is a fare control area. The only entrance is owned and
managed by London Underground with a tube style gateline. There is a
second gateline between the Jubilee line and the rest of the station so
anyone starting their journey at Stratford or interchanging from the
Jubilee line will be forced to pass a barrier.

Validators on the island platforms are provided for transfer between
'one' services to/from the east and Central/DLR.

The first time I changed at Stratford, I fell foul of the mess of this
station. I was arriving by Jubilee, and departing by central, on
prepay. When I arrived at the gateline off the Jubilee platforms, I
asked the man there whether I also had to touch in on the central line
platforms, as I was already using my oyster here. He told me I didn't
have to, so I didn't, and the obvious problem occured when I arrived at
my destination: it wouldn't let me out of the gates because I was
supposed to have touched in on the central.

Robin