Peak fares on TFL London

jon81uk

kuratowski said:

All journeys are off peak if you start after 09.30 unless going out of zone 1 16.00 - 19.00

I think what yorkie was pointing out, the above statement isn't correct.  Journeys not involving zone 1 are still liable for peak fares in the evening peak.
For example, Maida Vale (Z2) to Harrow & Wealdstone (Z5) costs £2.80 between Monday to Friday from 0630 to 0930 and from 1600 to 1900, and £1.70 at other times.  In both directions.
So it's fairer to say, as yorkie did, that all journeys starting between 4-7pm attract peak fares, and travelling into zone 1 is an exception to the rule.

I suppose as that journey can only be done by going via zone one you go in and back out of zone 1. 

So yes you are correct it isn’t that simple because some journeys don’t look like they involve leaving zone 1 when they actually do.

kuratowski

I think you need to check a tube map, they're both on the Bakerloo Line

jon81uk

kuratowski said:

I think you need to check a tube map, they're both on the Bakerloo Line

haha, I mis-read the map and names and was thinking of Hayes & Harlington. Yes Harrow & Wealdstone doesn't involve going via zone 1!

Okay, there are jorneys that don't involve travel via zone one that still have an evening peak
I just hadn't found them before as all the ones I had looked at did involve zone 1.

yorkie2

kuratowski said:

OP you may be interested by this site which has several pages explaining the ins and outs of the oyster/contactless systems.  The below page focuses on peak vs off-peak including the exceptions, but elsewhere there are several other edge cases documented (e.g. the short hops)

https://oysterfares.com/information-pages/peak-off-peak-and-caps/

Agreed; I know the owner of that site very well, and his knowledge is second to none.  I also know someone who works for TfL who is involved in the programming of the PAYG system who has said that his feedback to TfL is really useful.

kuratowski said:

All journeys are off peak if you start after 09.30 unless going out of zone 1 16.00 - 19.00

I think what yorkie was pointing out, the above statement isn't correct.  Journeys not involving zone 1 are still liable for peak fares in the evening peak.
For example, Maida Vale (Z2) to Harrow & Wealdstone (Z5) costs £2.80 between Monday to Friday from 0630 to 0930 and from 1600 to 1900, and £1.70 at other times.  In both directions.
So it's fairer to say, as yorkie did, that all journeys starting between 4-7pm attract peak fares, and travelling into zone 1 is an exception to the rule.

Yes that's exactly right; there are other exceptions such as journeys on the line between Euston and Watford Jn, and it can be cheaper to "split" to take advantage of this e.g. Watford Junction to Camden Road at 1830 would be a peak fare but if you "split" at Willesden Junction you would be paying two off peak fares which would be cheaper than the through fare (especially so for a Railcard holder)

jbuchanangb

Anecdote. I once had to travel from Highgate to Waterloo during the evening peak. I hold an Oyster Card with National Rail discount. A 'helpful' friend decided to give me a lift as far as Euston. It would have been churlish to refuse. The lift by car probably took longer than the tube would have. If I had taken the train the fare would have been £1.85, being the discounted off peak fare from Highgate to Waterloo. The actual fare was £2.40 because it was a peak journey not eligible for discount!