Haywain
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So not today. Which is when I looked at the very same barriers. The stickers may have been there 3 days ago but they are not there now.
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Luton Airport DART ticketing discussion
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Saying "as of today..." in #111 would have saved several posts.
Haywain
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Pointing out that the contrary observations were several days ago might have helped too. I simply pointed out that they are not there, I didn't suggest they hadn't been.
OK ... did you see any signs today saying that contactless is accepted on DART ? (Your post #105 was in the context of NR gatelines.)
Haywain
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It wasn't, that’s just how you have chosen to read it. To be very clear, contactless payment is accepted on both NR and DART barriers at Luton Airport Parkway. That was the situation early this afternoon.
The stickers were applied to both the NR barriers (on that exit) and the DART barriers. They should never have been applied to the first ones.
You pass through 2 gatelines (exiting National Rail, and entering DART) when changing at Luton Airport Parkway. No way of avoiding this.
Thank you.
I had been waiting for contactless to be confirmed before paying Luton DART a visit. Today I got the bus over from Stevenage and tried the DART from Luton Parkway to the airport (just one way). The gatelines do indeed now have the familiar yellow 'contactless' logo, which worked. I did not spot any signs indicating the fare.
The ride was not rough, but definitely what I would call wobbly. It was a bit like standing on a large inflatable. Constantly making small movements front/back and left/right.
Even with relatively few passengers, there was a queue at the airport exit gateline, at least partially due to faffing. This is also visible on the previously linked video. I am wondering if people are under the impression that the entry gateline is job done and then put away whatever 'ticket' they used there.
My card account is currently showing a pending/uncleared transaction "Tfl Travel Charge +£0.00". I am familiar with the use of initial zero value authorisations, but was not expecting TfL. For clarity, the only gatelines I presented this card to today were DART.
The ride was not rough, but definitely what I would call wobbly. It was a bit like standing on a large inflatable. Constantly making small movements front/back and left/right.
Even with relatively few passengers, there was a queue at the airport exit gateline, at least partially due to faffing. This is also visible on the previously linked video. I am wondering if people are under the impression that the entry gateline is job done and then put away whatever 'ticket' they used there.
My card account is currently showing a pending/uncleared transaction "Tfl Travel Charge +£0.00". I am familiar with the use of initial zero value authorisations, but was not expecting TfL. For clarity, the only gatelines I presented this card to today were DART.
Through fares apply between DART and Thameslink/EMR towards London, so it makes sense to have TfL handling the "back office" functions just as they do for NR services between Luton Airport Parkway and London.
That would make its own sort of sense.
Wallsendmag
Established Member
Depends how much they'd want to charge to look after it i suppose.
If using contactless are the through fares from the airport the same as the fare from Parkway with an extra £4.90 added? If that is the case then the shuttle could use its own card processing for its fare with TFL charging for the journey starting/ending at the national rail barriers at Parkway.
The downside of this is that the shuttle would appear on the bank statement/ app notifications as a separate transaction rather than being hidden in the total fare.
It does look like DART contactless payments are handled by TfL. My DART trip yesterday has now appeared in my TfL journey history. I have no idea how much of the fare goes to TfL.
There will be a processing element for sure. That is likely to be a lot less than would be required to set up a standalone contactless system.
317 forever
Established Member
Indeed, on Monday I bought my 2 singles for my day in April for £2.40 each.
Yes, that is where I bought my £2.40 tickets rather than from a rail website. I am stopping off at the Airport on a bus trip in the area.
I saw that price myself early last week. As best as I can tell, it was 'fixed' very soon after.
Dr Hoo
Established Member
Still working on Tuesday 28th March.
Got my ticket from the 'Travel Centre' in the terminal. The 'DART-specific' machines by the DART itself were barrered off.
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mattdickinson
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KeyGo is accepted, and ITSO singles and returns are available from the Thameslink TVMs at Parkway and inside the airport terminal.
MrJeeves
Established Member
That's saved me a trip!
Are you sure that keyGo (PAYG) is valid on Luton DART ? The current keyGo map shows it as not valid.
https://www.thameslinkrailway.com/-...documents/gtr-1805-ret-keygo-area-map-v27.pdf
Joshua_Harman
Member
IDK When this map was released but Train ITSO Cards (Staff Passes, Key Singles And Returns ETC) never used to work on the bus the machines couldn’t accept it. ENCTS Cards used to work tho, just not Other ITSO Cards
MrJeeves
Established Member
The current keyGo map also still mentions Warblington to Brighton on GWR, so it may not be the best source of up to date information.
Whilst it's not 100% conclusive without testing it, I'd suggest the existence of "Smart" Anytime Day Single (0AF) and Anytime Day Return (0AE) fares between Luton Airport Parkway and Luton Airport, as shown on BRFares, is a fairly good indicator that it's valid.
MrJeeves
Established Member
Just looked at a GTR TVM and can confirm I can buy an ITSO ticket from Luton Airport Pkwy to Luton Airport, but I can't buy a ticket from Burgess Hill to Luton Airport.
Not an indication of whether keyGo will work or not, though.
Not an indication of whether keyGo will work or not, though.
I have put the question to Luton DART. Let's see what the response is.
MrJeeves
Established Member
Trying it on the way to Bletchley and can confirm keyGo works on the DART.
I haven't been charged for keyGo on the DART yet, and it's not showing in my journey history at all.
If you want a free ride on the DART, maybe that's your best choice!
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Today I received this response, which came from 'London Luton Aiport':
I see @MrJeeves has updated their recent post to include more detail.
Conclusion: keyGo is intended to be available on the DART, but is currently experiencing some issues.
I see @MrJeeves has updated their recent post to include more detail.
Conclusion: keyGo is intended to be available on the DART, but is currently experiencing some issues.
matt_world2004
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They should add it to the contactless system too given its a self contained one stop line accessible from a contextless enabled station
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