Underground Overground Contact Free!

When I heard the news that from 16^th September London’s Underground, Overground, Trams and DLR were using contactless payments I couldn’t get the Wombles theme out of my head, my childhood has a lot to answer for at times!

I think the contactless scheme for travel is an improvement on the Oyster card scheme currently in place, as it is set to automatically offer everyone getting around our fair capital the best value rate for their travel, if they use the system correctly.  I’ve been looking into this area recently; thought I would share my findings.

Using Your Card

Using your contactless card is much the same as an Oyster card.  You need to touch the yellow card reader at the beginning and end of your journey.  It is essential that this is done to ensure your fair is charged correctly.

Using the Same Card

The system is set to calculate the best fare for each day or week, based on when and where you have travelled.  But this will only be if you use the same contactless card.

Here’s the cleaver part, not only will the system cost the journeys you make each day it will cap the fees appropriately daily, and will also sum the cost of your travel between Monday and Sunday and apply the capped rate for the week, if appropriate, meaning your travel will always be charged at the best rate possible.

Keep You Cards Apart

I’ve heard that there is a potential issue with the new contactless travel, and that is of conflict between multiple contactless cards if you have multiples, so to avoid this care should be taken to keep the card your purse or wallet away from the reader when using the contactless readers.

How You Are Charged

This is the difference between using an Oyster card and using the new contactless system, each individual step of your journey is recorded and at the end of the day a calculation is made giving the cost of your travel and capped fees are given wherever applicable.  No money is deducted from your account as you are using the system, instead a charge will be taken at the end of the day.  Meaning that you haven’t got the extra steps of adding credit as is obligatory with an  Oyster card.

As I mentioned earlier the system also works from Monday to Friday, so the charges will be calculated daily and when charges meet the cost of the weekly capped rate, no further payments will be required for that particular week.  All of these fees are based on adult fares and capped rate fares are offered at a better rate than a Travelcard.

“Tickets Please” Oh, I don’t have one

Do not fear!  If an inspector askes for your ticket just show your contactless card.  From 16^th September inspectors will carry a mobile reader, there is no need for your to hand your card over, but instead touch it on the mobile reader.   The inspector will not be able to view any of your card details, but will be shown confirmation of your journey.  Be sure to offer the correct card here to avoid confusion.