London Underground

dzug1

terryw wrote: »

No mate it is still worthwhile getting an Oystercard as it can be used the next time that you go to London. It automatically calculates the cheapest fare (zones off-peak etc) so you can't do it any cheaper.

terryw

Depends on your values of 'worthwhile'. Is a 50p a day saving using the Oyster worth the bother of getting it, paying the deposit, and keeping cash on it? Some would say not.

terryw

dzug1 wrote: »

Depends on your values of 'worthwhile'. Is a 50p a day saving using the Oyster worth the bother of getting it, paying the deposit, and keeping cash on it? Some would say not.

I am a great Oystercard fan so my views may be prejudiced! But yes it is still worthwhile. It covers for any change of plans like leaving zones 1 and 2. Or taking a single trip if your stay in London is accidentally extended. It is hardly a bother getting the card, and fortunes do not have to be left on the thing.

terryw

AdrianHi

Got my Oyster card in the post today after applying online. Took about 3 business days to come, all registered on the tfl web site already.
Doing auto top up so £20 + £3 to start off with and an auto top up of £20 when the balance falls below £5. You can also report your card lost/stolen through the web site and your outstanding balance on the card is protected.
I think it's going to save me about £1.50 to £2 a day compared to a travel card which over a full working year would add up to around £400-£450 :cool:

Going to have to look into putting a season ticket on it to see if that will save me more...

If you live in London or travel there often it's a no brainer, get one.

gner_ex

terryw wrote: »

I am a great Oystercard fan so my views may be prejudiced! But yes it is still worthwhile. It covers for any change of plans like leaving zones 1 and 2. Or taking a single trip if your stay in London is accidentally extended. It is hardly a bother getting the card, and fortunes do not have to be left on the thing.

terryw

Depends if you believe in Ken Livingstone's surveillance society really.

gner_ex

surreysaver wrote: »

And to confuse you even more, both the Overground and overground (but not the Underground) are part of the National Rail network, and the Overground and Underground (but not the overground) are part of the TfL network (as already stated). And Oyster can be used on buses. Then you've got the trams and DLR as well. Plus Riverboats. Taxis and coaches are also regulated by TfL, but you can't use Oyster on them. Now try explaining that to a non-Londoner, let alone a non-english speaking tourist!

And parts of the Overground share tracks with overground trains, parts of the Overground share tracks with Underground trains, and parts of the overground share tracks with Underground trains. For ticketing purposes, there are sections of the Underground on which 'overground' (i.e. national rail) fares are valid - i.e. Finsbury Park-Kings Cross.

At places, the Overground is underneath the Underground (Whitechapel, just south of West Brompton, possibly others), and at places the overground is underneath the Underground (the grid iron at Farringdon, and the points where the Met/chiltern line cross the WCML/bakerloo line - possibly others too), there are also places where the Overground is underneath the overground and the Underground (Stratford - though not for much longer).

Might I suggest that we refer to overground as National Rail - or even as British Rail - it might be simpler. I tend to refer to the Overground franchise as LOROL or Silverlink.

gner_ex

Campbellian wrote: »

Hello

What is the cheapest way to get around, using the London Underground?
I will be at University from September this year in London.

Any help would be greatly appreciated.

Cheers.

Where is your uni, and where are your halls? As it may be relevant, where is your family home?

reehsetin

im pretty sure the student discount doesn't discount 1 day travel cards just weekly/monthly i think, the reason im saying is because for me personally, even though it was a fulltime course i was only physically at uni 2/3 days a week so getting a travel card even discounted didn't always work out cheaper especially because i was traveling off peak, so keep that in mind!

sarah_elton

Itsgottabedone wrote: »

And do bear in mind that the lovely tube map isn't to scale. One example that springs to mind is the distance between Kings X St Pancras and Euston. No point in going down the escalators, through the walkways, onto the platform, waiting for the train, travelling one stop, off the platform, through the walkways, up the escalators and out at the destination when you could actually have just crossed the road!

Indeed:

http://homepages.tesco.net/houseofsteel/geoff-files/sillymaps/large_geographical_map.gif

The West End is much easier on foot. The area from Holborn to Oxford Circus to Piccadilly Circus to Covent Garden just isn't worh the hassle unless it's raining hard!

ray123

Try and walk if you can, ie. around zone 1. I live near waterloo and walk to green park every day - Takes 25-30 mins.
Otherwise, take a bus if possible. as a weekly bus pass costs around £13, a lot cheaper than the tube.

terryw

gner_ex wrote: »

Depends if you believe in Ken Livingstone's surveillance society really.

C'mon mate. Anyone can buy an Oystercard at any local newsagents. No names or addresses....it is the choice of the individual to register or not.

terryw