Tap in, tap out...

[Western Sunset]

Was visiting London's northern termini (Padd , Marylebone, Euston , St Pan and KX) on Saturday and noticed all now have gatelines except (I think) Padd plat 1 and the high-numbered platforms at Euston when Avanti staff aren't around. What would happen if I tapped-in with my contactless card at say KX to access the platforms, trainspotted for an hour or so, then tapped-out again without travelling anywhere? Would I be charged a min/max fare?
Likewise if I tapped-in at an intermediate station (say Iver), spent an hour or so on the platforms and tapped-out, would I receive a max fare?

Just a wondering...

 

[transportphoto]

Same station exits
If you touch in when you enter a station and then touch out to exit it within a short period of time, you'll be charged a same station exit charge. These are:

• Between 0 - 2 minutes: a maximum fare. If you re-enter the same or a different station within 45 minutes, you'll be refunded. This doesn't apply if you take a bus or tram before re-entering a station
• Between 2 - 30 minutes: the minimum pay as you go fare from that station
• More than 30 minutes: two maximum fares. We'll assume two separate journeys have been made and both will be incomplete

We apply these charges to discourage fare evasion.

Source: https://tfl.gov.uk/fares/pay-the-right-fare#on-this-page-3

 

[Western Sunset]

Cheers, thanks. It's just something that puzzled me.

 

[WelshBluebird]

I do find it interesting (and not great for the passenger) that some of the different schemes in place have different rules around this.
TfL (as above) charge you a max fare, but GWR in their payg schemes in Bristol and Cornwall do not charge you if it is less than 30 minutes between the tap in and tap out.

I guess it is because TfL assume you would still travel when your intended train is cancelled due to how frequent services in London usually are, but out West a train being cancelled after you have tapped results in a higher chance you will just abandon your journey. But the same could be said for some of the less frequent services in the Oyster / Contactless area too!

 

[LittleRedTrain]

I found it much more civilised in the Netherlands. Tap out within 60 minutes of tapping in and you get no charge.

Means you can still access shops/facilities etc behind the gatelines, and use the station as a through pedestrian route where it makes sense to do so.

If your plans change and you decide not to travel, or use an alternate mode, no need to chase for a refund.

 

[RailExplorer]

I do find the TfL tap in/tap out timings somewhat unfair, particularly the rules under 30 minutes. I've had the misfortune of tapping in at Richmond on a few occasions, waiting for the overground (15 minute interval service) only to find them all subsequently cancelled for the foreseeable future. I then tap out and abandon my journey. If I then want a refund, I have to contact TfL and waste my own time - as if TfL didn't already do that by cancelling the trains! And of course, no access to delay repay or anything else with TfL either.