TfL charges: different prices for the zone depending on train/tube

richee1

Just a curiosity question.

I was under the assumption that all Contactless Charges (i.e. Oyster card charges) were the same between zone's when you tapped in and out regardless of mode of transport.

I live in Zone 3 and travel to Zone 1 to work occasionally (so doesn't warrant a travel card). I live between two stations, rail - South West, and a tube. Either journey involves a change in zone 2 and both are in the same zone.

If I go Zone 3 South West Train to zone 2 (Vauxhall) and change onto the tube to zone 1 I get charged £4.90

If I go Zone 3 Tube to zone 2 (Earls Court) and change onto another tube to zone 1 I get charged £3.30

Where does the extra £1.60 charge come from? If I had know that I would have just been getting the tube all this time!

dzug1

Certain train lines (mainly south of the river) have higher Oyster fares than for tube journeys. There's a map and fare table (well hidden away) on the TfL website


It comes about because Ken/Boris etc weren't prepared to meet South West Trains (and other's) demands for money to accept Oyster 'normally'

cpheonix

Yeah, it's a bit crap really. Unless I have to, I try to avoid changing at a station from a tube to train or vice versa when going home to Putney from zone 1.

I would change at Earls Court for the District line to Putney Bridge/East Putney rather than change at Waterloo/Vauxhall for a SW train to Putney.

richee1

How inconvenient. Had I know I would have definitely been sticking to the tube. That's a premium of £3.20 a day I've been paying. What a waste. I thought the whole point of having zones and integrating oyster and national rail was to standardise all the charges.

I wasn't able to find anything on the TfL website for the reason why, just the fare Finder so they've done a good job of keeping it quite!

peachyprice

richee1 wrote: »

Where does the extra £1.60 charge come from? If I had know that I would have just been getting the tube all this time!

richee1 wrote: »

I wasn't able to find anything on the TfL website for the reason why, just the fare Finder so they've done a good job of keeping it quite!

The reason is that you're using National Rail service not just London Underground, NR have their own pricing structure that has nothing to do with LU fares.

yorkie2

peachyprice wrote: »

The reason is that you're using National Rail service not just London Underground, NR have their own pricing structure that has nothing to do with LU fares.

But that doesn't tell the full story.

The problem isn't so much that National Rail set fares are (mostly) higher than TfL set fares, but the mixed-mode premium that applies if you use certain National Rail routes into Zone 1, and then use London Underground.

Surbiton to central London tube stations is one example where this ludicrous premium applies.

Such a premium does not apply for a journey such as Hayes & Harlington to central London tube stations changing at Paddington (FGW), or Harrow & Wealdstone to central London tube stations changing at Euston (London Midland).

richee1

So is daily capping still the same with your contactless if you use these routes?

Mr_Singleton

Out of interest I have a friend who when working in London prefers to stay at a Premier Inn in Innova Park Enfield. I sometimes go up to meet him. If I was to use a contactless card to travel by tube from Zone 1 to Tottenham Hale then change to the overground to Enfield Lock what would the the fare be? Is there a premium attached to this journey?

yorkie2

richee1 wrote: »

So is daily capping still the same with your contactless if you use these routes?

The cap is unaffected; the mixed mode premiums that apply to some journeys are only a surcharge on the single fare and don't in any way impact on the cap.

So someone who does a lot of journeys and will be capped anyway, needn't worry.

Mr_Singleton wrote: »

Out of interest I have a friend who when working in London prefers to stay at a Premier Inn in Innova Park Enfield. I sometimes go up to meet him. If I was to use a contactless card to travel by tube from Zone 1 to Tottenham Hale then change to the overground to Enfield Lock what would the the fare be? Is there a premium attached to this journey?

Good news: that journey does not attract the mixed mode premium, and is set at the TfL rate (even though you'd be taking a Greater Anglia train). So it's £5.10 at peak times (touching in on Mondays-Fridays between 0630-0930 or 1600-1900) or £3.10 at all other times. The same fare is charged whether you change at Liverpool Street or Tottenham Hale.

Tuareg

Capping has got me confused. If in the example above Mr. S does this trip at peak time and pays £5.10 does that mean all bus's are free for the day because a daily bus pass is £4.50? Or will the above fare only contribute to a rail/tube cap not a bus one.... if that makes sense?

silvercar

Tuareg wrote: »

Capping has got me confused. If in the example above Mr. S does this trip at peak time and pays £5.10 does that mean all bus's are free for the day because a daily bus pass is £4.50? Or will the above fare only contribute to a rail/tube cap not a bus one.... if that makes sense?

The train fare contributes to the daily cap. Buses won't be free from the fact you used a train because the train fare can't contribute to the daily bus pass cap.