Ang Gilham wrote:

On Fri, 18 Aug 2006 12:04:12 +0100, Barry Salter
wrote:

On Fri, 18 Aug 2006 10:50:51 +0100, "Nigel Pendse"
wrote:

I wonder if Oyster can be used on Thameslink (aka FCC) between Wimbledon
and Farringdon? It's obviously allowed on the Tube between the same
stations, and the same Oyster card readers/barriers apply regardless of
which train is taken, so the system won't know which route was followed.
But would a ticket inspector on the FCC train regard it as a non-valid
fare?

Nope. The list of NR routes on which PAYG Oyster is currently valid is
currently as follows:
snip
As such, you'd be liable to a Penalty Fare if you did Wimbledon -
Farringdon on FCC.

How this would be policed solely through the barriers remains to be
seen, however...

Hmmm. Via the barriers probably isn't doable, but my pet hate: the
ticket inspector with a hand-held Oyster card reader would certainly
get you on the train.


Perhaps it's a pet hate of yours but if someone did this it would count
as fare evasion. Plus I have found FCC to be keener than other TOCs
when it comes to having on-board ticket inspectors.

Basically it comes down to thinking ahead - if you consider it probably
that you'll use National Rail during the course of a days travels
around London, you should buy a paper Day Travelcard at the beginning
of that day and not use Pre-Pay whatsoever.

Judging whether this is worthwhile when you're plans are uncertain
might be difficult, but bear in mind before the advent of daily capping
on Pre-Pay (in February 2005) it was a judgement that every traveller
in London had to make - i.e. whether to buy a Day Travelcard or pay
cash for each journey.