Esher Station and note about Oyster not being valid

[infobleep]

The following is on South West Trains Journey Check site:
http://m.journeycheck.com/southwest...101&webMsg=true&&engWorksPeriod=&serviceTime= to Esher Station

Travel to Esher Station

Please note that Esher Station is outside the TFL boundary. This means that Oyster cards, contactless payments and Freedom Passes are not valid to Esher. The last station of validity is Surbiton, which is inside Zone 6.*

You may purchase a ticket in advance from Surbiton to Esher if you wish to travel to Esher station.*


Message Received :02/03/2015 18:18

Has been here been an increase in the numbers travelling to Esher without a valid ticket. What about Hinchley Wood. Has that seen an increase. There's no note for that station.

 

[najaB]

Completely off topic, but I read this as Escher Station - which would be completely different!

 

[PermitToTravel]

Completely off topic, but I read this as Escher Station - which would be completely different!

Bank feels like one of those.

 

[sushiuk]

I would imagine it's something to do with people travelling from London to Sandown Park racecourse and not knowing that Oyster isn't valid that far.

 

[greatkingrat]

I guess there may be a problem with people heading to Sandown Park racecourse who aren't aware it is outside the zones? Hinchley Wood on the other hand will mostly only be used by people living in the area.

 

[button_boxer]

You may purchase a ticket in advance from Surbiton to Esher if you wish to travel to Esher station.

No mention of the fact that if you're on Oyster PAYG you would have to get off the train at Surbiton to touch out, then get the next train one stop to Esher. I'd be tempted to get the Hampton Court train to Thames Ditton (which is Oysterable) and walk from there.

 

[infobleep]

No mention of the fact that if you're on Oyster PAYG you would have to get off the train at Surbiton to touch out, then get the next train one stop to Esher. I'd be tempted to get the Hampton Court train to Thames Ditton (which is Oysterable) and walk from there.

Perhaps that was an oversight. I'd expect the people writing it and approving it to know that. Sometime though when you know something you forget that not everyone else does.
--- old post above --- --- new post below ---

I guess there may be a problem with people heading to Sandown Park racecourse who aren't aware it is outside the zones? Hinchley Wood on the other hand will mostly only be used by people living in the area.

That's just what I thought after posting this thread.

When there is racing on at Sand Down perhaps South West Trains should put some revenue protection officers on.

Alternatively they could always put them at the Esher barriers!

 

[JonathanH]

No mention of the fact that if you're on Oyster PAYG you would have to get off the train at Surbiton to touch out, then get the next train one stop to Esher. I'd be tempted to get the Hampton Court train to Thames Ditton (which is Oysterable) and walk from there.

Or K3 bus from Surbiton to Esher on which travelcards are valid.

 

[RJ]

I sell a lot of tickets to Esher from my humble ticket office, pretty much all racegoers. Many people want to go out then come back into London. Once upon a time a Travelcard + BZ6 extension was the cheapest option I could find (without a 30 minute time penalty at Surbiton) but nowadays it seems a through CDR is better value.

 

[TUC]

The following is on South West Trains Journey Check site:
http://m.journeycheck.com/southwest...101&webMsg=true&&engWorksPeriod=&serviceTime= to Esher Station

It is worded in a way that could be taken to imply that Oyster is valid from Surbiton even if you just stay on the same train.

 

[455driver]

No mention of the fact that if you're on Oyster PAYG you would have to get off the train at Surbiton to touch out, then get the next train one stop to Esher. I'd be tempted to get the Hampton Court train to Thames Ditton (which is Oysterable) and walk from there.

If you bothered to read it properly it says you can buy the ticket in advance, ie at the start or their journey.

 

[greatkingrat]

If you bothered to read it properly it says you can buy the ticket in advance, ie at the start or their journey.

If you'd bothered to read it properly you would see that even if you buy a Surbiton - Esher ticket in advance at Waterloo, you still have to get off at Surbiton to touch out otherwise you end up with a maximum fare.

 

[RJ]

I concur with button_boxer and greatkingrat here, that advice is only relevant if you have a paper ticket to Surbiton. Oyster and contactless users might end up with a maximum fare on the way to Esher and risk a Penalty Fare or worse for overriding on the way back if they don't get off and validate at Surbiton.

 

[londonbridge]

Please note that Esher Station is outside the TFL boundary. This means that Oyster cards, contactless payments and Freedom Passes are not valid to Esher. The last station of validity is Surbiton, which is inside Zone 6.*

Shouldn't it just say Oyster pay-as-you-go cards? A travelcard on Oyster with zone 6 validity, in conjunction with a paper ticket from Surbiton to Esher, would be valid and with no penalty for not touching said travelcard out at Surbiton, would it not?

