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Paul Corfield · February 16th 08, 01:19 PM posted to uk.transport.london

On Sat, 16 Feb 2008 06:03:45 -0800 (PST), wrote:

I just done a search on the TFL "Fare Finder" page for Ruislip
(London Underground) to Hackney Central ( London Overground ). It
came out with the following results :

=========================================

Ruislip - Hackney Central

Oyster single fare
£1.80 Monday to Friday from 0700 and before 1900*
£1.00 At all other times including public holidays.
------------------------------------------------
Cash single fare
£3.00 At any time.
=========================================

So in theory a return journey can cost you as little as £2.00 outside
the hours of 0700 - 1900.

The fare pricing suggests that the route to be used cannot traverse
through Zone 1.
The obvious route is if you go via Finchley Rd Tube and then change at
Finchley Rd + Frognal but you will have to touch out at Finchley Road
and touch in at Finchley Rd + Frognal and hence will be charged for
two journeys and the total fare will be more than the £1.00 / £1.80
listed above.
If according to the above I only pay £1.00 / £1.80 for the journey, it
means I have to use a route which involves touching in at Ruislip,
touching out at Hackney , no touching out / in at immediate stations
and I MUST NOT travel through zone 1. Changing at Finchley Rd and
Finchley Road + Frognal is out of the question as I will have to touch
out and in again and get charged for two journeys. So for which route
is this £1.80 / £1.00 ticket valid ? Obviously I cannot go into
Central London ( ZONE 1) and then up to Highbury + Islington to
change for London Overground. I am trying to think of a route which
would involve :

1. Not exiting exiting / touching out and then entering / touching in
at immediate stations en route.

2. The provision to change trains at a London Overground station which
has a LU interchange and does not require me to travel through zone 1
to reach it !

Any suggestions for this route ??? The TFL journey planner suggests
the Finchley Rd, changing at Finchley Rd + Frognal route but then I
will get charged twice and the fare will be more than £1.80 / £1.00.

There are other examples of low fares seemingly based on non zone 1
travel which work perfectly well if you go via Zone 1. One local example
to me is Tottenham Hale to Canary Wharf. It's charged on the basis of
using the "one" service from TH to Stratford and then changing. However
you are not disadvantaged if you go via Green Park and change from Vic
Line to Jubilee Line.

I don't see why you are worried about going via zone 1. If your card is
checked en route it will just show where you entered and how much was
deducted on entry. The card cannot show where you are going and any
fare due is simply determined at exit - in your case almost certainly by
adding value back on to the card. If the fare finder shows the value of
£1 then that's what you get charged regardless of route.

The only non zone 1 option which is reasonably feasible and where I
think there is a recognised PAYG interchange is via West Hampstead. Now
that involves you in either a double back from Finchley Road or a change
to the Jubilee at Wembley Park. The only other option I can think of is
Met through to Kings Cross then Vic Line then NLL at Highbury. All of
that is a no gateline interchange if that soothes your anxiety. Heck of
a long way round for a short cut though. I'd be tempted to do the West
Hampstead option.

--
Paul C

Admits to working for London Underground!