Great Western Coffee Shop

A curious ‘bug’ in the TFL Contactless strategy has presented itself and I wondered if others had experienced similar. In the event I do get a refund/ not charged the expected amount I will post here too.

I have discovered that the TFL contactless runs out to Reading. Yesterday I went to London, starting the day and touching in before 6.30am, hence getting an off peak single in, to Liverpool Street via the underground.

In the evening I touched in at Liverpool Street tube at 18.50, in order to be at Paddington post 7pm. I was there at 19.10. I was happy to pay peak fare for the tube. The ‘unfair’ bit is despite the TFL site saying that offpeak runs from 7pm, and me checking in for the train at 19.19, the system has fused the tube and train together but charged the peak fare of around £27 as opposed to £11.90+£2.50

Does anyone else have experience if this?

This will qualify as one mixed-mode journey starting at 18:50. It doesn't matter what the time it is when you make any changes enroute within the allowable time. It works in your favour when crossing the fare times the other way round. The easiest way round is to use two different contactless cards.

Thanks. So irritating though because if I’d used one contactless card for the tube and one for the train would have saved £10-£15! (Expensive) lesson learnt!

You took advantage on that process ion your morning trip by completing your journey in the peak, having clocked in at Reading just before 0700, but transferring at Paddington well after 0700. So swings & roundabouts, except that the peak rail journey is far dearer than a peak tube journey