LOROL only issuing Period Travelcards on Oyster soon

[Urban Gateline]

I'm not sure if this has been discussed already, but from 15th September LOROL ticket offices won't be issuing paper travelcards anymore for Weekly and longer period inboundary travelcards!

http://s15.postimg.org/k4k5gdkkr/TFL.jpg

 

[maniacmartin]

To be fair, the Oyster version is superior. It won't fade or get a bad magstripe, it's quicker to use at the gatelines, can be blocked if lost and reissued without suspicion of the old ticket being used, and you can use cheap Oyster PAYG extensions when leaving your season zones without touching out.

The reason to buy the paper version is if you don't like the idea of Big Brother tracking you.

 

[yorkie]

I agree, there is no advantage I can think of for a paper ticket in this case.

The likes of Virgin and EMT have some staff who don't like to accept Travelcards held on Oyster, but that's of no concern to the customer.

 

[Mojo]

Another Lorol development is that pink readers will soon be installed at Clapham Junction and Surrey Quays. Lots of people have been asking for standalone validators at Clapham Junction; pink readers allow customers to touch in (but not out).

 

[Deerfold]

The likes of Virgin and EMT have some staff who don't like to accept Travelcards held on Oyster, but that's of no concern to the customer.

It may not affect validity but unfortuantely it may be of concern to a customer if they are affected by the view of such a staff member.

 

[bicbasher]

Going by the staff bulletin posted here, SHERE Smart has been finally removed from the former Southern ELL stations which will allow them to do this.

Although it only affects a minimum of LOROL stations which are served by Southern, I won't be surprised if they're the first to issue seasons on an ITSO product.

 

[causton]

Another Lorol development is that pink readers will soon be installed at Clapham Junction and Surrey Quays. Lots of people have been asking for standalone validators at Clapham Junction; pink readers allow customers to touch in (but not out).

Will the wording on the pink validators be reflected to mention this?

As the current ones say "these must not be used to start or end journeys" or similar, yet I tried as a test and it started a journey for me (which I later had to end !)

 

[MikeWh]

Another Lorol development is that pink readers will soon be installed at Clapham Junction and Surrey Quays. Lots of people have been asking for standalone validators at Clapham Junction; pink readers allow customers to touch in (but not out).

Hallelujah!!!!

Will the wording on the pink validators be reflected to mention this?

As the current ones say "these must not be used to start or end journeys" or similar, yet I tried as a test and it started a journey for me (which I later had to end !)

They're not supposed to be used to start journeys, but allowing them to do so cuts down the number of incomplete journeys.

 

[RJ]

The reason to buy the paper version is if you don't like the idea of Big Brother tracking you.

Or if you wish to use them for fraudulent purposes, such as not paying for all zones passed through.

 

[dzug2]

I agree, there is no advantage I can think of for a paper ticket in this case.

The likes of Virgin and EMT have some staff who don't like to accept Travelcards held on Oyster, but that's of no concern to the customer.

There is one big disadvantage of Oyster to tourists - the Days Out 2 for 1 offers for entry to tourist attractions require a paper travelcard issued at either a National Rail station or (up until now) an Overground station.

And a minor disadvantage for a one off visit is possible loss of deposit if you don't have time to get a refund/the station won't do it.

 

[MikeWh]

There is one big disadvantage of Oyster to tourists - the Days Out 2 for 1 offers for entry to tourist attractions require a paper travelcard issued at either a National Rail station or (up until now) an Overground station.

And a minor disadvantage for a one off visit is possible loss of deposit if you don't have time to get a refund/the station won't do it.

The day travelcards will still be available.

 

[jon0844]

You could solve the 2 for 1 issue by having readers at venues (these could be more simple readers that can only access limited information).

I wonder if we might one day get a smart card that has an internal display (eInk) to show a balance or other info (text details of a ticket or a barcode), changed and powered when you touch in or out?

You could also solve the refund issue by letting someone get the refund when they arrive at the airport, but I'd say that if you made sure tourist cards had some sort of design (e.g. the 150 year ones) then most would keep them as a souvenir.

 

[Eagle]

There is one big disadvantage of Oyster to tourists - the Days Out 2 for 1 offers for entry to tourist attractions require a paper travelcard issued at either a National Rail station or (up until now) an Overground station.

And a minor disadvantage for a one off visit is possible loss of deposit if you don't have time to get a refund/the station won't do it.

It's only weekly (and longer) travelcards that are becoming Oyster-only. Day travelcards will remain on paper tickets.

 

[dzug2]

You could solve the 2 for 1 issue by having readers at venues (these could be more simple readers that can only access limited information).

.

That's a technical solution to what is actually a business problem. 2 for 1 is sponsored by National Rail, not TfL, who really don't acknowledge its existence. The Overground validity has been a bit of an anomaly.

But yes there are solutions with greater or lesser degrees of extra cost and inconvenience to the particular customers - but I doubt if they will happen, at least in the short term.

 

[jon0844]

That's a technical solution to what is actually a business problem. 2 for 1 is sponsored by National Rail, not TfL, who really don't acknowledge its existence. The Overground validity has been a bit of an anomaly.

