Oyster Card Question

Ivan Drago · 16 Jul 2010 at 12:52

If I travel with my Oyster card at 16:30, it will charge me peak fare, right?

If I buy a paper off-peak travelcard, it will let me through the barriers at peak times, right?

If this is correct, what's the point in paying with Oyster when it will charge me almost double what the paper ticket does?

daz · 16 Jul 2010 at 12:56

Peak is only if you start your journey before a certain time in the morning (9.30am?). I don't think it matters in the afternoon.

The ticket machines I don't think will sell an off peak travel card before that time in the morning.

uvarvu · 16 Jul 2010 at 12:56

Off peak travelcards won't let you through the barriers at peak times.

alex_tank · 16 Jul 2010 at 12:57

I'm pretty sure you get the off peak price with Oyster cards whenever you use them.

chimaera · 16 Jul 2010 at 13:33

The underground doesn't have an afternoon peak, only a morning one before 9.30.

If you buy a ticket at a machine before 9.30 you'll be charged the peak fare, if you buy a ticket after 9.30 you'll pay off-peak and can use it for the whole rest of the day.

You won't be able to buy an off peak paper ticket before 9.30, they'll make you wait. But if you're travelling at 16.30 it doesn't matter anyway as that's not peak time, so just use your oyster.

NB. Certain overground rail companies have an afternoon peak that's probably where you've seen it from, but if you're just using the underground it doesn't apply.

Glaucus · 16 Jul 2010 at 13:35

Ivan Drago said:
If this is correct, what's the point in paying with Oyster when it will charge me almost double what the paper ticket does?

As they aren't priced the same, oyster card gives you much cheaper travel. it was worth me buying an oyster card, when I was in London for just one day.

TMP · 16 Jul 2010 at 13:41

This page should be helpful;

http://www.tfl.gov.uk/tickets/14416.aspx

Looks like Oyster does have an afternoon peak cost, luckily I'm usually in zone 1 so don't have to worry about timing journeys to correlate to the peak times.

Cosimo · 16 Jul 2010 at 13:43

All about Oyster fares:

http://www.londontoolkit.com/briefing/oystercard.htm

Glaucus · 16 Jul 2010 at 13:44

TMP said:
This page should be helpful;

http://www.tfl.gov.uk/tickets/14416.aspx

Looks like Oyster does have an afternoon peak cost, luckily I'm usually in zone 1 so don't have to worry about timing journeys to correlate to the peak times.

peak time is 4:30-9:30,

Doesn't say anything about afternoon, In fact it says the opposite, says off peak is 9:30-4:30 (the following day)

wozza2k · 16 Jul 2010 at 13:52

Afternoon peak is 16:00 - 19:00, and you only get 'peak rates' if you travel through zone 1

TMP · 16 Jul 2010 at 13:57

Oh, I was referring to Oyster travel only, it looks like the travel cards have different concepts of peak time. I think it going to always work out cheapest to use an Oyster in the central zones though right?

memyselfandi · 16 Jul 2010 at 14:00

AcidHell2 said:
peak time is 4:30-9:30,

Doesn't say anything about afternoon, In fact it says the opposite, says off peak is 9:30-4:30 (the following day)

Actually no. the table of ticket prices indicates what you say for the off peak price cap but the information pop-up for the actual peak fare cost gives the times for this as 04:30-09:30 and 16:00-19:00 (question mark under "peak single").

http://www.tfl.gov.uk/tickets/14416.aspx

Glaucus · 16 Jul 2010 at 14:00

i see, my appologies

RastaManBob · 16 Jul 2010 at 14:01

AcidHell2 said:
peak time is 4:30-9:30,

Doesn't say anything about afternoon, In fact it says the opposite, says off peak is 9:30-4:30 (the following day)

The only ticket I can see where peak is relevant in the afternoon is the "off-peak single" using Oyster card:

EDIT: Too slow to grab a screenie!

TMP · 16 Jul 2010 at 14:11

Jees, I just worked out how much I spend yearly on my Oyster and it aint pretty!

I just don't have the balls to buy an annual ticket which would save a fair bit!

Glaucus · 16 Jul 2010 at 14:24

TMP said:
I just don't have the balls to buy an annual ticket which would save a fair bit!

How much would it save? could find a 12month interest free credit card.

Peño · 16 Jul 2010 at 14:27

There is a lot of confusing and incorrect information given in this thread. All the correct answers are on the TfL website.

I'm assuming you are comparing Oyster Pay As You Go with a paper travelcard.

Ivan Drago said:
If I travel with my Oyster card at 16:30, it will charge me peak fare, right?

If you touch in at 1630 and this is the only journey you make for the rest of the day, yes.

Ivan Drago said:
If I buy a paper off-peak travelcard, it will let me through the barriers at peak times, right?

Yes, you can use it from 0930 until the 0430 the following day. There are no time restraints on the weekend.

Ivan Drago said:
If this is correct, what's the point in paying with Oyster when it will charge me almost double what the paper ticket does?

It won't charge you almost double. The Oyster card will charge you for each journey in the zones you travel in until you reach the cap for those zones. Assuming you didn't use your Oyster at the (morning) peak time of 0630 and 0930, and the journeys you make are restricted to the same zones, then the most you will ever pay on Oyster is the price you would have paid for the paper travelcard.

Ivan Drago · 16 Jul 2010 at 14:47

Peño said:
It won't charge you almost double. The Oyster card will charge you for each journey in the zones you travel in until you reach the cap for those zones. Assuming you didn't use your Oyster at the (morning) peak time of 0630 and 0930, and the journeys you make are restricted to the same zones, then the most you will ever pay on Oyster is the price you would have paid for the paper travelcard.

So it appears to cap the travel at off-peak prices because I am not travelling during the morning peak hours (I am only travelling in the afternoon peak hours).

Is it just me or have TFL made their website as confusing as possible with information about Oyster? I think it's pretty shocking tbh.

Peño · 16 Jul 2010 at 17:17

Ivan Drago said:
So it appears to cap the travel at off-peak prices because I am not travelling during the morning peak hours (I am only travelling in the afternoon peak hours).

Is it just me or have TFL made their website as confusing as possible with information about Oyster? I think it's pretty shocking tbh.

Correct. So you could actually be saving money depending on the journey(s) you make.

I agree - they only recently changed the layout of their fare information and it is really confusing.