Why can't you use the oyster system to tap in and out every where?

[londontostansted]

Just that really?
Why don't they want us to tap in and out?

@londontostansted Yes it would be more convenient.
Unfortunately as yet the different train companies and systems haven't joined up all their systems.
There is a smart card that covers the south east area so you can beep in from places like Brighton and beep out when you reach London (and the journey in the other direction) but then I don't think you can use it on tfl services.
Currently the idea is there - all the different companies just need to join the dots.

I do, because it’s easier for budgeting. I know roughly how much I spend on travel per month & just move the money across after payday.

The card in South Korea, forgot the name, does taxis, tube, everything travel. Even some other things. It's great.

Dear Londoners
the rest of the country does not have regulated buses
we have several companies who do not accept each others tickets
and different fare structures

Yes but I'm posting this picture again because everyone asks why things are SE-centric.

We should have a national system, other countries manage it.

That's 50% of the UK population BTW.

I linked my Senior Railcard to my Oyster that way.

If you have a senior railcard, why not get a free travel card?
unless the oyster is for pre 9am

@Talkinpeace yes but the system could still be set up to be universal with one card.
Oyster is pay as you go so you just need to make sure you have enough to cover the payment that's relevant for the journey/bus company you are using.

@MrsTerryPratchett I'm not understanding what that picture even means? It's just a circle on a map of the south of England

It's where 50% of the UK population lives. I did say in the next post but should have in the original one.

The IT infrastructure of the train barriers and the train operating companies. They won't invest and won't collaborate.

This would be fantastic actually if it worked for all public transport. My local ferry company can't even regulate fares between the two ports and their online ticket option unfortunately, so I can't see them ever being able to make something like this work successfully!

Can someone please explain to an outsider how it works. Do I tap my debit card on the way in, and again on the way out, and it charges me the correct fare?

I was in a London suburb a few months back with a friend and we couldn't figure out how to buy tickets. I felt so old 😂

@HelenHen yes if you are in the London zones and you tap at the beginning of the journey and out again at the end the system works out which fare to charge you at the end of the day.
There's price caps for the different zones so you stop getting charged after a certain amount if you are doing lots of journeys in one day and you only pay that amount.
Buses/trams are a flat fare so you only tap when you get on.
Every journey is added up and you are charged whatever it is at the end of the day.

Thank you so much. That's really helpful. I think we kinda figured out it was something like that by the end of our day there, but it was too late then. Signs would have been helpful 😂

Make sure you use exactly the same card for both ends of the journey.

They may live outside London and not have the option!
linking a national rail card to an Oyster card gives 1/3 off pay as you go fares. We’ve had 16-25 cards the older teens have to Oyster cards. They don’t go into London and use the tube that often but still worth it.

Prefer to use cash

I use my over 60 Oyster card. All Londoners over 60 get free travel - it's a massive benefit, I love it

But that map can't be right as it includes a small piece of France in the circle.

I agree though, an overarching pay method would be great. The biggest frustration is how the Elizabeth line doesn't financially link up properly with the Thameslink system. They're both new and designed to link but it only works with an overpriced travel card.

Oh, right, that explains the excellent bus services in rural Norfolk, Warwickshire, Wiltshire, etc. 😂

As most have phones you could be tracked a lot more efficiently anyway.

That is actually an amazing and revolutionary idea! I want to use my library card to borrow stuff from Argos and B&Q