Returning Oyster card at Kings Cross rail station in London
 

Apparently not possible, as there are only Oyster machines there, and no counter?
http://www.nationalrail.co.uk/stations/KGX/details.html

They are in the process of removing ticket windows at most tube stations

Apparently it IS possible to return at a machine--the previous link led me to believe that was unlikely:
http://www.tfl.gov.uk/fares-and-paym...s?intcmp=26352

Oh - I hadn't read that before. Good to know. Not that I ever get a refund since I can use my Oyster on later trips. But I do sometimes travel w/ others that might want a refund.

I'm expecting it to be easier/faster than returning at Heathrow (during the layover from Edinburgh-Phila). The line there was huge when I was last there a few years ago.

I'm not sure it's the case, FWIW, that the TfL ticket windows at KX have been removed yet.

I got an email this morning from them saying "after Easter... the ticket windows will be permanently closed."

But it doesn't say when after Easter, and later wording about the ticket office immediately adjacent to the Circle/Hammersmith /District Lines platform implies the offices will remain open slightly longer.

The intention appears to be to go 100% machine selling and refunding by July.

In the National Rail site elberko references, I can't see the information elberko thinks is contained there. As far as I can see, that site's content is only about facilities provided by National Rail.

Oysters are mentioned on the Ticket buying and collection tab on the National Rail site.

It is possible and very easy ~ I had several extra cards I was turning in. The only problem I ran into was one machine said it did not have sufficient cash to do the refund (a small one at that.)

And, it did not matter if the original card had been purchased with a credit card or cash ~ refund was in cash either way.

I have a question that I'll use this thread to ask.

If the tube stations are closing ticket windows, what do Americans do to buy cards? When I was in London last, some machines wouldn't take my cards because America is still on the magnetic strip card while the UK has moved to the chip card. Is it back to cash for Americans until they get a chip card?

Gothampc,

I bought them at Heathrow last time, and I assume there will still be a counter there.

>>If the tube stations are closing ticket windows, what do Americans do to buy cards? <<

My (chipless) US credit cards have always worked in the tube machines. As recently as last October. ATM cards also work. And as elberko says, there is always the travel center at LHR.

Or, (gasp) perhaps use cash?

"Oysters are mentioned on the Ticket buying and collection tab on the National Rail site"

I know.

But only in the context of what's available in the <b> National Rail </b> station. You can't buy Oyster cards from the NR (actually, I think it's Great Northern) ticket office near the suburban lines. But I don't think you've ever been able to - even though Oysters work on most suburban trains. I think you've always had to use the machines - or go downstairs to the TfL ticket offices - to buy an Oyster.

Buying and returning Oysters at mainline railway stations has typically been done at TfL ticket desks down near the Underground system. Now they're closing those desks (not before time, IMHO) travellers will have to use machines or nearby franchisees