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Redhill to Reading

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yvonne

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As a visitor to UK I get based in Redhill but do not understand the rail system
I purchase an oyster or organise my direct debit card use but need to know the best and CHEAPEST way to get by rail from Reading to Redhill outside peak hours Does anyone know how much the direct rail journey will cost and can we use Oyster Thanks
 
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JonathanH

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No, you cannot use Oyster.

The cheapest fare on the direct route is £16.70 off-peak single, £16.80 off-peak day return, £24.60 peak single, £25.80 any time day return. Off-peak valid at 0815 and later - in practice 0838 and later.
 

Romilly

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There are direct trains between Reading and Redhill. The journey takes just over 1 hour. A return ticket for travelling out and back the same day costs £16.80 for travel at offpeak times. A one-way ticket at offpeak times costs £16.70. You cannot use Oyster. Rather, you have to buy a ticket either from a ticket office, or from a ticket machine at a station, or online. If you buy online, you will get an 8-character code which you use, together with your debit/creditcard, to collect your ticket from a ticket machine at the station. Hope this helps, and welcome to the forum. The prices I have given are for the trains via Guildford. These prices are not valid for travel via London.
 

yvonne

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Thank you very much for that clear advice Just wondering as we need to go on tpo Nutfield changing at Redhill would the fare be the same or an addition? Yvonne
 

JonathanH

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Thank you very much for that clear advice Just wondering as we need to go on tpo Nutfield changing at Redhill would the fare be the same or an addition? Yvonne

The fare from Reading to Nutfield is exactly the same as the fare to Redhill - the structure of UK tickets over a certain distance is for clusters of stations to have the same fare set.
 

ForTheLoveOf

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The fare from Reading to Nutfield is exactly the same as the fare to Redhill - the structure of UK tickets over a certain distance is for clusters of stations to have the same fare set.
Note that, however, this does not mean that you are allowed to use a ticket to Redhill to travel to Nutfield (although the reverse is true, as, in common with most tickets, you are allowed to make just part of the ticketed journey if you wish).

It's always worth buying the ticket for the furthest apart combination of stations that costs the same as your actual, intended, journey. In this case that would be Tilehurst to either Earlswood, Nutfield or Merstham - this costs the same as Reading-Redhill but is valid an extra station at either end.
 

yvonne

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Note that, however, this does not mean that you are allowed to use a ticket to Redhill to travel to Nutfield (although the reverse is true, as, in common with most tickets, you are allowed to make just part of the ticketed journey if you wish).

It's always worth buying the ticket for the furthest apart combination of stations that costs the same as your actual, intended, journey. In this case that would be Tilehurst to either Earlswood, Nutfield or Merstham - this costs the same as Reading-Redhill but is valid an extra station at either end.

Thank you very helpful

Just another thought I was trying to do a route from Redhil to Warwick Avenue station but the site does not recognise the station Would the fare be the same as from Redhill to Paddington as they are so close?
 

James H

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If you are making several journeys then a Network Railcard may be worthwhile
 

JonathanH

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Thank you very helpful

Just another thought I was trying to do a route from Redhil to Warwick Avenue station but the site does not recognise the station Would the fare be the same as from Redhill to Paddington as they are so close?

Warwick Avenue is on the underground. If you are travelling off-peak (0909 or later from Redhill), you need a travelcard. This is £17.30. If you are travelling at peak time, you might want to consider using Oyster or Contactless. This is £13.40 each way.
 

ForTheLoveOf

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Thank you very helpful

Just another thought I was trying to do a route from Redhil to Warwick Avenue station but the site does not recognise the station Would the fare be the same as from Redhill to Paddington as they are so close?
Warwick Avenue is a London Underground station. London Underground works differently to the rest of the rail network (what's known as National Rail) in terms of functionality and ticketing, although it is still possible to buy one ticket that's valid on both.

Most booking sites won't have stations that are solely Underground stations in their list of options, so if you want to buy one ticket from your origin to your destination then you'll need to enter the London Zone that it's in - in the case of Warwick Avenue, that's Zone 2.

A ticket to London Underground Zones 1-2 would then be issued - and this is simply a single ticket that lets you travel to any Zone 1 or 2 Underground station.

Alternatively, you could get what's known as a Travelcard. A Travelcard is a kind of ticket that is valid for unlimited use on (almost) all services within the Zones you select. You can get a Travelcard for varying durations - you can get a Day Travelcard that's valid for just one day, you can get a weekly one and so on. You can also get them for different zones, and have one ticket that serves as both your normal rail ticket and a Travelcard. When you buy a ticket to "London Terminals" you'll usually be given the option of asking for a Day Travelcard. In most cases the only option is for a Zones 1-6 one.

