"Tim Woodall" wrote in message
e.uk...
On Thu, 20 Nov 2008 17:52:12 -0000,
Stephen Osborn stephen.osborn wrote:

I've only recently started using PAYG (I used to have a Z1-3 Travelcard
on
my Oyster) so I am not familiar with all the intricacies. Can you please
explain why using two Oyster cards is cheaper in this case.

Peak OffPeak PeakCap OffpeakCap
WJ-Euston 5.50 3.00
WJ-Zone 1 6.00 3.50 17.10 12.60
Z1-Z1 1.50 1.50 6.30 4.80

The problem is that the peak time for WJ-Euston is only 7:00-9:30 (I
think, check that end time before relying on it) but the peak time for
WJ-Z1 and Z1-Z1 is 07:00-19:00

That means doing WJ-Euston plus Euston-Z1 as two separate journeys
after 9:30 is an offpeak 3.00 plus peak 1.50. But if you do it on the
same card, despite touching all the same readers it will be charged as a
single WJ-Z1 journey at peak time.

Of course the LU peak charging times change in January IIRC, making this
less of an issue, with an additional off peak period from 0930 - 1600, but I
suspect this was lost in the noise when all the 'massive fare hike shock -
blame Boris' stories appeared...

Paul S