Oyster Card

[dave_c]

How does the revolutionary fare system introduced in Transport for London works?

[Headtime]

This page doesn't explain exactly how it works, but maybe of some help;

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Oystercard

[Octavius]

Basically in 2 ways,

You either buy a monthly pass - like the old travelcard system except the info is logged electronically on the Oyster card, by the card reader (yellow circle thingymajig).  Then say you have a zone 1-6 pass, you use it as normal for one week, month, year etc.

Pre pay/top up - you 'charge' up your Oyster card with say �20 and you can travel as much as you like until the �20 runs out (the card is read by the card reader at every tube station and on every bus etc).  They have introduced a capping system now, so that the daily amount doesn't exceed the maximum you should pay for a day using any of the London transport network (tube, busses, trams, DLR and national rail networks as applicable).

More stuff & nonsense here:

http://www.transportforlondon.gov.uk/tfl/fares-tickets/2005/downloads/Your-guide-to-Oyster-2005-02-27.pdf

http://www.transportforlondon.gov.uk/tfl/fares-tickets/2005/downloads/Your-guide-to-Oyster-daily-price-capping-2005-02-27.pdf