Metropol

This is just more of a request for information really, but I'm going to London at the end of May for a couple of days and just wanted to know how much do these cards cost? The ones that enable you to have full access to the Underground.

I did try looking on Virgin Trains' website when I was booking the Train tickets, though it was rather confusing for what type I needed. So rather than being ripped off, I'll ask our kind folk at Metropol.

Well when I'm in London I get the Zone 1 and 2 Travelcard, which costs £4.70 (After 9.30am).

Check out http://www.thetube.com for more prices...

My advise is if London Underground try to get you to get an "Oyster Card" refuse it.

Many British Rail stations don't except them & you will get a fine, London Underground's is about £10-£20 but BR's can be anything from £50-£500, depending on rail operator.

They also aint much cop like the paper ones as you have to touch in & out all the time (which cost) & If the barriers aren't working at a station & you can't touch in or out, you fare gets fucked up.

Sadly however before 9:30am the travelcard is very costly (over £6) & you can get only 1-4, 2-6 or 1-6.

Also before you buy check the travelcard zones as some places come just outside of zone 2 or 3

Oyster is great - especially for travelcard users like me.

If you can't touch in/touch out at a station then you should ask someone at that station to help you out. More often than not you can tell them and they'll make sure you're not charged the wrong pre-pay fee.

But I can understand the problems some users have - especially BR stations not accepting pre-pay (though they will take travelcards whether there are gates or not)

Isonstine wrote:Oyster is great - especially for travelcard users like me.

If you can't touch in/touch out at a station then you should ask someone at that station to help you out. More often than not you can tell them and they'll make sure you're not charged the wrong pre-pay fee.

But I can understand the problems some users have - especially BR stations not accepting pre-pay (though they will take travelcards whether there are gates or not)

Yes I forgot to say that Travelcards can be used anywher.

Seven Kings is the problem, they accuse people of "fare dodging" because they have an Oyster card!

If they ain't going to get the barriers anytime soon they could at least install an Oyster touch point, which are installed on the Stratford Platforms!

Well Ken Livingstone is pushing for the TOCs to install the barriers at stations as he wants the Oystercard scheme to be greatly expanded.

I know what you mean about the "fare dodging" thing - I was often puzzled why they never got the kind of readers that conductors do on the Routemasters - that way would surely be MUCH better? On the other hand, I've known people to use Oystercards with no money on them and regularly travel for free on South West Trains because the ticket inspector has to give the benefit of the doubt.

Hopefully there will be an increase in barriers - because Oystercards or not...a lot of people STILL travel for free through stations because they don't have to buy a ticket and know the tickets are hardly ever checked on the train.

Can't understand why more stations never got them installed in the first place! Euston doesn't have them on none-Silverlink platforms yet Clapham Junction with no tube connections (East London Line in 2074 doesn't count!) has barriers that takes Oystercards.

Isonstine wrote:Well Ken Livingstone is pushing for the TOCs to install the barriers at stations as he wants the Oystercard scheme to be greatly expanded.

I know what you mean about the "fare dodging" thing - I was often puzzled why they never got the kind of readers that conductors do on the Routemasters - that way would surely be MUCH better? On the other hand, I've known people to use Oystercards with no money on them and regularly travel for free on South West Trains because the ticket inspector has to give the benefit of the doubt.

Hopefully there will be an increase in barriers - because Oystercards or not...a lot of people STILL travel for free through stations because they don't have to buy a ticket and know the tickets are hardly ever checked on the train.

Can't understand why more stations never got them installed in the first place! Euston doesn't have them on none-Silverlink platforms yet Clapham Junction with no tube connections (East London Line in 2074 doesn't count!) has barriers that takes Oystercards.

Maryland on GER is fare dodgers paradise, only 2 mins up the road from Stratford so anyone without a valid ticket gets off there

My personal favourite is Romford - with their own sort of weird barriers than feel like you'll be castrated if you wait any long than neccessary.

Also the whole experience is made even more wonderful by the incredible braindead staff who wouldn't accept that Romford IS in Zone 6 and my Oystercard IS valid. Instead I had to fork out for a ticket from Stratford to Romford. Suppose I was lucky, could have been lumbered with a penalty fare. But still it's the principle of the thing!

Seems an appropriate thread to bring this old song out...
http://www.union.ic.ac.uk/medic/fitness ... ground.mp3
Standard warnings about strong language apply (very strong language, actually), and here's the obligatory link to
http://www.amateurtransplants.com/.

Isonstine wrote:My personal favourite is Romford - with their own sort of weird barriers than feel like you'll be castrated if you wait any long than neccessary.

Also the whole experience is made even more wonderful by the incredible braindead staff who wouldn't accept that Romford IS in Zone 6 and my Oystercard IS valid. Instead I had to fork out for a ticket from Stratford to Romford. Suppose I was lucky, could have been lumbered with a penalty fare. But still it's the principle of the thing!

Exactly the problem with BR. They don't liek the Travelcard, if they had their own way they wouldn't except it at all