Will contactless push this tfl overground journey into peak rate?

nottsphil

I've booked a coach whose first London stop is in zone 2 (Finchley Road) at about 3.30pm on a weekday. I'm heading for Herts, to a National Rail station just within the contactless region. Tfl website tells me that it's the starting time that determines the fare, and this is reflected in the price quoted for the 15:56 departure from the nearest overland station.  However, the only change involves leaving West Hampstead station and walking 150 m to West Hampstead Thameslink station, where I would have to tap in again, but after 4pm. I don't see how tfl would be charging any less for this second leg than the fare they quote for people starting their journey at Thameslink (Yep, same train, shorter overall journey but 79% increase on the price!)

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MilesT6060842

I'm local.

First point:  The West Hampstead stations are within an "out of station interchange" (OSI) group, so you won't pay for each leg, the trips will be joined together as one for fare purposes.  And therefore the start time for the journey (for peak assessment) would be your first tap at Finchley Road underground or Finch & Frog Overground (same price either way)

So use the Tfl single fare finder from Finchley Road to Radlett to find the fare you will be charged.  As you plan to use contactless what you may initially see on a banking app won't be the final (may be more) but overnight will be corrected.

Secondly, contactless fare from Finchley Road may not be your cheapest option, depends on any additional travel in the day or return travel, and what railcards you have.  If only going to Radlett and nothing more, then the cheapest option will be walk to West Hampstead, then buy a ticket from the Ticket machine or ticket office there upfront (both accept contactless).  Then you will be sure of cheapest fare.  The railway's view of peak times is different from TFL's, use the national rail website to check.  Contactless is offered as a convenience for ad hoc travel but railway extensions outside of zones 1-9 isn't always cheapest option (Radlett is in extension zone B/11)

It really is not that far a walk from where the coaches drop off to West Hampstead stations: head north to the o2 shopping centre, then go into/through the centre and downstairs to Sainsbury's, walk across the car park to the big shed that used to be Homebase, there is a path on the left hand side next to the car wash, walk along that about 200m, and hey presto, West Hampstead. 15m tops for most people unless you have lots of heavy luggage. Thameslink station: turn right when you get to the main high street (past Costa), then you will see it