Oyster acceptance on the GWML

Perhaps now that computer systems are doing the back office stuff we should abandon the zonal fares structure and go back to a distance based one. Or even a time based one, or some hybrid sort.

I do feel that Oyster acceptance on Heathrow Connect to Heathrow Airport (inside Greater London) is now overdue, when you consider that Oyster is now accepted to Gatwick Airport (outside Greater London).

Acceptance on Heathrow Connect was planned several years ago but the proposal collapsed for some reason and hasn't been brought back to life.

Oyster to Gatwick only applies from Jan 2016 and it's not yet clear how the practicalities will work (lots of speculation though).

Please note that it is on record that the extension of Oyster to Merstham, Redhill, Earlswood, Salfords, Horley & Gatwick Airport will not replace the current fare structure - it will be overlayed onto it. As such Oyster will actually be more expensive than some of the other fares available - particularly if it gets accepted on Gatwick Express branded services which are planned to keep their more expensive surcharge.

With regard to the GWML it is quite possible that a similar situation will persist and that if people want the cheapest ticket from the likes of Twyford or Reading say, then they may find paper tickets are the way to go.

They don't want ticket gates at Heathrow on the Express/Connect platforms.

Also it's a free interchange on the Pic line between terminals at Heathrow when using oyster.

Well that's going to be interesting when Crossrail starts running. I assume validators will be installed instead and the "standard fare" will be vastly increased to reflect the higher fare.

really? I wish that I had known this!

Simon

I maybe wrong about the free interchange.

The Gatwick Express Oyster fare will be £19.80. The other peak fare will be £14 and off peak £8.

Guess something similar could apply for Heathrow.

If going from Heathrow Airport Terminal 4 to Terminal 5 is it quicker to get the free shuttle train to Heathrow Central then the Express to T5? Or is the 490 quicker?
As the 490 just seems to take endless turns off the perimeter road to serve stops.
The barriers on the Gatwick Express platforms at Victoria currently do not have oyster readers, just the ones for the Go Ahead smartcard. So those could possibly be adapted to accept oyster at the higher fare.

A £12 Visitor Oystercard won't be enough for some journeys.

Simon

See Crusty54s post above.

The Gatwick Express fares are shown here www.gatwickexpress.com/en/tickets-and-fares/buy-online-and-save

As you can see £19.90 is the current walk up single adult ticket price (though if you book online it drops to £17.70) and all statements thus far indicate this is what will be charged if you use Oyster to / from Gatwick.

The Thameslink fare to Blackfriars (in the peaks) is £10.20, The Southern fare to Victoria (in the peaks) is £15.30

Please remember that the Government will only accept the extension of Oyster onto non-TfL provided rail services provided that:-

(1) It does not alter the profit / costs / subsidy profile of any current franchises.
(2) it does alter the nature of the franchise such that when the franchise is re-let the profit / costs / subsidy profile change significantly.

This is why fares from Shenfield and Reading remain in the hands of the GA and FGW franchises respectively and is also why Watford junction (fares set by LM & Virgin) is outside the traditional 1-6 zonal structure.

As such there have been plenty warning given that unlike when Oyster is applied to rail services within the traditional 1-6 zonal structure, rail fares will NOT go down. In the case of Gatwick the Government are on record as saying Oyster fares to the airport will not be the cheapest option and lower fare paper tickets will continue to be available.

Its also worth remembering that its Gatwick Airport themselves who are the ones pushing for Oyster to be extended there, because:-

(1) Provides parity with Heathrow Airport (who will accept Oyster once Crossrail is up and running)
(2) Makes things 'easy' for airline travellers who can then be sold an Oyster card on board planes and be told that it also includes travel into Central London.

The reason for extending Oyster to Merstham, Redhill, Earlswood, Salfords and Horley is more of an enabling measure and a gesture to Surrey CC who indicated they would not best pleased if Gatwick (which is in West Sussex) got Oyster acceptance and they did not. Fares from these stations are expected to be the same as the current standard walk up paper ticket prices - again frequent travellers may well find some for of season ticket cheaper. As these stations are not served by Gatwick express owever, fares using Oyster will be more reasonable if you can prove you sued this route - if you got off and touched out / in at Redhill on the way to or from Gatwick say, then you would presumably be charged the cheaper Southern fare to / from Victoria.

So my advice to anyone on here DON'T USE OYSTER TO GATWICK - you will pay way more than you need to for the privilege. Rather pre-book paper tickets from East Croydon / Purley / etc to Gatwick, pick them up from your local station ticket machine or get them posted to you and then use Oyster to get to East Croydon / Purley /etc. where your paper ticket takes over.

They are not in general - however it wouldn't have played well with the councils electorate if passengers from West Sussex (which doesn't even touch the GLA area) got Oyster (even if it is the most expensive fare available) while Surrey did not. However thats not to say Surrey CC are the deciding reason why Merstham - Horley are getting Oyster acceptance - there are many other factors at play here.... the attitude of the DfT being a particularly important factor.