Tap in/out yellow readers- Farringdon

[Joannalr2000]

Can anyone advise where the yellow tap in/tap out readers are located at Farringdon for those changing from Thameslink to Circle/Hammersmith & City/Met line and vice versa for return journey. Many Thanks

 

[Wolfie]

Can anyone advise where the yellow tap in/tap out readers are located at Farringdon for those changing from Thameslink to Circle/Hammersmith & City/Met line and vice versa for return journey. Many Thanks

There certainly used to be some on the Thameslink platforms. I haven't changed there recently though.

 

[Joannalr2000]

Thank you. Meant to say arriving/returning from/to Bedford.

 

[Haywain]

There are several along the southbound Thameslink and westbound LU platforms. There are also readers at the foot of the mid-platform stairways on the eastbound LU platform which would be used to access the northbound Thameslink platform. If you leave the Eastbound by the "main" footbridge you can only then access the northbound Thameslink platform by going through both entrances and both sets of barriers. There is also a reader at the Elizabeth line access to the northbound Thameslink platform.

 

[Hadders]

They are located on the platform between shared between the Southbound Thameslink and anti-clockwise H&C/Circle/Met.

 

[greyman42]

Can anyone advise where the yellow tap in/tap out readers are located at Farringdon for those changing from Thameslink to Circle/Hammersmith & City/Met line and vice versa for return journey. Many Thanks

There will be many visitors to London who have no idea that they are expected to do this. Is it in any way made clear to them and what are the consequences for not tapping the yellow readers?

 

[Haywain]

There will be many visitors to London who have no idea that they are expected to do this. Is it in any way made clear to them and what are the consequences for not tapping the yellow readers?

If they are within the system already, or not leaving it, they don't have to. They are there for the convenience of changing brtween Thameslink and TfL services.

 

[bakerstreet]

Worth noting that you would be wise not to touch these yellow readers at Farringdon if you have already touched in and are not touching out. You might find that when you finally touch out you will be overcharged.

As an aside, due to poor training, some Thameslink RPIs have threatened penalty fares or prosecution to passengers who are checked after touching the yellow reader when continuing their journey even though the passenger has done nothing wrong.

 

[Hadders]

Just to clarify, you only need to touch on the platform readers at Farringdon if changing from a traditional ticket to contactless/Oyster PAYG.

In a few weeks time I'm travelling from Stevenage to Heathrow Airport, taking Thameslink to Farringdon where I will change to the Elizabeth Line. A through ticket is too expensive so I will use an e-ticket from Stevenage to Farrington then switch to Oyster at Farringdon. The platform validators are provided to enable you to touch in/out without having to exit the station and re-enter.

 

[DGP]

I have a KeyCard for Thameslink (and Southern) trains but I assume that there is nowhere in this (or indeed any other station) where you could tap out with a KeyCard from a Thameslink train and tap in with an Oyster or Contactless card to continue your journey on an LU or Elizabeth line train without going through the main gateline?

 

[Haywain]

I have a KeyCard for Thameslink (and Southern) trains but I assume that there is nowhere in this (or indeed any other station) where you could tap out with a KeyCard from a Thameslink train and tap in with an Oyster or Contactless card to continue your journey on an LU or Elizabeth line train without going through the main gateline?

KeyGo cards can be touched in or out on any of the readers - I have used them on many occasions.

 

[DGP]

KeyGo cards can be touched in or out on any of the readers - I have used them on many occasions.

Thank you for that quick response - but in that short time I've found this thread https://www.railforums.co.uk/threads/keygo-at-farringdon.244529/ which makes me not want to try it - especially as some train companies are quick to assume passengers are criminals.

== Doublepost prevention - post automatically merged: 6 Nov 2024 ==

Also a Q&A on the Thameslink website suggests that you need to leave and re-enter a station -->

Can I use a combination of keyGo with Oyster or contactless payment as my journey involves travel on other services?
No.
You will need to touch out at the end of the KeyGo area, and then re-enter the station using Oyster or contactless in order to continue your journey with another rail operator.

 

[Haywain]

Thank you for that quick response - but in that short time I've found this thread https://www.railforums.co.uk/threads/keygo-at-farringdon.244529/ which makes me not want to try it - especially as some train companies are quick to assume passengers are criminals.

== Doublepost prevention - post automatically merged: 6 Nov 2024 ==

Also a Q&A on the Thameslink website suggests that you need to leave and re-enter a station -->

Can I use a combination of keyGo with Oyster or contactless payment as my journey involves travel on other services?
No.
You will need to touch out at the end of the KeyGo area, and then re-enter the station using Oyster or contactless in order to continue your journey with another rail operator.

Since I started that thread I have used KeyGo regularly and used the readers on the platforms without any problems. Usually I am swapping from KeyGo to Oyster so find them to be very convenient.

 

[Hadders]

I have a KeyCard for Thameslink (and Southern) trains but I assume that there is nowhere in this (or indeed any other station) where you could tap out with a KeyCard from a Thameslink train and tap in with an Oyster or Contactless card to continue your journey on an LU or Elizabeth line train without going through the main gateline?

Finsbury Park and Farringdon are stations where you can change from KeyGo to Oyster/Contactless without passing through a gateline.

 

[ValleyLines142]

Just to clarify, you only need to touch on the platform readers at Farringdon if changing from a traditional ticket to contactless/Oyster PAYG.

