Bletchley Line to Euston/Zone 1 Contactless Prices/Caps

[PorageOats]

I am looking for the detailed fare calculations when using contactless on the Bletchley line to Euston/Zone 1. I have looked at https://www.londonnorthwesternrailw...icket-delivery-options/pay-you-go-contactless and https://tfl.gov.uk/fares/find-fares/national-rail-fares-beyond-zone-9. However I cannot reconcile the actual amounts charged with these prices/caps. Usually my friend is travelling to Euston and back in the same day. What other resources should I use?

 

[JonathanH]

According to https://oysterfares.com/fare-finder/ the all day cap from Bletchley is intended to be £60.50, and the off-peak cap is intended to be £29.90, consistent with the travelcard fares.

However, single fares to London Zone 1 are £28.40 and £14.40, so it is possible that the actual caps charged are the combination of a cap further into London (the inboundary 1-4 cap for example), and the unpublished extension fares to that boundary.

If the actual cap being charged is less than £60.50 / £29.90, it is perhaps surprising that the extension fares haven't been set at a high enough level to ensure the intended cap is reached.

The Contactless system is meant to calculate the best combination of single fares and caps for a user, but this can result in a revenue loss to the railway.

Perhaps the best thing is to post examples of journey history and capping in a forum post and it may be possible for someone to work out what has actually been charged.

 

[PorageOats]

However, single fares to London Zone 1 are £28.40 and £14.40, so it is possible that the actual caps charged are the combination of a cap further into London (the inboundary 1-4 cap for example), and the unpublished extension fares to that boundary.

Yes, I wanted to find the “unpublished extension fares”.

My queries are about extension fares at stations on the Bletchley line.

I don’t want to pay contactless on my intended journey if it is cheaper to use a paper ticket with a railcard. However a friend (who does not have a railcard), and who takes a shorter journey, has discovered the contactless fare is less than expected.