Silly Oyster Card Questions...

pazza2000

I have never used an Oyster card, and have no idea how they work -yet i have one(think i ordered one for free off the TFL website some time ago)

...Anyway, i am going to London for a few days next week and i would like to use it -as i know it means cheaper fares.

My questions are:

how do you add credit to it(there is no barcode or anything on it??)
& how do i find out what i need to add. I know ill need a Zone one pass for one day when im in the central area only, and a Zone1-5 pass for two other days when ill be ot near Elstree.

Stupid questions i know but i am clueless as to how it works...

Thanks

fuzzybear01

You put pay as you go credit on at a machine found in all tube stations and some newsagents. Credit will be automatically deducted upto the daily travelcard rate. The card has a radio chip in it which means that you touch card on a reader, so it doesn't need a barcode

Crabman

If you have a railcard you can register it against the oyster card to benefit from a lower 'daily cap'.

http://www.tfl.gov.uk/tickets/faresandtickets/singlefares/6769.aspx

pazza2000

Crabman wrote: »

If you have a railcard you can register it against the oyster card to benefit from a lower 'daily cap'.

http://www.tfl.gov.uk/tickets/faresandtickets/singlefares/6769.aspx

Thanks for the link. So the most ill be charged on a day using buses/tubes in zone 1-5 is £4.60, as ill be using it after 9am(which is offpeak right??), and £3.35 for whe i am just in Zone 1 which means i can work out how much to preload it with(£12.55) and i can do so at a tube station. Does this sound correct??

Thanks very much for your help.

robt_2

pazza2000 wrote: »

Thanks for the link. So the most ill be charged on a day using buses/tubes in zone 1-5 is £4.60, as ill be using it after 9am(which is offpeak right??), and £3.35 for whe i am just in Zone 1 which means i can work out how much to preload it with(£12.55) and i can do so at a tube station. Does this sound correct??

Thanks very much for your help.

Only if you have a railcard. If not it will be £5.10 and £7.

Offpeak is after 9.30am.

And yes, just top it up using a machine at a station. Some machines are cards/cash only so check before you queue.

Crabman

Just so you get the correct info - if you don't have a national rail railcard then these are the applicable daily caps:

http://www.tfl.gov.uk/tickets/faresandtickets/singlefares/5196.aspx

pazza2000

Crabman wrote: »

Just so you get the correct info - if you don't have a national rail railcard then these are the applicable daily caps:

http://www.tfl.gov.uk/tickets/faresandtickets/singlefares/5196.aspx

Thanks for the info. So its £19.10 i should preload it with :-)

Much appreciated, saves me asking when i am down there.

FARE-COP

pazza2000 wrote: »

Thanks for the info. So its £19.10 i should preload it with :-)

Much appreciated, saves me asking when i am down there.

All of the good advice you have been given is correct, but don't forget to touch-in on the Oyster touch pads at the start of every journey and touch-out at the end of the ride when you travel, otherwise the law says your card is not a valid ticket.

The only time that does not apply is if you are using an Oyster season ticket and you are in the zones that the season covers.