Contactless Train Fares

Epic-zero

Does anyone know where to find contactless train online? I can't find them anywhere. I know from experience that (for example) if you use a contactless card to travel between Clapham Junction & Gatwick it's significantly cheaper than buying the cheapest available ticket... why don't national rail etc. reveal these fares online? Sick of ploughing through endless dross in my attempt to find them ;-)

Epic-zero

Sorry, that was supposed to say "contactless train FARES"

martindow

I've seen signs at Reading saying only to tap in if you are going to Paddington and not to any other destination.  I understood that it would then charge the correct peak or off-peak fare according to the time you use the card. 

Although Crossrail trains are running to Reading they are the same price as GWR trains and I didn't think that using contactless is any cheaper.

Andy_L

Southern's website shows the contactless/oyster fare on the RHS just above the "add to basket" button

Kite2010

You have the TFL Single Fare Finder for point to point fares, which could be useful to find out how much it would cost to use contactless/oyster:

https://tfl.gov.uk/fares/find-fares/tube-and-rail-fares/single-fare-finder

It will also highlight if there is any alternative fares available if you avoid zone 1 or avoid the dreaded "Mix Mode" premium on some routes

bubieyehyeh

I use ltfares.com it shows prices for the different routes and you can include railcard discount.

Between Gatwick and Clapham, it is often cheaper to split into two journeys. Gatwick to East Croydon, and Croydon to wherever. You need to leave and reenter at East Croydon.

martindow

bubieyehyeh said:

I use ltfares.com it shows prices for the different routes and you can include railcard discount.

Can you now add railcard discounts to contactless bank cards?  I thought this was only possible with an Oyster card

bubieyehyeh

martindow said:

bubieyehyeh said:

I use ltfares.com it shows prices for the different routes and you can include railcard discount.

Can you now add railcard discounts to contactless bank cards?  I thought this was only possible with an Oyster card

No railcard discount only on Oyster. I should have been clearer the railcard discounts doesn't apply to contactless.

jbuchanangb

I think your difficulty finding contactless train fares is that generally no such things exist. In the Transport For London (Oyster) area, you can pay for travel by tapping a contactless credit or debit card on the smart card reader, and TfL will charge you the fare you can find on their web site.
Everywhere else, you may find a ticket machine from which you can buy a ticket using a contactless debit or credit card as a means of payment. Many train companies offer their own smart cards, onto which you can load various types of tickets, including day tickets, weekly tickets, etc. but the method for loading such tickets onto such cards varies according to area and train company. You would need to look on the web site of the train company which runs services for the journey you want to take.
I am aware that you can pay for Manchester Metrolink trams by tapping in a contactless debit or credit card on the  smart card reader at their stops.

martindow

jbuchanangb said:

I think your difficulty finding contactless train fares is that generally no such things exist. In the Transport For London (Oyster) area, you can pay for travel by tapping a contactless credit or debit card on the smart card reader, and TfL will charge you the fare you can find on their web site.

Now Crossrail trains are running to Reading but it is outside the Oyster area which extends out to Southall or West Drayton only.  However contactless cards can be used at Reading and I assume other stations on the way to Paddington.  I'm not sure if you are then limited to TfL trains or can get fast trains. 

Lucky Freedom pass passengers can travel free as far as Reading on TfL trains - sadly they won't accept my national bus pass ...