On Sun, 10 Dec 2006 10:13:43 +0000, AndreaC
wrote:
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...
if you want the very long explanation I provided to the group then it is
here
http://groups.google.co.uk/group/uk....4c5444660a3 5
The thing to try to remember, and I accept the publicity does not make
this distinction, is that Oyster is the *card* and it can hold different
products - namely a Season Ticket i.e. Travelcard *and* cash in the form
a Pay as you Go product. It would be like combining a contract form of
service and PAYG on a mobile phone. Once you'd exhausted your contract
airtime you could use the cash for PAYG phone calls.
Due to the current level of equipment and commitment from the train
companies we are in an interim position with regard to acceptance of the
products that Oyster cards can hold. This will changes over the next
few years as the TOCs have agreed to sell and accept PAYG and TfL will
pay to have the equipment installed. However no detailed programme has
emerged to explain exactly how and when this will happen.
Simply - 7 day and longer Travelcards on Oyster cards are valid
everywhere the old magnetic ones work.
One Day travelcards remain on magnetic tickets and cannot be held on an
Oyster card at all.
PAYG is valid on all TfL contracted bus services, DLR, Tramlink and the
Tube. It is valid on a very small number of NR routes at present -
typically where those lines parallel the tube network. See page 10 of
the link below.
http://www.tfl.gov.uk/tfl/fares-tick...006.pdf#page=1
PAYG also offers something called "capping" to limit your daily
expenditure but this only works for those services where PAYG is valid.
For your travel it is not worth considering.
In your case I would strongly suggest that you simply buy a travelcard
on your Oyster card for the zones you regularly travel through. Forget
about PAYG as you require flexibility of mode rather than the benefit of
lower charges. For your journeys where there are not readers do not
worry about it despite the messages haranguing people to validate all
over the place. Your travelcard still works and you will not be charged
£4 (the maximum fare) because you are not using PAYG for all or part of
your journeys. I accept it is confusing but the correct message would
take 20 minutes to announce ;-)
PAYG is NOT valid on any SWT route - that is why there are not Oyster
pads everywhere. In addition you cannot use PAYG for any form of
extension to a Travelcard ticket e.g. travelling to Zone 5 if you had a
Z13 Travelcard. Again this explains why there are not pads to register
entry and exit everywhere.
A Travelcard that is held on an Oyster card is valid on SWT within the
dates and zones purchased. In order to permit Oyster cards that hold
Travelcards on them to work gates that is why some SWT stations do have
suitably equipped gates.
The new franchise for SWT includes the provision of Oyster compatible
equipment at all SWT stations and within the zonal area the introduction
of PAYG based charging. This is a number of years away. There is also a
requirement to gate Waterloo station but as I am sure you can imagine
that is not a small task.
Hounslow (SWT) Station is in Zone 5.
http://www.tfl.gov.uk/tfl/pdfdocs/lon_con.pdf
Ticket inspection staff have hand held readers to interrogate Oyster
cards. If you travel outside your zones or try to use PAYG on SWT then
you will be liable to a Penalty Fare.
Hope that helps.
--
Paul C
Admits to working for London Underground!