 

[Deerfold]

Please note that Esher Station is outside the TFL boundary. This means that Oyster cards, contactless payments and Freedom Passes are not valid to Esher. The last station of validity is Surbiton, which is inside Zone 6.*

Shouldn't it just say Oyster pay-as-you-go cards? A travelcard on Oyster with zone 6 validity, in conjunction with a paper ticket from Surbiton to Esher, would be valid and with no penalty for not touching said travelcard out at Surbiton, would it not?

No, that's quite clear - it even confirms that Oyster/contactless etc *are* valid as far as Surbiton.

 

[adrock1976]

Sometimes I feel that as areas that were historically part of Surrey, Middlesex, Essex, Hertfordshire, Kent, etc that became part of Greater London in 1965 may be easier to have the whole of the postcode area as part of the Oyster Zone.

For example, Surbition was historically in Surrey, has a KT postcode (centered upon Kingston-upon-Thames, which was also historically part of Surrey and also shares Surrey County Council facilities and meetings with Guildford), and is part of the Oyster Zone. However, neighbouring Esher, Epsom, and Chertsey remain part of the present-day Surrey, not part of the Oyster Zone, but have KT postcodes.

Moving slightly off-topic regarding the possibility of Gatwick Airport having Oyster validity, not forgetting Slough, Maidenhead, and Reading when London Crossrail is up and running, perhaps it may be a time to re-examine the zonal area, with the present Zones 7-9 being extended so as to form a concentric circle?

In peace

Adam

 

[infobleep]

Last year I pointed out a mistake with a Journey Check message that was put up for a month or two. I reported the issue at least twice and it wasn't corrected.

Based on that experience I won't bother contacting South West Trains about this message and how it might be worded more clearly.

 

[Deerfold]

Last year I pointed out a mistake with wa Journey Check message that was put up for a month or two. I reported the issue at least twice and it wasn't corrected.

Based on that experience I won't bother contacting South West Trains about this message and how it might be worded more clearly.

Corrected that for you. Ironic (but not unusual) that you have 3 mistakes in a comment about someone else's writing.

Their message seems perfectly clear. They could add that if using PAYG you'll have to get off at Surbiton to touch out - but that's no different to anywhere else.

 

[infobleep]

Corrected that for you. Ironic (but not unusual) that you have 3 mistakes in a comment about someone else's writing.

Their message seems perfectly clear. They could add that if using PAYG you'll have to get off at Surbiton to touch out - but that's no different to anywhere else.

I admit my typos and spelling are not perfect as I'm dyslexic. I correct those I spot. However what I try to avoid doing is saying a train leaves at 9.07 if it leaves at 9.04 and if my mistakes are pointed out I try to correct them.

Like I did here.

As for the message. button_boxer; greatkingrat and RJ all say it gives the impression you don't have to get off at Surbiton if you buy a ticket from Surbiton to Esher when using your Oyster card.

 

[Deerfold]

As for the message. button_boxer; greatkingrat and RJ all say it gives the impression you don't have to get off at Surbiton if you buy a ticket from Surbiton to Esher when using your Oyster card.

Which is true if you have a season ticket on it.

They all say, as I did, that it would provide more information if it also mentioned what to do if you are using Oyster PAYG.

The main point of the message is surely to point out that Esher is outside the zones. Which it does.

 

[wimbledonpete]

Kempton's the same - no Oyster there either. Bit of a pain if you're going for a day at the races but I guess the border has to be somewhere. Annoying that you can use it on the local buses but not on the trains though.

 

[TEW]

When there is racing on at Sand Down perhaps South West Trains should put some revenue protection officers on.

Alternatively they could always put them at the Esher barriers!

SWT do normally provide revenue protection staff at Esher when there is racing on at Sandown Park.

 

[Busaholic]

Why is everyone avoiding the obvious answer, which is to bring Esher into the Oyster area? Then I was told at school (by a R.E. master) that I was too logical for my own good. Please no-one say it can't be done (cf Ockendon and Watford Junction).

 

[TUC]

Why is everyone avoiding the obvious answer, which is to bring Esher into the Oyster area? Then I was told at school (by a R.E. master) that I was too logical for my own good. Please no-one say it can't be done (cf Ockendon and Watford Junction).

