Arriving at Clapham Junction on a paper ticket and then using Contactless/Oyster

[mrg9999]

I've tried to get an answer to this question by asking National Rail Enquiries, TFL and people who regularly pass through Clapham Junction Railway Station but no-one seems to have a definitive answer.

My question is basically. Can I arrive at Clapham Junction using a paper railway ticket from say Woking and then without exiting an re-entering the station to join a local train using a contactless card or Oyster using one of the readers without getting any penalty from TFL for not touching in at the barrier line.

Can I do the same with an electronic national rail ticket?

 

[sonic2009]

I do recall somewhere inside Clapham Junction there is a standalone oyster pad you can touch to save going outside the barriers, but I cannot remember, someone else might be able to confirm though.

 

[mrg9999]

I do recall somewhere inside Clapham Junction there is a standalone oyster pad you can touch to save going outside the barriers, but I cannot remember, someone else might be able to confirm though.

Yes, there is at least on platforms 1 and 17. But last time I used one I was given a maximum fare by TFL a few times that I had to get reversed in 2016. I'd like to know if it has been fixed now.

 

[ThisIsSurbiton]

But last time I used one I was given a maximum fare by TFL a few times that I had to get reversed in 2016. I'd like to know if it has been fixed now.

I did this last Saturday to go to Wandsworth Town, and all was OK. This was with a bank card, I don't know if an Oyster card would behave differently. As far as I remember, it has never been officially possible to start a journey at a pink validator, although it works.

 

[Iggy12a]

The machine in the subway adjacent to platform 17 is a tap in/out machine and not a pink validator. It has always worked successfully for me.

 

[ThisIsSurbiton]

The machine in the subway adjacent to platform 17 is a tap in/out machine and not a pink validator. It has always worked successfully for me.

I'll remember that, thanks. I'm sure the platform 1/2 validator is pink so I'll use 17 in future.

 

[Kite159]

Platform 1/2 is pink so Ok to enter the system with but to exit and carry on using a paper ticket you need to use the readers on platform 17 itself or in the subway near the entrance to platform 17.

 

[bubieyehyeh]

One think I discovered which maybe of interest is that a paper ticket to imperial wharf via clapham is cheaper than a paper ticket to clapham.

 

[Dewedin]

I've done that exact journey to Woking recently. Used Oyster to Clapham Junction and then touched out using the reader on Platform 17, continuing my journey on a paper ticket. On the return journey did the same in reverse, using a paper ticket to Clapham Junction and then touching in at the reader on Platform 17 to continue my journey.

So yes you can do this without re-entering the station and it doesn't matter whether continuing your journey with a printed ticket or an e-ticket, but you have to use the yellow readers at Platform 17.

 

[T-Karmel]

As already mentioned above, on platform 17 as well as in the tunnel by platform 17 (and at the same time just by the exit barriers) there's standalone yellow readers for both entry and exit. Platform 1/2 has pink readers which will only let you start, yet not end the journey. But... if making your way via platform 1/2 or 17 and not actually travelling from those platforms, it will be easier to just use the nearest barriers to exit and re enter and make your way to your desired platform.

 

[Joe Paxton]

The machine in the subway adjacent to platform 17 is a tap in/out machine and not a pink validator. It has always worked successfully for me.

I've done that exact journey to Woking recently. Used Oyster to Clapham Junction and then touched out using the reader on Platform 17, continuing my journey on a paper ticket. On the return journey did the same in reverse, using a paper ticket to Clapham Junction and then touching in at the reader on Platform 17 to continue my journey.

So yes you can do this without re-entering the station and it doesn't matter whether continuing your journey with a printed ticket or an e-ticket, but you have to use the yellow readers at Platform 17.

Concur - there are a few Oyster/contactless standalone validators actually located on platform 17 - there are a couple at the southern end at bottom of the stairs from the overbridge, one towards the northern (subway) end of the platform and there are also a couple in the subway at the foot of the stairs that lead up to platform 17.

I've used them many times to start or finish a journey on Oyster or contactless, when swapping between 'regular' tickets (paper or e-ticket) and Oyster/contactless.

(Also, in the subway almost opposite the stairs up to platform 17 - more or less bext to the gateline leading to the St John's Hill entrance and the shopping arcade - there are another couple of standalone Oyster validators next to a maroon coloured set of double doors that are marked as an 'Emergency Exit'. I assume this is to allow for the doors to be opened and used as an exit if the station gets super-busy - it'd lead you out to the small car park which is just off Falcon Road.)

 

[AlbertBeale]

One think I discovered which maybe of interest is that a paper ticket to imperial wharf via clapham is cheaper than a paper ticket to clapham.

I seem to remember that in the days of a daily Parliamentary train linking Kensington Olympia (etc) on the WLL to Wandsworth Rd, it was cheaper than a fare from WLL origins to Clapham Junction; and since, for most of the day, the journey was only doable via a change at CJ (hence that had to be an allowable route), it was cheaper for people heading to CJ at any time to get a Wandsworth Road ticket and "break their journey" at CJ.

That situation continued when the official closure of the old connection finally happened - and it is indeed still the case, with, eg, a ticket from Ken Olympia to Wandsworth Road being about half that of a ticket to CJ, even though you have to go via CJ to get to Wandsworth Road.

 

[davews]

I take it what you are all suggesting is that it is a long long way to walk to the barriers at Clapham Junction, and those validators by platform 17 may (or may not) be nearer. Good point and an annoyance with the layout of Clapham Junction. At Richmond it is much easier, just go out and in again at the gateline.

 

[londonbridge]

Before the end of Covid restrictions when the one way systems were still in place I had reason to make such a journey, came into Clapham, made my way to the gate line by platform 1, negotiating an army of staff who were blocking various staircases and marking them as up only or down only, exited and then tapped in. Started along the subway only to be stopped by yet another staff member who asked which platform I wanted. When I said 13, she demanded I use the footbridge (why, what difference would it have made as long as I kept to the left)? By the time I’d gone back up to the footbridge and eventually got to platform 13 I’d missed two Croydon trains!

 

[infobleep]

Thanks to the advice on here I was able to use a pink validator to enter the systen rather than needing to exit the station.

I usually use platform 17, which is yellow but I was at the other side of the station