My Easter present to you all is the addition of daily caps to the results returned on my fare finder. To access that just click on the yellow button at the top of every page of the site. Or, particularly if you are on a mobile phone, you can see a standalone version at https://oysterfares.com/off.
I have included the caps on every result, even though they are usually the same. I still live in hope that the 2-6 and 2-9 daily caps may one day return. If you’re curious, try Finsbury Park to Hackney Central as an example where they are different now.
Hi Mike,
I’d be interested in recent thoughts on reasons for lack of 2-6 and 2-9 caps.
I was wondering about this only yesterday – it would seem sensible, to avoid congestion in Zone 1.
I’ve read your article from 2011 and can’t see why they don’t exist.
Thanks again for all the good work.
Hi Matt,
The 2011 post explains why they were discontinued. Basically the then Mayor decided that most people would be better off just paying single fares rather than buying a travelcard. In those days there weren’t any caps that didn’t also have a travelcard equivalent. Having abolished them, TfL would now need to get agreement from the TOCs to re-introduce them, even if it was only as Oyster caps rather than paper travelcards as well.
Hi Mike,
I have read your previous “Peak, Off Peak and Caps” post and I believe some rules have changed now in 2019. If I am not wrong I saw you mentioned “On weekdays your travel updates the Anytime total and, if appropriate, the Off-Peak total as well. If either total exceeds the cap for the zones travelled in then your charges are capped. Thus, if you make one journey starting before 0930 you are likely to hit the off-peak cap before the anytime cap” What I dont understand is even if your first touch in of the day is during peak time (6.30-9.30 and 16.00-19.00), why would it apply the Offpeak daily cap? Shouldnt it apply the Anytime daily cap as the first touch in was in the peak time?
I do understand that if I touch in the peak time (06.30-09.30 and 16.00-19.00) the peak fare will apply and all other times the off peak fares will apply but I don’t understand which cap will apply.
For example what if I touch in at Kings cross(zone 1) on a weekday at 09.00 or at 17.00 and exit at Watford (zone7) will I be capped at £14 (Anytime daily cap) if my charges exceed £14 for that day?
And what if I touch in at Kings cross(zone 1) on a weekday at 11.00 or at 20.00 and exit at Watford (zone7) will I be capped at £12.90 (Offpeak daily cap) if my charges exceed £12.90 for that day?
Thank you
Hi Nigel,
The page Peak, Off-peak and Caps still applies, although the statement about hitting the off-peak cap if one short journey is before 0930 is not applicable where all-day caps are in operation. Outside zones 1-6 it is still relevant. The page Capping Examples tries to demonstrate with real journey history what can happen. Example 3 is your scenario.