confused about Oyster vs Travelcards

calx

Hi
DH and I are taking 2DD to London for a couple nights.

We are staying near Sutton and intend to take the train into London each day.

1. Am I right in thinking that if we get 2 adult oyster cards then the kids travel free (aged 4 and 7)?

2. Is the maximum charge on a oyster card capped at the Travelcard rate?


thanks, I know someone out here will understand this new oyster system better than me!

dzug1

Your 4 year old will travel free regardless.

As Sutton is National Rail, not overground, tube, etc, your 7 year old will need an off peak travelcard at £2 a day. She would be free if you were not using National Rail

Oyster will cap at the one day travelcard rate for the zones used.

alanrowell

The first thing to realize is that it isn't Oystercard vs Travelcard as Travelcards can be put on Oystercards. What you mean is Oystercard PAYG where you pay for each ride you take but there's a limit that is the same as the equivalent 1 day Travelcard.

For a couple of nights stay it doesn't really matter if you use Travelcards or PAYG unless - and it's a BIG UNLESS - you intend using the offers on daysoutguide.com in which case buying Travelcards at a London train station will save you oodles of money

If you were staying over 4 days then a 7 day Travelcard will normally work out cheaper than PAYG.

johnfarquhar74

alanrowell wrote: »

The first thing to realize is that it isn't Oystercard vs Travelcard as Travelcards can be put on Oystercards.

Did they change this? Once when I was working in London but staying at Ealing I bought a 5 day travel card, zones 1-6 and it was put on an Oyster card (which I still have but never used since).

Moomum

I think an oyster card caps at 50 p below a travel card price but then you have to pay £3 for each oyster. Children travel free on the underground until 11 (they then get free oysters until 16) but on national rail, south eastern rail etc you have to buy a travel card, south eastern charge £1.60 I think.

HTH

dzug1

natmid wrote: »

I think an oyster card caps at 50 p below a travel card price but then you have to pay £3 for each oyster. Children travel free on the underground until 11 (they then get free oysters until 16) but on national rail, south eastern rail etc you have to buy a travel card, south eastern charge £1.60 I think.

HTH

The '50p below' is no longer - the cap now the same as the one day travelcard

The £3 is a refundable deposit

dzug1

johnfarquhar74 wrote: »

Did they change this? Once when I was working in London but staying at Ealing I bought a 5 day travel card, zones 1-6 and it was put on an Oyster card (which I still have but never used since).

Not really.

One day travelcards cannot be put on Oyster

7 day and longer ones (issued by TfL) are always on Oyster- if issued by national Rail they are paper. (your 5 day would have been 7)