"AndreaC" wrote in message
...

I hope someone can help me because my little brain is starting to hurt!

I usually use the Picadilly line from Hounslow Central but on the days
when I can't be bothered to walk the extra distance to the tube station
I get on the train to Waterloo instead. I was under the impression that
Oyster isn't valid on South West Trains and because of this mixing of
my journeys I've only used my Oyster for PAYG so far.

However, I am confused by a recorded message that I heard at Hounslow
mainline station on Friday that said something like *- 'please note
that Oyster pay as you go is not valid on any service from this
station' -* thereby implying that an Oyster with a travelcard on it is
valid.

Is that the case?

If so, how would anyone know if you've got a t/c or payg as there are
no barriers or touch in/out pads at Waterloo or Hounslow and lastly, if
an Oyster t/c is valid and I put one on my card, which zone would
Hounslow mainline station be in (given that 2 of the 3 LU stations are
in Z4 and the other is in Z5)

I'm going to lie down in a darkened room now...

You'll find information regarding Oyster on a number of TfL's web pages,
including http://www.tfl.gov.uk/tfl/fares-tick...er/general.asp

http://www.tfl.gov.uk/tfl/fares-tick...eral.asp#where says (inter
alia):
"Oyster cards with Travelcards are valid on Tube, DLR, tram and National
Rail services within your chosen zones and across the entire London bus
network."

The zones are shown at http://www.tfl.gov.uk/tfl/pdfdocs/lon_con.pdf.
Hounslow (National Rail) is zone 5.
--
David Biddulph