Down South dog-sitting. Yesterday travelled from West Drayton to Windsor with contactless card. On arriving at Windsor, no Oyster reader and I now know that it is beyond the Oyster zone - better signage please for us strangers. So I have given TfL my card details and my point of origin but no end point. How much will they charge me?
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Wrong way on an Oyster card
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AlexNL
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You can find the maximum fares table on TfL's website. As you touched in at West Drayton (which is in Zone 6) on a Sunday, I think you will be charged £ 5.50.
AlexNL
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If you have an Oyster account you can see the incomplete transaction in the online journey history.
You should consider yourself lucky for not encountering a revenue protection officer, as Windsor is outside of the PAYG area. The PAYG area ends at West Drayton, as you can see on the map which can be downloaded from the Where you can use Oyster page on the TfL website.
You should consider yourself lucky for not encountering a revenue protection officer, as Windsor is outside of the PAYG area. The PAYG area ends at West Drayton, as you can see on the map which can be downloaded from the Where you can use Oyster page on the TfL website.
bb21
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I suspect that he was more wanting to inform than be smug. It can be read both ways however, I think.
If you have a Railcard, in any case, it would have been cheaper on an actual Oyster PAYG card than a contactless bank card (which I suspect is what the OP meant), as you can load the discount on the former but not the latter for Off-Peak fares and caps.
If you have a Railcard, in any case, it would have been cheaper on an actual Oyster PAYG card than a contactless bank card (which I suspect is what the OP meant), as you can load the discount on the former but not the latter for Off-Peak fares and caps.
AlexNL
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Apologies if my post was received as me being smug, that wasn't my intention.
Thanks all for replies and comments. It was after reading horror stories on here that I was fretting about how much this error on my part might cost me.
Alex, no worries, I didn't take it as smug and I now know where to look and learn when I'm next down in that there London, so thanks to you.
That said, I really do think TfL should have much clearer signs for strangers to understand the system. AT WDT, how about a large sign which says LIMIT OF OYSTER ZONE ? Not difficult.
Alex, no worries, I didn't take it as smug and I now know where to look and learn when I'm next down in that there London, so thanks to you.
That said, I really do think TfL should have much clearer signs for strangers to understand the system. AT WDT, how about a large sign which says LIMIT OF OYSTER ZONE ? Not difficult.
Its not a tfl station so they probably just don't care enough.
Or how about READ THE MAP BEFORE YOU TRAVEL or something so you get a good understanding of where you can go and with what tickets? Not difficult.
In a way I agree with what you’re saying but For What It’s Worth TfL Rail took over operations of West Drayton station as of last month.
Of course in the not too distant future you will be able to use your Oyster/CPC for Pay As You Go travel to Slough/Reading.
Did they? bloody hell I must keep up but either way my point still stands about reading the zonal map at all stations before you travel
madjack
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Yes it's an easy mistake to make. I notice SWT trains have an announcement when the train is going out of Oyster validity zone, which is a good idea - it's too easy to get used to just doing everything by Oyster/contactless.
SEClass375
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So do southeastern on the approach to the last station in the zonal area but how does this help an unbeknown passenger who is at the last station in the zonal area to not use oyster / contactless if they are intending to travel out of the zonal area?
K.o.R
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I have been on a stopper train out of Waterloo heading to Portsmouth that announces that Oyster etc. is not valid on this service, even though the train is calling at Clapham Junction.
Pick up only at Clapham Junction, probably
Well again - there are maps at stations!
However, I do agree that this becomes a bigger problem as the Oyster zone expands out from London.
Perhaps a note in the footer line of departure boards? 'Oyster not valid' or some such.
There's a level of culpability both ways here: it's quite easy to think of a few ways of helping customers not make mistakes, but I suppose there's also a responsibility to think about it if you're traveling to a suburban/commuter belt destination near London
Skimpot flyer
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Looking at that table, something occurred to me.
Passenger starts a journey at London Victoria in the morning peak, touching in at one of Platforms 15-19, travelling to Gatwick Airport.
Feeling stressed, due to short time for check-in, finds disruption and open barriers at Gatwick Airport, and rushes through to catch his flight... forgetting to touch-out.
That table implies he/she would be charged a Maximum Fare of £8.00
The true peak Oyster fare for non-Gatwick Express trains is £14.70
or am I missing something?
Soith Western Railway tell you on the train once you board. Alas some of the announcements happen once the train has left and your now outside the Oyster zone.
Barriers are rarely, if ever, open at Gatwick, probably partially for this reason
paddington
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They are occasionally open at the southern entrance.
There are no barriers, or they are frequently open, at stations beween Purley and Gatwick.
There are plenty of possible journeys which are more expensive than the maximum fare, particularly if starting in Z7-9, crossing Z1 and then exiting in one of the special zones. With regards to fare evasion, what may be more important is that even more journeys cost more than the minimum fare plus the Oyster deposit.
cactustwirly
Established Member
Well Windsor is not in London, so I'd thought it was obvious that Oyster wasn't valid here, given that it is a TfL product.
The general rule of thumb, is that Oyster is only valid in London, but not outside (with the exception of Tattenham Corner, Caterham & Gatwick Airport)
Plenty more exceptions. Off the top of my head I'll give you Shenfield, Watford, Hertford (East), Dartford, Elstree and Grays. Not to mention Chesham, Amersham and Epping which may be on the Underground network but are most definitely not in London.
Swanley, Grays, Upper Warlingham. There's even a question mark over the Ewell stations, Elstree & Borehamwood, Thames Ditton.
AlterEgo
Veteran Member
I have never seen the barriers open at Gatwick Airport.
Yes, touching in on the Gatwick Express platform at Victoria levies an entry charge equivalent to the full Gatwick Express fare.
But @Skimpot flyer said touch in was at platforms 15-19 which have the usual entry charge.
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