Missing London Zone 1 - pink readers?

[Tav77]

Good evening

I am looking to make a journey from Waltham Cross (WLC) to Lee. Obviously to miss Zone 1 I need to travel via Stratford and Canada Water.

I know there used to be pink readers on platforms 1 and 2 at Stratford for North London line, but I haven't noticed any for the Jubilee line, so my questions are:

1) does anybody know where there are other pink readers at Stratford

2) or can I just use the pink reader at Canada Water

3) or do I need to do it at both Stratford and Canada Water

Thanks in advance

 

[Starmill]

You don't need to tap the pink reader for this journey. The default route assumes you don't travel via zone 1.

 

[Tav77]

Thanks for such a swift response

 

[Watershed]

It's always best to check the TfL single fare finder (or a tool like LT Fares or Oyster Fares Central, which both display the same information in a more useful format) to know what TfL PAYG fares are available and what their conditions are. The 'default' fare is the one that you will be charged unless you meet the conditions for one of the other fares.

In this case the default fare assumes you avoid Zone 1. You are charged a higher fare for travelling via Zone 1 if you change between the National Rail and Underground stations at Liverpool Street, Cannon Street, Charing Cross, London Bridge, Waterloo East, Blackfriars, Victoria or Waterloo.

You could still travel via Zone 1 whilst paying the cheaper default fare, if you take the Elizabeth line from Stratford to Farringdon and then Thameslink to London Bridge. The PAYG system wouldn't know that you had gone via Zone 1, because it has no way of distinguishing this (in terms of intermediate taps) from your alternative route of changing at Stratford and New Cross. In this case you are effectively given the benefit of the doubt.

 

[Gooner18]

I’ve lived in London all my life , I can’t honestly say it’s the first time I’ve ever heard about pink card readers , tbh I’m not sure I’ve ever seen them ( I used Stratford and Highbury and Islington on and off )

 

[MikeWh]

I’ve lived in London all my life , I can’t honestly say it’s the first time I’ve ever heard about pink card readers , tbh I’m not sure I’ve ever seen them ( I used Stratford and Highbury and Islington on and off )

They are in very specific places at both stations, on the Mildmay line platforms, so you could well miss them if you don't use that part of either station.

 

[Gooner18]

They are in very specific places at both stations, on the Mildmay line platforms, so you could well miss them if you don't use that part of either station.

I have clearly missed these. Must be the best kept TFL secret lol

 

[Starmill]

They are mentioned explicitly at this link, and on some inconspicuous signage near the readers: https://tfl.gov.uk/fares/touch-pink-card-reader-when-changing-trains

However, unless you have seen and paid attention to the readers and the sign... You probably won't know they're there. You can usually start your journey at one too, which is useful at say Clapham Junction as you can book to there on your phone and then tap in at platform 1/2 to begin a journey on London Overground.