London Oyster Travelcard vs National Rail Travel Card
Apr 14th, 2013, 05:54 AM
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London Oyster Travelcard vs National Rail Travel Card
I'm looking to download the 2for1 Days Out coupons that are valid with a travel card. Is a national rail travelcard different than the London Oyster travelcard?
If yes how do you get a rail travelcard? What is the cost?
Thanks.
If yes how do you get a rail travelcard? What is the cost?
Thanks.
Apr 14th, 2013, 05:58 AM
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Start off by reading this recent post for info
http://www.fodors.com/community/euro...d-planning.cfm
If you need further info you can do a search above as there are hundreds of threads on this topic
http://www.fodors.com/community/euro...d-planning.cfm
If you need further info you can do a search above as there are hundreds of threads on this topic
Apr 14th, 2013, 05:59 AM
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And another recent one
http://www.fodors.com/community/euro...er-options.cfm
http://www.fodors.com/community/euro...er-options.cfm
Apr 14th, 2013, 06:39 AM
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I have read those posts and it's still not clear.
TfL will sell you a travelcard that if you purchase in London is loaded onto an Oyster card. Are you saying if you purchase a travel card in a national rail station it's still a paper travel card? And one that you need a passport size photo for? (TfL says they no longer need photos).
Is this correct
TfL will sell you a travelcard that if you purchase in London is loaded onto an Oyster card. Are you saying if you purchase a travel card in a national rail station it's still a paper travel card? And one that you need a passport size photo for? (TfL says they no longer need photos).
Is this correct
Apr 14th, 2013, 06:53 AM
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sharonliz.....To simply answer your one question although there are other ramifications...
Both tfl and the national railways offer 7 day travelcards at the same price for specified zones. Thus you can buy a 7 day travelcard from tfl or a 7 day travelcard from a National railway ticket agent window in a national rail station (Paddington, St. Pancras, Victoria, Charing Cross, London Bridge just to name a few but there are also underground stations at all of those so we're talking about the national rail ticket office.
The difference as you noted is when tfl (the underground) issues a 7 day travelcard it is loaded ito an oyster card. The oyster card is a smart card the size of a credit card. The turnstile read the info on the oyster card when you tap it on the yellow card reader.
When a national rail office issues a 7 day travelcard, it is on a paper ticket with an orange band indicating it is a national rail ticket. You insert that card in the turnstile. That card requires a photocard and is the one valid for the 2 4 1's.
As far as pure transport is concerned, it is less flexible than the card issued on oyster for a variety of reasons dealing with going outside the zone of validity but so as not to further confuse you, we'll leave that out.
However, there are other ways to get the 2 4 1's and still be able to use the oyster card flexibility. Just as a quick example, if you arrive at Gatwick instead of Heathrow and buy a round trip (return) ticket to central London, usually Victoria, you are covered for the 2 4 1's during the entire period of validity of the return ticket. You can then use oyster cards for your London transport purchasing it at Victoria. That's probably the simplest work around but most people indeed come in via Heathrow or via Eurostar.
Other workarounds are indeed described in some of the thredads referred to above.
Both tfl and the national railways offer 7 day travelcards at the same price for specified zones. Thus you can buy a 7 day travelcard from tfl or a 7 day travelcard from a National railway ticket agent window in a national rail station (Paddington, St. Pancras, Victoria, Charing Cross, London Bridge just to name a few but there are also underground stations at all of those so we're talking about the national rail ticket office.
The difference as you noted is when tfl (the underground) issues a 7 day travelcard it is loaded ito an oyster card. The oyster card is a smart card the size of a credit card. The turnstile read the info on the oyster card when you tap it on the yellow card reader.
When a national rail office issues a 7 day travelcard, it is on a paper ticket with an orange band indicating it is a national rail ticket. You insert that card in the turnstile. That card requires a photocard and is the one valid for the 2 4 1's.
As far as pure transport is concerned, it is less flexible than the card issued on oyster for a variety of reasons dealing with going outside the zone of validity but so as not to further confuse you, we'll leave that out.
However, there are other ways to get the 2 4 1's and still be able to use the oyster card flexibility. Just as a quick example, if you arrive at Gatwick instead of Heathrow and buy a round trip (return) ticket to central London, usually Victoria, you are covered for the 2 4 1's during the entire period of validity of the return ticket. You can then use oyster cards for your London transport purchasing it at Victoria. That's probably the simplest work around but most people indeed come in via Heathrow or via Eurostar.
Other workarounds are indeed described in some of the thredads referred to above.