In a few weeks time I'm travelling from Stevenage to Heathrow Airport, taking Thameslink to Farringdon where I will change to the Elizabeth Line. A through ticket is too expensive so I will use an e-ticket from Stevenage to Farrington then switch to Oyster at Farringdon. The platform validators are provided to enable you to touch in/out without having to exit the station and re-enter.

I regularly travel from Paddington to Farringdon on the Elizabeth Line and then head wherever else on Thameslink. I've always tapped the standalone reader at the top of the Elizabeth Line escalator, near to the northbound Thameslink platform. Do I not need to do this if I'm tapping out at London Bridge or East Croydon?

 

[Haywain]

I regularly travel from Paddington to Farringdon on the Elizabeth Line and then head wherever else on Thameslink. I've always tapped the standalone reader at the top of the Elizabeth Line escalator, near to the northbound Thameslink platform. Do I not need to do this if I'm tapping out at London Bridge or East Croydon?

No.

 

[ValleyLines142]

No.

Thanks for confirming.

 

[Hadders]

I regularly travel from Paddington to Farringdon on the Elizabeth Line and then head wherever else on Thameslink. I've always tapped the standalone reader at the top of the Elizabeth Line escalator, near to the northbound Thameslink platform. Do I not need to do this if I'm tapping out at London Bridge or East Croydon?

No you don't need to touch the standalone validator in this example. If you're using contactless then no harm will be done if you do touch the validator and are subsequently inspected between Farringdon and Londn Bridge/East Croydon but if you're using Oyster then you could have issues if you're inspected after touching the validator because it would show you as not being touched in, and we have seen examples where GTR renebue inspecotrs have (incorrectly) issued Penalty Fares.

The signage at Farringdon is not really clear about when to use the validators and when not to.

 

[DGP]

No you don't need to touch the standalone validator in this example. If you're using contactless then no harm will be done if you do touch the validator and are subsequently inspected between Farringdon and Londn Bridge/East Croydon but if you're using Oyster then you could have issues if you're inspected after touching the validator because it would show you as not being touched in, and we have seen examples where GTR renebue inspecotrs have (incorrectly) issued Penalty Fares.

The signage at Farringdon is not really clear about when to use the validators and when not to.

Thank you again for your replies, they certainly add clarity to the situation when Thameslink on their website and at their stations appear determined to add confusion. Next time I try my Canary Wharf to Brighton via Farringdon journey, I'll use these validators - assuming of course I don't need a paper PlusBus ticket for Brighton, but that's for another thread.

 

[Haywain]

assuming of course I don't need a paper PlusBus ticket for Brighton, but that's for another thread.

You can use KeyGo for the Brighton PlusBus scheme.

 

[DGP]

You can use KeyGo for the Brighton PlusBus scheme.

I'm going to get my wrists slapped for going off topic here but firstly, thanks again for this, and secondly, do you know if that just Brighton & Hove buses or does it cover Southdown, Compass and Big Lemon as well?

 

[Haywain]

do you know if that just Brighton & Hove buses or does it cover Southdown, Compass and Big Lemon as well?

This page says that it is restricted to Brighton & Hove and Metrobus, so I guess it depends what you need whether it works for you.

 

[greyman42]

The signage at Farringdon is not really clear about when to use the validators and when not to.

Yes, i agree. The amount of people with queries backs this up. I think someone who is not a regular traveller on these lines is likely to get it wrong.

 

[kegdr]

From my experience, TfL staff at nearby stations that connect to NR are accustomed to passenger confusion re connecting via Farringdon. It really is far too easy if you're unfamiliar with the station to not realise that when you arrive on a Thameslink service you're not actually separated from the Elizabeth line by a gateline.

 

[wearytraveller]

Yesterday I came up the lift from the Elizabeth line to the southbound Thameslink platform and saw nowhere to 'tap out' from the underground, so have been charged £8.40 instead of £2.80 for the trip from Canary wharf.

If you come up the escalator there is one reader on the wall at the bottom of the escalators that go up to the concourse, so I did that today but it's not ideal.

 

[Haywain]

Yesterday I came up the lift from the Elizabeth line to the southbound Thameslink platform and saw nowhere to 'tap out' from the underground,

You have to go further down the platform to where you can access the Circle/Met/H&C platforms, where you will find the readers.

 

[wearytraveller]

You have to go further down the platform to where you can access the Circle/Met/H&C platforms, where you will find the readers.

I did walk down to the first set of steps up to the tube platform but didn't see one. It's almost like it's on purpose

 

[Haywain]

I did walk down to the first set of steps up to the tube platform but didn't see one. It's almost like it's on purpose

There are several of them on both the Thameslink and Underground platforms.

 

[wearytraveller]

There are several of them on both the Thameslink and Underground platforms.

I've tapped on the underground platform before and it's counted it as an entry to the tube with no exit

 

[Haywain]

I've tapped on the underground platform before and it's counted it as an entry to the tube with no exit

What had you used to get to Farringdon? The readers are there for touching in or out of the system, they are not pink readers to define the route you are using.

== Doublepost prevention - post automatically merged: 5 Feb 2025 ==

so have been charged £8.40 instead of £2.80 for the trip from Canary wharf.

Canary Wharf to where? It's difficult to see what might have happened without knowing the end station.