Author: Cyril Richert
Commuters can use their Pay-As-You-Go Oyster cards on all trains in Wandsworth from January 2nd. This move was expected for years (since the use of Oyster cards for the Tube) and was meant to be included in the franchise with South West Train (managing Clapham Junction Station) in 2007. The probable lack of enforcement resulted into a 3 year delay when SWT argued on the cost of the implementation (despite having its franchise renewed).
At the beginning of November, PAYG Oyster was eventually implemented on Southern Trains from Victoria Station to Balham with a complicated system which gave a discount if you used the train and then the tube (e.g. going from Clapham Junction to Green Park through Victoria). I explained here. I still don’t know if we have to thank Boris Johnson, Mayor of London or Sadiq Khan, Minister for Transport for the move.
Now from January 2nd, all trains from Clapham Junction accept PAYG Oyster (after Transport for London invested £40 million in Oyster card infrastructure across the rail network in preparation for the London-wide roll out). Oyster pay-as-you-go can be used for all National Rail routes in Greater London between zones 1 to 9. Apparently things have been made simpler, train fares are similar to Tube now:
- £2.30 Monday to Friday from 0630 to 0930 and from 1600 to 1900.
- £1.80 at all other times including public holidays.
There is a capping with Oyster cards, assuring that you will never pay more than a limited amount, whatever the number of journeys you make:
Adult Zones 1-2
Capping Peak: £7.20
Capping Off-Peak: £5.60 [off-peak cap will apply if you travel between Monday-Friday after 9:30am or at weekends and public holidays]
The capping off-peak (£5.60) is equivalent to the 1 day travelcard.
