Help needed in using Oyster card at Harrow & Wealdstone Rail Station

Lugh_Chronain

I'm hoping to go to Berkhamsted, Hertfordshire on Christmas eve and was hoping to go via Harrow & Wealdstone Rail Station using my Oyster card. Does anyone know what the setup is regarding Oyster cards at Harrow & Wealdstone Station? I'm unsure about swiping my Oyster as I won't be exiting the station once I arrive at Harrow & Wealdstone and if I don't swipe I'll be charge the full price. Where and how do I do this? Can someone please explain this as I've not gone that way before using my Oyster card.

Thanks very much!

dzug1

Unless you touch your card on the reader both in at your starting station and out at the destination you will be charged the unresolved journey charge.

So what you will need to do is swipe in at Harrow, get off the train at Watford Junction, touch out, buy your ticket to Berkhamsted and get the next train on. You can't use it as part of a through journey without doing this

Lugh_Chronain

I'm starting my journey at Richmond via Harrow & Wealdstone. So I will have to swipe in at Richmond, but I thought as I won't be actually leaving the stations I arrive at then swiping out might be a bit tricky.

dzug1

Lugh_Chronain wrote: »

I'm starting my journey at Richmond via Harrow & Wealdstone. So I will have to swipe in at Richmond, but I thought as I won't be actually leaving the stations I arrive at then swiping out might be a bit tricky.

It will be more than a bit tricky. You will have to leave the station or be charged the maximum fare.

You will have to swipe out at the final station that Oyster cards are valid at - you cannot get to Berkhampstead on PAYG Oyster. It's not valid on the Watford Junction to Berkhampstead stretch of line, for which you will need a separate ticket or face a further penalty fare of £20.

Lugh_Chronain

I was under the impression that Harrow & Wealdstone was the last stop to change at before heading to Berkhamsted and not Watford Junction. Am I wrong here in suggesting that I have to leave Watford Junction then re-enter. Won't I get charged twice, once for swiping out and again for swiping in? That's what I was wondering, that's why I'm asking.

dzug1

You may or may not have to change at Harrow, but the Oyster zone goes further out than there.

Watford Junction is the last Oyster station before Berkhampstead. I would think virtually all trains from Harrow stop there. You get off the train, swipe out, buy a paper ticket to Berkhampstead, use it to get on the platform, and get the next train on.

On the return journey you get off at Watford, leave the station on your paper ticket, and reenter swiping your Oyster.

That way you are charged the proper price for the journeys you make.

antsnest

You don't actually have to leave the station, nor do you have to buy a ticket at Watford Junction.

Buy a ticket from Watford Junction to Berkhamstead at Richmond (you can buy a ticket from anywhere to anywhere at any BR station, they used to have a huge 3 inch thick book of fares, it's no fun asking for obscure fares now it's computerised!)

Make sure your train stops at Watfrd Junction!

Jump off the train at Watford Junction, zip to the Oyster reader and swipe out, rush back and jump back on the train before it goes (if possible), your paper ticket is now valid and more to the point your Oyster card is no longer bein g charged.

On the way back buy a paper ticket at Berkhampstead, jump off at Watford Junction and do the swipe in tango, see if you can jump back on the train, provided you've swiped in your Oyster is now valid. Swie out

You have to swipe in and out at Watford, you don't have to leave the station (or even the platform, depending on where the Oyster readers are of course)

Lugh_Chronain

Got it! Does the train to Watford go to Berkhamsted then? I'll expect I'll probably miss the train if it is in that case as I doubt I get back in time after finding the Oyster reader. Once I've done this though it should be easier the next time. I don't mind if I do miss the train as I can always catch the next one as long as I don't have to wait to long.

Thanks for the help!

dzug1

Many of the trains from Harrow to Watford terminate there, though some do continue on to Berkhampstead and beyond. It's a fairly frequent service anyway.

It will be a lot easier than you think - the main problem being to keep your Oyster charges straight.

Lugh_Chronain

I'll have another look at National Rail Enquiries and can decide from there which is the best route to take. I had a look at the Single fare finder on tfl's website and noticed that whichever station I change at it works the same price i.e. if I get off at Harrow or Watford then from there carry on to Berkhamsted it works out £15 altogether.

Avina_Popp

Would this nonsense happen in Germany? Somehow I doubt it.