London Travel Zones - How Far Out? Heathrow.

[Envoy]

Is Didcot Parkway in London Travel Zone 6?

Is the North Downs Route from Reading to Gatwick (or at least Redhill) within the London Travel Comes?

Does The London Day Travel Card have a discount for Railcard Holders and if so, what will the price be from the March price hike?

Why can’t the London Day Travel Zone Ticket be purchased on-line?

I know that the London Travel Card cannot be used on Heathrow Express but can on Elizabeth Line Trains from Heathrow. That being the case, can people landing at Heathrow purchase the London Day Travelcard Ticket?

Why does Heathrow not have a National Rail Information desk/ticket selling at our most important airport - Heathrow?

It’s a pity that the London Travel Zone Day Ticket does not have a clear and concise website set up by National Rail.

 

[SargeNpton]

Is Didcot Parkway in London Travel Zone 6?

Is the North Downs Route from Reading to Gatwick (or at least Redhill) within the London Travel Comes?

Does The London Day Travel Card have a discount for Railcard Holders and if so, what will the price be from the March price hike?

Why can’t the London Day Travel Zone Ticket be purchased on-line?

I know that the London Travel Card cannot be used on Heathrow Express but can on Elizabeth Line Trains from Heathrow. That being the case, can people landing at Heathrow purchase the London Day Travelcard Ticket?

Why does Heathrow not have a National Rail Information desk/ticket selling at our most important airport - Heathrow?

It’s a pity that the London Travel Zone Day Ticket does not have a clear and concise website set up by National Rail.

Have you looked on the TfL website for this information?

 

[jon81uk]

Didcot parkway is well outside zone six. https://tfl.gov.uk/maps/track/national-rail this map shows stations within the zones plus a few more stations where contactless payment will work.

The answer to most of the rest of those questions is Oyster/Contactless. Capped fares on Oyster/Contactless just give you the most appropriate "travelcard" price based on the travel done and TfL has spent the last 20 years moving people away from paper tickets. But if you really want a paper ticket you can get it from a ticket machine and yes it will work on the Elizabeth line. TfL don't sell paper tickets online.
National Rail operators will sell you a travelcard ticket from a National Rail station that also includes travel in the London zones, so you could buy a Didcot Parkway to London zones 1-6 travelcard from GWR, that can either be paper ticket or loaded to a smartcard. Although depending on how much travel you are going to do it doesn't always work out cheaper to have a travelcard.

Zone 1-6 cap on Oyster/contactless is £14.90 from March, or £21.50 for an anytime paper travelcard (£15.20 off-peak).
With a railcard the cap comes down to £14.10 peak, £9.30 off-peak and the paper ticket £20.30 peak £9.50 off-peak.
See https://tfl.gov.uk/fares/find-fares/tube-and-rail-fares/caps-and-travelcard-prices?intcmp=54720

I think Heathrow Express does have ticket sales staff but TfL does also run a Visitor Centre https://tfl.gov.uk/travel-informati...ing-around-london/visitor-centres?intcmp=1734
Most travellers use the machines or contactless/Oyster though.

 

[zoneking]

Also, paper travelcards are not valid between St Pancras and Stratford International. Oyster and PAYG are valid, but the fare will be extra and not part of the cap.

 

[MrJeeves]

paper travelcards

And ITSO travelcards

 

[Haywain]

Also, paper travelcards are not valid between St Pancras and Stratford International.

Corrected.

 

[MikeWh]

Corrected.

Also, unless they are routed "Plus HS1" which outboundary travelcards from Kent are if intended to be used that way.

 

[Haywain]

Also, unless they are routed "Plus HS1" which outboundary travelcards from Kent* are if intended to be used that way.

*and parts of Sussex!

I suppose we may now be at something like "Travelcards are not valid between St Pancras and Stratford International except for those outboundary Travelcards from Kent and parts of Sussex routed Plus High Speed"

 

[swt_passenger]

It’s a pity that the London Travel Zone Day Ticket does not have a clear and concise website set up by National Rail.

Its normal name is a “Travelcard”, either day or season. You need to scroll down to near the end of this page:

Railcards | National Rail

Get 1/3 off your train tickets with a Railcard. From children to seniors, there is a Railcard to suit everyone. Plus information on regional railcards and other forms of concessionary travel

www.nationalrail.co.uk

In the forums we usually refer to a ticket from somewhere outside the zones as an “out-boundary travelcard“ - it’s important to note this is only intended for starting from and returning to the origin, eg Didcot, it doesn’t really work in reverse from the London Zones to go to and return from destination outside the zonal area.

