Questions about TfL Out of Station Interchanges

[DynamicSpirit]

I'm just looking at TfL's spreadsheet of out of station interchanges (available at https://tfl.gov.uk/corporate/publications-and-reports/out-of-station-interchanges), and realised there are a few things not at all clear about it. Particular things that puzzle me:

Woolwich to Woolwich Arsenal has two separate identical entries in the spreadsheet. Why would this be? Both entries are listed as 'PAYG only' - does that cover both Oyster and contactless?

As another example, Lancaster Gate to Paddington National Rail also has two entries in the spreadsheet - but one is marked PAYG only and the other is marked contactless only. What's going on there?

Meanwhile London Bridge has three entries in the spreadsheet - two LU to NR and one NR to NR. that might make sense if London Bridge NR had two separate gatelines that gave access to different services that were charged differently, but off the top of my head it doesn't. So what would be the rationale for those entries?

How do the rules work for stations that have multiple entrances (not separate LU/NR) where it's plausible you could go out one entrance and in the other en route? For example, Farringdon has an entry, Farringdon to 'Same NLC OSI' which I presume is intended to cover its two entrances on opposite sides of the street where the recommended route for some interchanges involves exiting and crossing the street. Would that OSI only be activated if you do actually re-enter by a different entrance from the one you exited from? (As opposed to, for example, someone hypothetically getting a bit confused, leaving through one gateline, then figuring it's actually easier for them to get to their connecting train through the same gateline they just left).

 

[Benjwri]

Meanwhile London Bridge has three entries in the spreadsheet - two LU to NR and one NR to NR. that might make sense if London Bridge NR had two separate gatelines that gave access to different services that were charged differently, but off the top of my head it doesn't. So what would be the rationale for those entries?

The terminating platforms at London Bridge are a separate gateline to the through platforms. Therefore they have to be set up like this so someone could for example come in on a terminating service and then continue north on Thameslink.

== Doublepost prevention - post automatically merged: 25 Jan 2026 ==

Woolwich to Woolwich Arsenal has two separate identical entries in the spreadsheet. Why would this be? Both entries are listed as 'PAYG only' - does that cover both Oyster and contactless?

There are two entries because one is for the DLR and one for the National Rail station, because of how the gatelines for each are set up. The reference to PAYG only means that it isn't an OSI for magnetic tickets, more commonly known as paper tickets, PAYG covers oyster and contactless.

 

[MikeWh]

Woolwich to Woolwich Arsenal has two separate identical entries in the spreadsheet. Why would this be?

One is the main National Rail entrance, the other is the entrance to the DLR just along Woolwich New Road, or the one in Greens End.

Both entries are listed as 'PAYG only' - does that cover both Oyster and contactless?

Yes, PAYG covers both Oyster and contactless.

As another example, Lancaster Gate to Paddington National Rail also has two entries in the spreadsheet - but one is marked PAYG only and the other is marked contactless only. What's going on there?

I think that one of the NLCs at Paddington NR is for platforms where the first stop is guaranteed to be beyond zone 6, usually Reading.

Meanwhile London Bridge has three entries in the spreadsheet - two LU to NR and one NR to NR. that might make sense if London Bridge NR had two separate gatelines that gave access to different services that were charged differently, but off the top of my head it doesn't. So what would be the rationale for those entries?

There is an escalator between the lower concourse outside the paid area and the upper concourse at the ends of platforms 10-15.

How do the rules work for stations that have multiple entrances (not separate LU/NR) where it's plausible you could go out one entrance and in the other en route? For example, Farringdon has an entry, Farringdon to 'Same NLC OSI' which I presume is intended to cover its two entrances on opposite sides of the street where the recommended route for some interchanges involves exiting and crossing the street.

Farringdon covers the integrated ticket hall and any other entrance, including the one down the side street. Same NLC OSI just indicates that there is only one NLC at that station. Other ones like Waterloo LU or Kings Cross St Pancras have different gatelines each with their own NLC.

