Oyster cards

M_Thomson

martinlewisfanclub wrote:

However, you can buy little books of tickets in newsagents for buses (certainly in greater London-don't know if there is similar for the Tube). Great for visitors and they never expire so the price you pay when you buy remains the same (unlike fares when you use Oyster which are debited at the going rate). Wish I'd bought more of them before the recent price increase in Jan.

The price for saver tickets stayed the same as last year. £6, making a bus journey with these tickets still £1.

lavendergirl

Bus fare is only £1 on Oyster

martinlewisfanclub

M_Thomson wrote:

The price for saver tickets stayed the same as last year. £6, making a bus journey with these tickets still £1.

Ah right. I thought I'd bought them for 80p a ticket last year.
Anyway, I've left a couple of books of tickets with family in Scotland so they can use them from Heathrow to me on the bus rather than pay cash. Both that and oyster are quite convenient though. Cheers.

Stompa

Having just got an Oyster Card (but not used it yet), can somebody tell me what happens if there's not enough cash on the card when you come to 'touch out'? Are there top-up machines on the rail side of the barriers to enable you to top-up and then get out?

Zinger549

Stompa wrote:

Having just got an Oyster Card (but not used it yet), can somebody tell me what happens if there's not enough cash on the card when you come to 'touch out'? Are there top-up machines on the rail side of the barriers to enable you to top-up and then get out?

No there arnt. You would have to speak to the assistant to get through

Stompa

Zinger549 wrote:

No there arnt. You would have to speak to the assistant to get through

OK thanks. Having just delved around the tfl website the implication seems to be that if I intend making a £1.50 journey I may need more than £1.50 on my card before I'm allowed to commence.

It says:

Q: Do I need to have at least £5 on my Oyster card to start a Tube/DLR journey using pay as you go?

A: No. The amount you must have on your Oyster card before you can start a pay as you go journey at a station depends on the zone you start your journey in and how close you are to reaching a daily price cap.
However, if you have been charged a maximum cash fare, you may need to top up your Oyster card before making any further journeys.

which is as clear as mud!!!

alanrowell

It means you can always make one last journey (presumably home)

M_Thomson

martinlewisfanclub wrote:

Ah right. I thought I'd bought them for 80p a ticket last year.
Anyway, I've left a couple of books of tickets with family in Scotland so they can use them from Heathrow to me on the bus rather than pay cash. Both that and oyster are quite convenient though. Cheers.

Hi,

The price of Oyster fares on buses last year was £1 if you travelled between 6:30am and 9:30am and 80p at all other times. Saver tickets were £1 last year. This year Oyster and savers are both £1.

M_Thomson

Stompa wrote:

Having just got an Oyster Card (but not used it yet), can somebody tell me what happens if there's not enough cash on the card when you come to 'touch out'? Are there top-up machines on the rail side of the barriers to enable you to top-up and then get out?

The correct fare will be deducted and then your card goes into a negative balance. You will not be allowed to travel with the card until you bring the balance above 0.

Stompa

M_Thomson wrote:

The correct fare will be deducted and then your card goes into a negative balance. You will not be allowed to travel with the card until you bring the balance above 0.

Ah OK thanks, that makes sense. Is that perhaps a reason for the £3 deposit? Otherwise every time it went negative you could simply ditch the card and get another one.