For travel within the zonal area nowadays you’re usually guided towards Oyster pay as you go or contactless.

 

[James H]

It’s a pity that the London Travel Zone Day Ticket does not have a clear and concise website set up by National Rail.

The Travelcard is on borrowed time. The Mayor of London is strongly considering withdrawing from the agreements that govern Travelcards - there was quite a lot of talk about this at the London Assembly this week. (Apparently there is more than one agreement - IIRC daily/weekly Travelcards are governed by one document, and monthly/annual ones come under a different regime.)

With the focus on extending Contactless to more of the wider south-east, no-one has any incentive to promote sales of paper Travelcards.

 

[Envoy]

Many thanks everyone for taking the time to answer my queries.

So, to use an ordinary contactless visa card and get the Railcard discount, I need to register for the discount with TfL?

 

[James H]

No. Contactless only deals with full price adult fares.

For discounts you need an Oyster card or a paper ticket.

 

[transportphoto]

So, to use an ordinary contactless visa card and get the Railcard discount, I need to register for the discount with TfL?

This isn’t possible. Railcards can only be added to an Oyster Card.

The Oyster Card must be registered online before taking both the Oyster and the railcard to any London Underground station for the discount to be added.

The Oyster card then becomes non-transferable and may only be used by the person whom it is registered to, and the railcard must be carried at all times whilst using the Oyster.

 

[JonathanH]

So, to use an ordinary contactless visa card and get the Railcard discount, I need to register for the discount with TfL?

No, you can't get a railcard discount on a Contactless card. You can only do so on a registered Oyster card or with a paper ticket.

 

[Class800]

Probably the only reason Oyster has been retained?

 

[jon81uk]

Probably the only reason Oyster has been retained?

And monthly/annual travelcards.

 

[Hadders]

Probably the only reason Oyster has been retained?

And people with no bank accounts.

 

[island]

Is Didcot Parkway in London Travel Zone 6?

No

Is the North Downs Route from Reading to Gatwick (or at least Redhill) within the London Travel Comes?

Assuming you mean "zones" not "comes", no.

Does The London Day Travel Card have a discount for Railcard Holders and if so, what will the price be from the March price hike?

Yes it does, 34%. I don't have the new prices to hand but if they have been released I'm sure someone else will.

Why can’t the London Day Travel Zone Ticket be purchased on-line?

There is no such ticket, but a Day Travelcard can be purchased online. You'll need to either collect it from a ticket machine or load it to a compatible smartcard (if you have one, and I would be willing to bet a lot of money that you don't).

I know that the London Travel Card cannot be used on Heathrow Express but can on Elizabeth Line Trains from Heathrow.

...assuming it includes zone 6, yes.

That being the case, can people landing at Heathrow purchase the London Day Travelcard Ticket?

Yes. It's available from vending machines at the various Heathrow stations.

Why does Heathrow not have a National Rail Information desk/ticket selling at our most important airport - Heathrow?

Because Heathrow Airport Holdings will not allow it, as it would be liable to take custom away from its overpriced Heathrow Express service.

It’s a pity that the London Travel Zone Day Ticket does not have a clear and concise website set up by National Rail.

There is no such ticket, so it's not surprising that there is no website for it. (This is the fourth different name you have attempted to use for the same product, none of which were correct ) As others mention, information on Day Travelcards is available on the TfL website.

Many thanks everyone for taking the time to answer my queries.

So, to use an ordinary contactless visa card and get the Railcard discount, I need to register for the discount with TfL?

There is no way to get a Railcard discount using a contactless credit/debit card. If you want to obtain a Railcard discount, use another ticket medium such as paper ticket, Oyster card, or ITSO smart card.

The Oyster Card must be registered online before taking both the Oyster and the railcard to any London Underground station for the discount to be added.

Just to clarify, there is no necessity to register Oyster cards online before setting a Railcard discount. If an unregistered card is presented for setting a discount, the machine will prompt the staff member to ask the customer to key in their postcode and a password, and the setting of the discount will proceed normally. The card can then be registered online at the customer's convenience using the postcode and password along with the card number.

 

[Envoy]

Many thanks everyone for the further clarifications. I guess I kept calling the London Day Travelcard a ticket because when I purchased one on a previous visit it looked just like a bog standard BR ticket that went in/out of the slots at gates.

I thought that Heathrow Express was now run by GWR.

 

[Taunton]

And people with no bank accounts.

And children ...

Bear in mind that each passenger needs a card. You can't travel like the old days with two parents and two children on just one payment for four tickets at the ticket office.

