Stratford query

martindow

KxMx said:If you have a National Railcard, this cannot be combined with contactless. 
It can be combined with Oyster for cheaper PAYG fares. You can get a railcard added onto your Oyster by staff at various locations. 

Should be possible by staff at any tube station and I believe at any of their few visitor centres that still exist.

MilesT6060842

Oyster cards are still a thing, as they offer a top up /  pay as you go option, but there's no advantage in price or convenience.
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Oyster is financially a disadvantage if you don't already have one (need to pay £7 non-refundable fee to get one, although sometimes you can get a second hand one for less on eBay--be careful to check that it hasn't been disabled and amount of credit---or debit--shown on the card).  If you have one already, then the financial disadvantage is any unused balance which is effectively trapped until you cancel the card at a ticket machine and get a refund (there is a maximum refund of I think £50, older cards may credit you back the £5 deposit or that may have been already converted into travel credit)

Oyster is financially advantageous though if you have certain national railcards (the discount can be "flagged" into the card, which you can't do with contactless, yet) and travel often enough to recoup the  £7 outl  ay.  Qualifying cards for Oyster discount IIRC are all the "age" related cards, disabled, veterans, and Network Southeast region annual season ticket "gold" card.  Not Network, Two Together, or Family. 

Personally I use an oyster for security reasons, to not take a debit/credit card or phone out of my pocket needlessly at barriers; I have an oyster in a separate card holder with my railcards.  I have considered getting a dedicated debit card instead (e.g. something like a curve) to have a "safe" card to use just for the purpose which I can cancel if lost with less impact.  I mourn the demise of the Citymapper pass card for that reason.

judebi

Sorry to jump on this thread, but can anyone tell me which end of train I need from train from Southend to get off at Stratford for Elizabeth line and which platform Elizabeth line is.  I know Southend train comes in on 9 or 10.  I will be travelling in rush hour on Friday so want to be as prepared as possible!