I've asked Hampton Court transportation question before and everyone has been very helpful, but I'm confused as to when to tap on and tap off. I'll be using a credit card. I'll get Northern Line at Tottenham Court Rd station (I'll tap on there) to Waterloo station. Do I get ticket for Waterloo station or Hampton Court? I'm not even sure there is an option. At Waterloo Station, do I tap off, then go to Great Western railway train to Hampton Court and tap on there and then tap off at exit at Hampton Court? Thanks.
Posted by
Lake District, England
10074 posts
You are not getting any ticket at all. You tap in at TCR, tap out of the tube at Waterloo, go upstairs to the main line station, get the next Hampton Court train out, tap back in at Waterloo main line station when the platform for the train is announced, tap out at HC.
You are just using Oyster/contactless. Use the same method each time.
Usually they leave from Platform 8 at Waterloo, but that can be changed at any time.
The computer will know this is one continuous journey as long as you get the first train out.
Same in reverse on the way back.
Posted by
OP
47 posts
To isn31c. I thank you for being very kind in answering my questions in the past. Returning from Hampton Court, I'm looking at train schedules for the Northern line to connect at Waterloo. It seems like those trains depart every 3 minutes or so and the "next train " you mentioned (in order to get the continuous fare) is only a few minutes after train coming from Hampton would arrive at Waterloo. I would never make it to "next train" in about 3 minutes. Does that mean I would not grt the advantage of a continuous fare?
Posted by
OP
47 posts
By "next train" I mean first train out.
Posted by
Lake District, England
10074 posts
It matters less coming back, as long as you don't loiter. Sorry, what I meant there was go to the Northern line platform straight away, and whenever you get there take the first train.
Don't go shopping/buying food/looking at the impressive war memorials or the old Eurostar station (one of my more commercially vexatious construction contracts in another life).
Coming back from Hampton Court you don't have to be at the front of the train to go through the barriers to the main concourse. About a third of the way down the platforms there is a direct tunnel under the platforms to the tube. Same drill of swiping out and back in, in the tunnel.
It is signed, but just follow the crowd of commuters.
It is very generous but there is a maximum length of time you can take on an outer zones journey, it varies by day of the week. Exceed that and you get charged maximum fare. I've only fallen victim to that once and learnt my lesson when I dilly dallied when trying to take too clever a route.
If you are sensible it won't happen.