New Southern Timetable is out

[Suzee]

Slightly off topic - but when did an evening peak period come into effect? Recently returned to commuting after a year off on maternity leave and was surprised that my single Oyster pay as you go fare was the same in the evening as in the morning.

AFAIK there isn't a "peak time" anymore.... the oyster fare is the same at any time of the day - as is the (more expensive) cash fare.

FYI seems like there are actually 2 peak times now 0630 to 0930 and 1600 to 1900 Mon-Fri according to TFL http://www.tfl.gov.uk/tickets/14416.aspx and if you look at Single fare finder http://www.tfl.gov.uk/tfl/tickets/fares ... er/current and enter Sydenham to London Bridge it says the peak oyster single fare is £2.60 and off-peak £2.00.
The national rail website confirms this too http://www.nationalrail.co.uk/times_far ... rcard.html If you search for fares here it also gives a more expensive £3.10 non-Oyster cash fare.

There was always a morning peak so when did this evening peak come in then?

[bensonby]

I stand corrected.... I didn't know there was an evening peak now: I do wonder when it came in; it seems like anohter way to extort money out of fare-payers. I assume we can guarentee that when extra peak-time trains were introduced they didn't drop prices for the more limited "off peak" ones.

Thank god I don't have to buy tickets on that line any more.

[leenewham]

LOL again.

I've just cracked it -

Really? Why Can't People Write It Out In Length?

GSOH.

TY

Abbreviations drive me nuts. When I'm in meetings with marketing knobs who speak in 'blue sky', 'Helecopter ideas' and 'DRP. SRP, BOGOF' code I'm constantly asking them to speak in plain English. Grrrrrrr

IDMM!

[alywin]

Slightly off topic - but when did an evening peak period come into effect? Recently returned to commuting after a year off on maternity leave and was surprised that my single Oyster pay as you go fare was the same in the evening as in the morning.

AFAIK there isn't a "peak time" anymore.... the oyster fare is the same at any time of the day - as is the (more expensive) cash fare.

FYI seems like there are actually 2 peak times now 0630 to 0930 and 1600 to 1900 Mon-Fri according to TFL http://www.tfl.gov.uk/tickets/14416.aspx and if you look at Single fare finder http://www.tfl.gov.uk/tfl/tickets/fares ... er/current and enter Sydenham to London Bridge it says the peak oyster single fare is £2.60 and off-peak £2.00.
The national rail website confirms this too http://www.nationalrail.co.uk/times_far ... rcard.html If you search for fares here it also gives a more expensive £3.10 non-Oyster cash fare.

There was always a morning peak so when did this evening peak come in then?

This, unfortunately, came in when Oyster went London-wide at the start of the year. I don't work in central London any more, but I do need to get up there for evenings out every now and then, and get clobbered with the higher fare every time, despite the fact that the trains are usually virtually empty because I'm going in the opposite direction to the peak flow. You need to clock your Oystercard in before 4 pm to benefit from the lower fare (and bear in mind that you only have a limited time in which to complete your journey). Note, though, that the "off-peak" Oyster travelcard includes this evening peak period, so if you're doing more than just 2 train trips you'll get capped at £6.30, I think it is, for a zones 1-4 day Travelcard anyway. It's only if you journey during the morning peak that you get a peak Travelcard.

[bobmcbob]

I don't know why they don't just make all times peak. It's obvious that's what they want. So much for trying to encourage people to use public transport

[bensonby]

what would be more logical is if they made peak fares apply into London in the AM peak and out of london in the PM peak.....then again, that wouldn't make them as much money would it?!

[Mars Bonfire]

Peak evenings were introduced when Oyster PAYG became eligible on National Rail trains, but only for zones 1-6. Also off-peak cheap day returns were abolished on National Rail train journeys for zones 1-6.

For reasons unknown, TFL forgot to mention this when they heralded "a new dawn of travel" for Londoners after Oyster was extended to trains in Jan 2010.

The FAQ on the Oyster PAYGO from the Southern Trains website explains...

Q: Is it true that there are evening peak restrictions as well as morning peak restrictions for Oyster?

Yes. Peak fares for Oyster pay as you go apply to journeys between 0630 and 0930, and between 1600 and 1900. This is different to the previous Off-Peak Day Return tickets which only had a morning restriction.


Q: Why are you not selling Off Peak Day Returns anymore?

When Oyster is introduced on National Rail services, Off-Peak Day Return tickets will no longer be available in the London zonal area, across all train operators. This is primarily because, under Oyster pay as you go, fares are calculated based on each single journey made rather than a return journey. Different fares are also applied depending on the time of day and zone passengers are travelling from and to.

It only applies to Londoners. Anyone outside of zone 6 can still get cheap day returns and evening peak prices do not apply to them.

Of course, TFL had previous form when they used the debut of the Oyster Card to change to a 2-tier time (peak/off peak) and 2-tier price (Oyster/cash) system on tube & buses and try to pass it off as a benefit!