The other alternative is to use an Oyster card, or a contactless debit/credit card (or contactless payment device, e.g. Apple/Google Pay), and to use this for the section on the Underground. You'd then just buy your rail ticket to London Terminals. If you're only making one return journey that day, this is probably going to be the cheapest option.
 

tiptoptaff

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The PAYG cap (whether on Oyster or Contactless card) is cheaper than a paper travelcard
 

JonathanH

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The PAYG cap (whether on Oyster or Contactless card) is cheaper than a paper travelcard

It most definitely isn't if you start your journey at Redhill after 0909. Off peak travelcard from Redhill (0909 or later) is £17.30. Off peak PAYG cap (after 0930) is £20.50. Peak cap is slightly less than an anytime travelcard.
 

tiptoptaff

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It most definitely isn't if you start your journey at Redhill after 0909. Off peak travelcard from Redhill (0909 or later) is £17.30. Off peak PAYG cap (after 0930) is £20.50. Peak cap is slightly less than an anytime travelcard.

I have never been charged more using contactless than a travelcard, but I never travel to NR stations on PAYG
 

yvonne

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The line to Gatwick is an exception to that normal rule, you may want to look at @MikeWh's website, specifically https://www.oyster-rail.org.uk/2016/08/oyster-and-gatwick-the-truth/ or https://www.oyster-rail.org.uk/2016/05/gatwick-capping-changes/


Thank you everyone We would almost always be travelling off peak and the journey to Warwick ave would be one way as is the journey from Reading always to Redhill/Nutfield There will be other times we would travel so I think I should find out how to make my English debit card 'contactless' do I have to register it somewhere? We dont want oyster as last time we could not get a refund and we lost 40 sterling each - tried for 12 months but no joy.
So if I use contactless when applicable it would not be for the journey off peak from Redhill to Warwick Ave that should be a paper ticket (I think I have read it correctly) Thanks again
 

MikeWh

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We dont want oyster as last time we could not get a refund and we lost 40 sterling each - tried for 12 months but no joy.
Have you still got the Oyster cards? Credit never expires so you should be able to use them again. Also, can you expand on the problems you had; you should have been able to get a refund, even if you are overseas.
So if I use contactless when applicable it would not be for the journey off peak from Redhill to Warwick Ave that should be a paper ticket (I think I have read it correctly) Thanks again
If all you do that day is a simple return trip from Redhill to Warwick Avenue and back, and you touch in at Redhill after 0930 and avoid starting the return between 1600-1900 then Oyster/contactless will be 10p cheaper. Single fare £8.60 x2 = £17.20, travelcard £17.30. If you need to return in the evening peak then the travelcard is still the same but Oyster/contactless will be £8.60+£13.40 = £22, but limited to £20.50 by the cap.

With Oyster/contactless you also have the option of an avoiding zone 1 for a £7.00 off-peak single fare. Travel Redhill to Clapham Junction, then to Willesden Junction, then the Bakerloo towards London getting off at Warwick Avenue. It will take a bit longer but saves money.
 

yvonne

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`No longer have the oyster cards part of requesting a rebate was sending the cards back and this got us nowhere so not interested in Oyster again.

The trip to Warwick Ave is ONE WAY (going on a river cruise) so coming back from Reading one way also
and I know coming back we can change at Redhill and continue to Nutfield but going we would start at Redhill as difficult to do anything from Nutfield that needs a paper ticket

Thanks again for all the advice
 

MikeWh

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In which case, absolutely use contactless to get to Warwick Avenue as the single price is cheaper than paper tickets.
 

yvonne

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In which case, absolutely use contactless to get to Warwick Avenue as the single price is cheaper than paper tickets.
Thank you all this advice has helped me make budget considerations for our stay in UK Great site this is
 

yvonne

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Good morning
Going back to the above assistance
Please can you tell me what I have to do to make my UK credit card work like an oyster card (we still have bank accounts in UK although we live abroad) Can I do it before we arrive or do we have to do it in person at a station We do not use mobile phones or apple pay or anything like that so it will have to be the credit card Thanks
 

A Challenge

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As long as it is a contactless card, you should be able to just walk up to a ticket barrier and scan it, and of the is enough money on the card it should let you complete your journey. By visiting this page, you can see your journey history (you may need to sign up for an account).
 

paddington

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Good morning
Going back to the above assistance
Please can you tell me what I have to do to make my UK credit card work like an oyster card (we still have bank accounts in UK although we live abroad) Can I do it before we arrive or do we have to do it in person at a station We do not use mobile phones or apple pay or anything like that so it will have to be the credit card Thanks

Does the card have these sort of symbols on it, or can you pay in shops by tapping on the reader rather than inserting/swiping? If yes, then it is contactless and you don't need to do anything, you can just use it like an Oyster. If no, then it isn't and you won't be able to use it like an Oyster - you have to go to the bank (or call them etc.) and ask for a new contactless card which they will post to you.


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MikeWh

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As long as it is a contactless card, you should be able to just walk up to a ticket barrier and scan it, and of the is enough money on the card it should let you complete your journey. By visiting this page, you can see your journey history (you may need to sign up for an account).
To clarify, the reader has absolutely no knowledge of any balance on the bank or credit card account. Providing the card hasn't been blacklisted it will work if it is contactless enabled.
sorry misunderstood what page should I visit please
Click on the words 'this page' in the post.
 

yvonne

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Thank you everyone Now I fully understand Yes my card is contactless so we can just tap on as if it was an oyster and it will charge us the best price for that journey Great This forum is so helpful
 
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