Help with London travel this week

[Chapeltom]

Hi all

I'm going down to London afternoon on Tuesday, off to Forest Gate and then to Carshalton - probably use a travelcard.

My issue is Wednesday/Thursday. I'm stopping in Forest Gate, and will need to get to Kew Gardens by latest of 11am on both days, preferably around 10 if not earlier. I hold a 16-25 railcard, not loaded it onto my Oyster but can if necessary. I'll be doing a bit of other travelling, before definitely back to Forest Gate on Weds, and to Victoria for the 2345 Megabus on Thursday.

What's going to be the cheapest way of getting around? The oyster caps confuse me.

 

[maniacmartin]

The cheapest way would be to make the short walk between Forest Gate and Wanstead Park. Then take the Overground to Gospel Oak, touch the pink reader and then take another Overground train towards Richmond. It takes 1h14mins and will cost 1.60 in the peak.

Searching on TfL's site for Wanstead Park to Kew Gardens will give the timings and itineraries

 

[Chapeltom]

£1.60 at peak time how does that work? Will it be something to do with validating my route? Presume the NLL doesn't go via Zone 1?

 

[MikeWh]

£1.60 at peak time how does that work? Will it be something to do with validating my route? Presume the NLL doesn't go via Zone 1?

Correct. Outside zone 1 TfL rail fares are cheaper than NR equivalents. You can make the same journey from Forest Gate and changing at Stratford, but because the first bit is classed as NR you have to pay £1.80 in the peak. In either case you need to make sure you touch on the pink validator at Gospel Oak (between the Goblin and NLL platforms) or Stratford (on the LO platform).

 

[Chapeltom]

So if I travel before 0930, I won't hit the oyster cap until I 'spend' £15.60 worth of fares as there is no railcard discount on peak caps? I think I'll be doing a few other journeys, so don't think I'll actually hit £15.60, probably only reach £10 or so.

 

[bb21]

Depends on how much travelling you do before 0930 I think.

The system will charge an off-peak cap plus fares for travel before 0930 separately if cheaper iirc.

 

[MikeWh]

So if I travel before 0930, I won't hit the oyster cap until I 'spend' £15.60 worth of fares as there is no railcard discount on peak caps? I think I'll be doing a few other journeys, so don't think I'll actually hit £15.60, probably only reach £10 or so.

No.

If you make one/two journey(s) before 0930 then you will probably hit the off-peak cap before you hit the peak cap, especially with a railcard discount. For example:

Time   Fare   Anytime   Off-Peak  Capped
0800   3.50      3.50
0915   2.20      5.70
0940   1.45      7.15      1.45
1030   2.50      9.65      3.95
1200   2.50     12.15      5.60   Yes, total for day = £11.30
1400   1.45  doesn't now matter