Presumably the problem is that it is outside the TfL area and so it's services are not subject to the same subsidies and fare policies as those within the area.

 

[Busaholic]

Presumably the problem is that it is outside the TfL area and so it's services are not subject to the same subsidies and fare policies as those within the area.

I've read on here of plans to bring Epsom into the Oyster catchment area i.e. same county and also boasting a racecourse bringing Londoners into the area in a big way on certain days of the year. Where ther's a will there's a way!

 

[tsr]

I've read on here of plans to bring Epsom into the Oyster catchment area i.e. same county and also boasting a racecourse bringing Londoners into the area in a big way on certain days of the year. Where ther's a will there's a way!

Epsom Downs and Tattenham Corner are far better for accessing the racecourse, and are already fully integrated within the London Zones and Oyster system. Indeed, I would suggest this may have been part of the incentive for the Oyster rollout to the Tattenham Corner branch, which is very much on the boundary of Greater London. Epsom Downs is somewhat more understandable in these terms, as it is only a short distance from Sutton, which is part of a conurbation closely connected with the South London rail infrastructure.

The real issue with Epsom itself is that both Ewell East and Ewell West are within the Zones on the lines into the station, but somewhat illogically the Oyster system has not been extended one station further to link up the lines and provide a convenient boundary for many passengers. I am sure Oyster would be much better used - and used more frequently in the correct manner - if Epsom was included, and I understand it will be. I don't see that there is any real need to extend it much further, if at all - certainly no further than Dorking, which is the local boundary of TfL-branded buses.

If only the boundaries for zones could be:
Epsom - Zone 6/7
Ashtead/Leatherhead - Zone 7
Box Hill/Dorking Stations - Zone 8
Betchworth - Zone 9 (to allow travel on Oyster via Redhill or Dorking)
Reigate/Salfords - Zone 7/8
Redhill/Merstham/Earlswood/Nutfield - Zone 7
Horley/Gatwick Airport - Zone 8
Three Bridges/Godstone/Edenbridge Stations - Zone 9
Hurst Green/Oxted - Zone 8
Woldingham - Zone 7

Such would seem to be fairly clear-cut and well-defined.

 

[infobleep]

Presumably the problem is that it is outside the TfL area and so it's services are not subject to the same subsidies and fare policies as those within the area.

Gatwick Airport is currently outside the area. It won't be in due course though.

 

[Busaholic]

Epsom Downs and Tattenham Corner are far better for accessing the racecourse, and are already fully integrated within the London Zones and Oyster system. Indeed, I would suggest this may have been part of the incentive for the Oyster rollout to the Tattenham Corner branch, which is very much on the boundary of Greater London. Epsom Downs is somewhat more understandable in these terms, as it is only a short distance from Sutton, which is part of a conurbation closely connected with the South London rail infrastructure.

The real issue with Epsom itself is that both Ewell East and Ewell West are within the Zones on the lines into the station, but somewhat illogically the Oyster system has not been extended one station further to link up the lines and provide a convenient boundary for many passengers. I am sure Oyster would be much better used - and used more frequently in the correct manner - if Epsom was included, and I understand it will be. I don't see that there is any real need to extend it much further, if at all - certainly no further than Dorking, which is the local boundary of TfL-branded buses.

If only the boundaries for zones could be:
Epsom - Zone 6/7
Ashtead/Leatherhead - Zone 7
Box Hill/Dorking Stations - Zone 8
Betchworth - Zone 9 (to allow travel on Oyster via Redhill or Dorking)
Reigate/Salfords - Zone 7/8
Redhill/Merstham/Earlswood/Nutfield - Zone 7
Horley/Gatwick Airport - Zone 8
Three Bridges/Godstone/Edenbridge Stations - Zone 9
Hurst Green/Oxted - Zone 8
Woldingham - Zone 7

Such would seem to be fairly clear-cut and well-defined.

If you're walking, ED and TC are indeed much nearer the racecourse but many are encouraged to use the special buses from Epsom Station (route 406F)

You've obviously thought out sensible proposals to extend the Oyster system but Govia might not agree!

 

[Starmill]

How much cheaper is getting off at Surbiton to use Oyster PAYG than just buying a London Terminals - Esher ticket?

 

[RJ]

How much cheaper is getting off at Surbiton to use Oyster PAYG than just buying a London Terminals - Esher ticket?

If you're hoping to go there and back, it is more expensive to split using PAYG. For a one way trip, one can save up to 50p.

However there might actually be a saving if one is likely to reach the All Day Cap.