Whilst adding the data for the new PAYG stations I’ve noticed several issues relating to the Southeastern extension to Sevenoaks. Most concerning is that the caps from all the new stations (inc Dunton Green, Bat & Ball, Otford, Shoreham and Eynsford) are more expensive than the relevant one day travelcards. This means that you may be overcharged compared to a paper ticket for a day out in London. I have asked Southeastern why this is and await their response. If the caps are deliberately higher because Swanley is in zone 8 and they need to allow travel to all other zone 7 and 8 stations then I believe there should be prominent posters warning people that a paper day travelcard is cheaper and probably suitable for their travel. I also doubt that many people from Dunton Green are going to be interested in zones 7 and 8 as their direct trains to London bypass Swanley.
And talking about Dunton Green, there is an anomaly with the early touch in times. After 09:02, a touch in at Sevenoaks ensures that travel counts towards the off-peak cap. There is no easement at Dunton Green so only touches after 09:30 count. This means that the 09:20 service from Sevenoaks can be off-peak for the cap, but it will be peak if you join at Dunton Green at 09:23.
All this is very much at odds with the Department for Transport boasts that contactless pay as you go will ensure people pay the correct and best fare for their journeys. It also adds an extra level of complexity at a time when people really want simplification.
The NR PDF ( https://assets.nationalrail.co.uk/e8xgegruud3g/7g3e1h63SZzy4a6E9zc7t1/269b6c8be38e09d43891b322d16e09a9/Pay_as_you_go_with_contactless_caps_Feb_2025.pdf ) says Dunton Green and Sevenoaks caps are to Z1-6, while Eynsford, Shoreham, Otford and Bat & Ball are Z1-8.
Thanks Si,
I am aware of that, but it doesn’t explain why all of the caps, including Dunton Green, are more expensive than the equivalent travelcard. I suggested zone 8 as a possible reason for that discrepancy.
Mike – That’s a very good point – I see that travelecard price and off peak cap are aligned elsewhere. I spotted another anomaly – there is an evening peak period shown for journeys from Sevenoaks to London. The Sevenoaks Rail Travellers Association raised this with Southeastern and it has been corrected in the national rail journey planners but the TfL system is still charging the peak fare to your card if you go up to London in the evening peak.
Hopefully the evening peak issue will be sorted in the March fares revision then. The data for the February update was set in August/September last year.