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Hi Mike. Yesterday I travelled Hertford N to Fairlop and back using the suffragette and Central lines via Harringay / Green Lanes and Leytonstone / High Rd. The system picked up the two OSIs but charged me the zone 1 fare (£6.85 with NR railcard) instead both directions instead of the z3 fare. Journey history below. I spoke to TfL helpline who refunded me but were at a loss to explain why I had been overcharged. I’d be interested on your thoughts and wonder if anyone else has been overcharged using the Suffragette to connect between other lines.
Date / Time Journey / Action Charge Balance
Sunday, 06 July 2025 £13.70 daily total
11:33 – 13:03 Fairlop to Hertford North £6.85 £15.20
13:03 Touch out, Hertford North £2.20 £15.20
12:25 Touch in, Harringay [National Rail] £3.30 £17.40
12:17 Touch out, Harringay Green Lanes +£3.30 £20.70
11:57 Touch in, Leytonstone High Road £3.35 £17.40
11:48 Touch out, Leytonstone +£3.35 £20.75
11:33 Touch in, Fairlop £4.65 £17.40
08:38 – 10:08 Hertford North to Fairlop £6.85 £22.05
10:08 Touch out, Fairlop £2.10 £22.05
09:53 Touch in, Leytonstone £0.00 £24.15
09:47 Touch out, Leytonstone High Road £0.00 £24.15
09:24 Touch in, Harringay Green Lanes £0.00 £24.15
09:17 Touch out, Harringay [National Rail] +£2.10 £24.15
08:38 Touch in, Hertford North £6.85Hi Adam,
Out of interest, what fare did they refund you down to?
The simple answer is that anyone using that route will be overcharged because it’s not defined in the fare database. There are two avoiding zone 1 routes defined. Both of those entail going through zone 2. I agree that an avoiding zones 1 and 2 fare is entirely reasonable using that route, but TfL will need to get sign off from National Rail before they can impliment it. I’d definitely write/email to them asking them to consider adding such a route for Central line to Great Northern destinations.
I was refunded £4.20 (£2.10 for each direction). The agent agreed with my view that the fare should have been £4.75. It’s odd that the system defaults to the z1 fare rather than the z2 one. I’ll email them as you suggest.
I think you were probably very lucky in that case. The avoiding zone 1 fare is £6.25 and a similar zone 3 fare using Underground as well is £6.10. When you write again, maybe just comment on what the fare finder says and don’t mention your recent experience. Just say that travelling via Leyton and Harringay avoids both zone 1 and 2 and should therefore be cheaper than the other alternative fares.
I was able to point to the fare from Hertford N to Upney (also in z4) via Harringay and Barking which is in the Single Fare Finder. I can’t see any reason why the Central would be dearer than the District!
Woah!!!!
That’s insane. The fare of £6.10 is for Hertford North to Turnpike Lane changing between Bowes Park and Bounds Green. I think the Upney fare might be a mistake, but go for it and see what they say. The other alternative routes for Hertford North to Upney are charged at £6.25 (avoiding zone 1) and £6.85 (via zone 1).
The fares system in London is insanely complicated, so it’s no wonder that errors and omissions creep in.
I didn’t mention the refund amount in my email, just the route and included my journey history.
I just checked the Hertford East to Fairlop fare which £3.55 – I assume the default route is via Stratford (z3) which suggests £4.75 from Hertford N is right. The Stratford route wasn’t available yesterday due to engineering work.
I think the Turnpike Lane fare is the anomaly. I note that Hertford N to Arnos Grove is £4.85 via Bowes Park / Bounds Green. Maybe it’s different if you head inwards on the tube vs. Outwards?
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