Would that OSI only be activated if you do actually re-enter by a different entrance from the one you exited from? (As opposed to, for example, someone hypothetically getting a bit confused, leaving through one gateline, then figuring it's actually easier for them to get to their connecting train through the same gateline they just left).

It will definitely work between different gatelines. If using Oyster I believe it won't work if the same gateline is used, but contactless doesn't mind. I think that's because the back office only knows the NLC that was used whereas the Oyster card knows which actual gateline it's being pressed against.

 

[redreni]

I don't know on what basis TfL would choose not to list Lancaster Gate to Paddington as a magnetic OSI. It's been a recognised interchange station for cross-London tickets for donkeys years.

And there is a fixed walking link between Woolwich Arsenal and Woolwich EL, which I sometimes take advantage of when travelling between Slade Green and Maidenhead on a paper CDR so that I can pop to the shops in Woolwich or grab breakfast in the Dial Arch on my way there. I suppose the break of journey is technically no longer allowed since last November, but the principle of changing at Woolwich Arsenal and Woolwich rather than at Abbey Wood when travelling on a paper ticket is surely beyond question given there is a fixed link? NRE will generate an itinerary using the fixed link if you specify Woolwich Arsenal as a via point and will suggest the CDR rather than the Contactless fare if you search for a return journey with a Railcard.

All it does when TfL lists an OSI as Oyster and/or Contactless but not magnetic, is make gateline staff believe the interchange cannot be used by holders of paper tickets, even though as far as I'm aware the spreadsheet in question has no contractual force and just describes how gatelines are meant to be configured.

 

[Hadders]

I don't know on what basis TfL would choose not to list Lancaster Gate to Paddington as a magnetic OSI. It's been a recognised interchange station for cross-London tickets for donkeys years.

Paddington to Lancaster Gate would be using the cross-London (Maltese Cross) validity on a paper ticket when interchanging between those stations with a paper ticket.

You wouldn't interchange between Lancester Gate and Paddington LU using a paper LU ticket, and here's no OSI between Lancaster Gate and Paddington LU.

This is different to somewhere like the two Hammersmith stations where as well as a OSI for Oyster and contactless it's also an OSI for magnetic tickets because a journey like Wood Lane to Chiswick Park using a paper LU would need to let you interchange between the two Hammersmith stations.

 

[DynamicSpirit]

One is the main National Rail entrance, the other is the entrance to the DLR just along Woolwich New Road, or the one in Greens End.

Thanks, that makes some sense. Although does beg the question, why would TfL bother having two different codes/entries for gatelines that all lead to the same platform area. You can after all easily get to the NR platforms from the Woolwich Arsenal DLR gateline and vice versa.

It will definitely work between different gatelines. If using Oyster I believe it won't work if the same gateline is used, but contactless doesn't mind. I think that's because the back office only knows the NLC that was used whereas the Oyster card knows which actual gateline it's being pressed against.

Interesting. I sometimes used to take advantage of the OSI at Farringdon by popping out to the shops while I was changing trains there. I'd always make sure that I re-entered the station using the opposite gateline to the one I exited from, just to be safe. Sounds like, using contactless, there was no need for me to take that precaution.

 

[MikeWh]

Thanks, that makes some sense. Although does beg the question, why would TfL bother having two different codes/entries for gatelines that all lead to the same platform area. You can after all easily get to the NR platforms from the Woolwich Arsenal DLR gateline and vice versa.

It's just like other stations with different entrances like Kings Cross St Pancras. Also, during Covid the connection was broken for a while, and they can also separate things if one side isn't working due to engineering work, or strikes.

Interesting. I sometimes used to take advantage of the OSI at Farringdon by popping out to the shops while I was changing trains there. I'd always make sure that I re-entered the station using the opposite gateline to the one I exited from, just to be safe. Sounds like, using contactless, there was no need for me to take that precaution.

I discovered that when trying to split a journey at Lewisham NR. There is an internal OSI to cope with routes between platforms that go through gates. Even though I used the gateline at the original entrance between platforms 2 and 3 for both exit and entry, it still joined the journey together. Oyster didn't join it together.