But yes there are solutions with greater or lesser degrees of extra cost and inconvenience to the particular customers - but I doubt if they will happen, at least in the short term.

As it turns out, having realised one day tickets will still be on paper, my solution isn't yet necessary anyway!

 

[CyrusWuff]

I'm not sure if this has been discussed already, but from 15th September LOROL ticket offices won't be issuing paper travelcards anymore for Weekly and longer period inboundary travelcards!

Have they asked Rail Settlement Plan for permission? That sounds like a potential breach of the Ticketing & Settlement Agreement to me.

 

[bicbasher]

It all seems one step closer to London Overground being less ATOC/NR with the removal of the double arrow symbol and no point to point seasons at LO only served stations.

Will we see the first TOC (as a concessionaire) to leave ATOC while running on NR rails?

 

[Be3G]

Hallelujah!!!!

I was going to say exactly the same thing (albeit maybe with a smaller number of exclamation marks)!

 

[dzug2]

As it turns out, having realised one day tickets will still be on paper, my solution isn't yet necessary anyway!

Quite

but 7 one day travelcards are considerably more expensive than one 7 day one - and (if you are not staying near a National Rail station) more awkward to buy

 

[Blindtraveler]

what about 3 day ones? Are these going over 2?

 

[zoneking]

I am one of those people who have an extreme mistrust / fear of Oyster, for several reasons, including "Big Brother", forgetting to touch in or out (I am very forgetful) and threat of being fined/penalty fared. Even with a travelcard Oyster, not just PAYG, I have these fears.

 

[jon0844]

No need to have any fears if you have a Travelcard loaded on your Oyster, but for PAYG there is of course a risk associated with forgetting to touch in or out.

 

[swt_passenger]

what about 3 day ones? Are these going over 2?

I thought the 3 day TC was no longer available since about 2010?

 

[jon0844]

Didn't the three day card end up being the exact same price as three one day cards, so only useful for convenience?

 

[yorkie]

zoneking - if you have an All Zones travelcard, you would have none of those fears. If you would like to learn more about the intricacies of Oyster, you could attend one of our fares workshops (or meals) and we'll be happy to explain any queries you have, and give you tips on how to ensure that you don't have any problems (or, if you do, how to manage it and resolve the situation).

I used to be anti-Oyster, back when it was LU only and a lot of the facilities that are now available, weren't back then, but I'm definitely converted now! (I am sure MetDriver will remember that!)

blindtraveler - as far as I am aware, Travelcards are only available in 1 day (paper only), or 7 day, or any period between 1 calendar month & annual. There is no option, as far as I am aware, to purchase a 2-day or 3-day Travelcard (unless there are some arrangements specifically for tourists sold through Travel Agents, or similar)

 

[Be3G]

zoneking - if you have an All Zones travelcard, you would have none of those fears.

For the benefit of others, I'll just add emphasis to the ‘all zones’ bit there… Oysters that lack one or more of the central zones can still be problematic in a way that paper travelcards aren't.

 

[island]

3-day Travelcards were removed from general sale around 2010. They were still issued up until last year in return for warrants issued by Groundline.

 

[bicbasher]

Publicity regarding the Oyster only change to travelcards have gone up in stations, Forest Hill has a small poster on the ticket office booth, while Surrey Quays have leaflets.

 

[zoneking]

Thanks yorkie , nut looking at the disputes & prosecutions thread, I am even more fearful. I am the type of person that would forget my head if not screwed on, and would be caught out by not touching in / out, etc.

 

[simple simon]

I am one of those people who have an extreme mistrust / fear of Oyster, for several reasons, including "Big Brother", forgetting to touch in or out (I am very forgetful) and threat of being fined/penalty fared. Even with a travelcard Oyster, not just PAYG, I have these fears.

I too have come a cropper from Oyster's foibles, such as journey time limits and a stand alone card reader that made noises when I used it but did not flag a journey start / end.

I also share the same concerns about big brother; as I am a human (and NOT a human cattle) I do not accept that I should be tracked like bovine cattle.

I frequently buy one day travelcards in preference to fares capping; its so much safer to pay a known amount in advance and never risk finding oneself stranded 30+ miles from home with an oystercard that through no fault of yours has gone into default.

I just whish that the 2-6 and 2-9 ODTC's still existed; since their demise I actually travel less than I used to. For Steam on the Met I refuse to pay £12 for a ticket when I do not need zone 1, and have filmed more from outside the fares paid zone or bought platform tickets, with an express desire (a new aim in life) to minimise the amount of money that TfL extract from me.

Earlier this year I was working at Waterloo and mostly I travelled there on the Waterloo & City Line. So I can assure zoneking that if you have a Travelcard season ticket then at the present time there is no financial penalty for not touching in / out.

As an aside, last year I was working in zone 3 and often bought a travelcard which also included zone 2 as it offered me leisure journey benefits. Despite being a travelcard I always used the pink oyster readers where they were available, as I understood the journey routing issue and did not want to be charged for travelling via zone1 (except of course when I did actually enter zone 1... a different issue which did happen a few times, such as to visit Oxford Street).

Simon