 

[island]

I thought that Heathrow Express was now run by GWR.

Drivers are GWR, and possibly some other staff are also, but the revenue accrues to Heathrow Airport Limited.

 

[Envoy]

Drivers are GWR, and possibly some other staff are also, but the revenue accrues to Heathrow Airport Limited.

Well, that’s interesting. Revenue must accrue to Heathrow Airport Limited but GWR must also be getting a cut - hence my query as to why no National Rail helpdesk/ticket issuing was available at the airport. I think that this is a poor show at the main entry point for foreigners to the UK.

So, are Elizabeth Line Trains able to access the airport without Heathrow Airport having anything to do with the pricing?

 

[JonathanH]

So, are Elizabeth Line Trains able to access the airport without Heathrow Airport having anything to do with the pricing?

No. TfL have to pay Heathrow Airport for access. The cost of that access is included in the price charged to passengers.

 

[jon81uk]

And children ...

Bear in mind that each passenger needs a card. You can't travel like the old days with two parents and two children on just one payment for four tickets at the ticket office.

No, visiting children under 11 can travel for free on TfL without their own card, as long as they are accompanied by a paying adult.

Best ways for visitors to pay

A page for visitors to London aobut the best ways to pay for travel.

tfl.gov.uk

 

[island]

No, visiting children under 11 can travel for free on TfL without their own card, as long as they are accompanied by a paying adult.

Best ways for visitors to pay

A page for visitors to London aobut the best ways to pay for travel.

tfl.gov.uk

As indeed can non-visiting children

Children 15 and under are free on HEX when accompanying a ticketed adult or in possession of proof of an appropriate flight booking.

 

[Watershed]

Well, that’s interesting. Revenue must accrue to Heathrow Airport Limited but GWR must also be getting a cut - hence my query as to why no National Rail helpdesk/ticket issuing was available at the airport. I think that this is a poor show at the main entry point for foreigners to the UK.

So, are Elizabeth Line Trains able to access the airport without Heathrow Airport having anything to do with the pricing?

The contract between HAL and GWR hasn't been published (and is unlikely to ever be), but it probablu involves GWR operating the service on a management contract basis, i.e. just being paid a flat fee or their costs plus a percentage. Given that they have no involvement with the ticketing side of things, it would be surprising for them to get any of the revenue.

Elizabeth line trains access the airport by virtue of a contract between TfL and HAL (as HAL own the infrastructure from just beyond Tunnel Junction), albeit the ORR stopped HAL from charging as much as they wanted. The contract still provides for a per-passenger charge AFAIK, and is extremely expensive - which is one of the reasons why Elizabeth line fares to Heathrow are so pricey.

I agree it's a poor arrangement, but unfortunately there seems little likelihood of things changing anytime soon. The government is hardly going to expropriate the infrastructure off HAL!

 

[island]

I think that this is a poor show at the main entry point for foreigners to the UK.

It's quite common at airports around the world for a premium transit service to the nearest city centre to be advertised prominently and at the expense of cheaper local services.

 

[danielcanning]

The contract between HAL and GWR hasn't been published (and is unlikely to ever be), but it probablu involves GWR operating the service on a management contract basis, i.e. just being paid a flat fee or their costs plus a percentage. Given that they have no involvement with the ticketing side of things, it would be surprising for them to get any of the revenue.

Elizabeth line trains access the airport by virtue of a contract between TfL and HAL (as HAL own the infrastructure from just beyond Tunnel Junction), albeit the ORR stopped HAL from charging as much as they wanted. The contract still provides for a per-passenger charge AFAIK, and is extremely expensive - which is one of the reasons why Elizabeth line fares to Heathrow are so pricey.

I agree it's a poor arrangement, but unfortunately there seems little likelihood of things changing anytime soon. The government is hardly going to expropriate the infrastructure off HAL!

The government wouldn't need to seize the tunnel, just withdraw permission for the Heathrow Express to run over NR tracks, I bet then the airport would be willing to negotiate a more acceptable access charge...

 

[JonathanH]

The government wouldn't need to seize the tunnel, just withdraw permission for the Heathrow Express to run over NR tracks, I bet then the airport would be willing to negotiate a more acceptable access charge...

...which doesn't really sound lawful.

Would a government be the slightest bit concerned about the cost of travel to an airport?

 

[fandroid]

And children ...

Bear in mind that each passenger needs a card. You can't travel like the old days with two parents and two children on just one payment for four tickets at the ticket office.

You can still buy paper tickets at the machines at Heathrow and there are staff there to help if needed, so it's really not any different.