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Is Epsom still in Zone 9, or has it been snuck out?
Looking at the ‘Epsom Rail Station’ TfL webpage, it doesn’t obviously say that it is (that for Cuffley does), while the currently available Rail and Tube map shows both as ‘Outside Fare Zones’.
Well, that’s an interesting development. I would imagine Cuffley will go the same way at some point, although more people probably use Epsom than Cuffley.
Both stations are part of a growing list of places where there are different caps applied when using contactless compared to Oyster. If you use an Oyster card to these places then you will be capped at the Oyster zonal rate (not always zone 9) because that’s all Oyster can do. The adult fares get put through the back office later, but I’m assured that it won’t retrospectively increase the charge. However, when using contactless you will be subject to the contactless caps (which aren’t always more expensive).
This is a consequence of the political desire to expand Oyster to places where the cap structure did not match the travelcard prices already in place. When they finally get round to allowing discounts on contactless PAYG I fully expect Oyster to be discontinued at those places.
I think I need to look at documenting the arrangemnets at these dual-capped stations shortly.
So – what is perhaps my underlying question – is a Travelcard including Zone 9 valid for travel to Epsom? If not, as it used to be valid, when did it cease to be, and how was this announced/publicised?
It’s a good question. I will put it to my contact at GTR after the bank holiday.
When Epsom first got added to Oyster I was assured by GTR that zone 1-9 travelcards would be valid there. They don’t work the gates, but staff have definitely let people through manually. The contactless caps changed when PAYG was extended to Dorking last year. I’ll answer properly when I hear back.
Hi Michael,
The answer is shown on the fare finder when searching for a fare with Epsom at the outer end. The contactless daily caps are more expensive.
So there can now be situations where the use of a contactless card is more expensive than an Oyster card for an adult passenger, is that right?
Yes, in very limited cases. I’m waiting for feedback from GTR at the moment and will soon be publishing full details. There are 12 stations involved and in almost every case the contactless cap is cheaper. Epsom is by far the most affected, along with Cuffley to a slightly lesser extent. Watch this site/space.
A quick look in the fares finder shows Oyster Caps cheaper than Contactless ones from both Epsom and Cuffley…
A quick look in the fares finder shows Oyster Caps cheaper than Contactless ones from both Epsom and Cuffley…
Which is pretty much what I said. I’ve asked questions of GTR and am waiting for a response.
I read what you wrote as meaning the opposite (that contactless cap was the lower two). Or is it that Epsom and Cuffley are the exceptions that prove the rule?
Simon,
Yes, and yes (for the last leg back from St Pancras). It’s a 60+ so used the Interrail on Wednesday morning.
I see that both Epsom and Cuffley are now listed as Zone 10 stations on your fare finder, which does indeed put an end to inboundary Travelcard validity at those locations (TfL buses aside). Did GTR make those changes in the March 2026 fares revision?
etr221, since their previous Zone 9 status was only ever a half-open secret I suspect GTR felt their recent rezoning didn’t need any publicity beyond messages to fares staff and other retailers.
Frustratingly I’m still waiting for the answer to an edge case question before publishing the full story. You are correct that GTR didn’t feel the need to publicise the changes (they have form for this, remember Gatwick?).
etr221, since their previous Zone 9 status was only ever a half-open secret I suspect GTR felt their recent rezoning didn’t need any publicity beyond messages to fares staff and other retailers.
Edvid, they certainly didn’t bother telling retailers.
Just to wrap this thread up. Both Epsom and Cuffley are now in zone 10, but if fares exceed the per station caps then a refund will be queued. Zone 1-9 travelcards are NOT valid at either station – they were not supposed to be valid in the first place, but limitations of the Oyster system meant that they had to be at first. The changes were made at the December fare change last year. Neither GTR nor TfL thought to tell me either.
See: https://oysterfares.com/changes-to-oyster-capping-beyond-zone-9-inc-epsom-and-cuffley/ for the full story.
Ok, so the train company has taken the piss on everyone relying on the cap or buying Travelcards from Epsom.
I usually relied on the off-peak cap on my Railcard-discounted Oyster card to cap on zone 1-9 for Epsom in the past, although I haven’t been there recently.
And now suddenly they have removed the validity of zone 1-9 Travelcard there and can now penalty fare anyone who use his usual ticket to commute to, or through, Epsom, without making any public announcement that the station is rezoned.
Ok, so the train company has taken the piss on everyone relying on the cap or buying Travelcards from Epsom.
To be fair to GTR, they never wanted Epsom to be in zone 9, but the DfT insisted that Epsom be added to Oyster and there were only two ways of doing that; zone 9 with cheaper day caps than desired, or zone 10 and don’t recommend people rely on capping because they couldn’t adjust it all. I think TfL should take a little blame here that their page on the station stated that it was in zone 9. That was probably an unforseen consequence of the way those pages are generated, but it certainly didn’t help the situation.
And now suddenly they have removed the validity of zone 1-9 Travelcard there and can now penalty fare anyone who use his usual ticket to commute to, or through, Epsom, without making any public announcement that the station is rezoned.
The likelihood is that commuters will have been using Epsom to zone 1-6 period travelcards because they were significantly cheaper than the zone 1-9 variety.
Don’t get me wrong, GTR’s refusal to publicise when changes are made is not a good look. They did it before when they got TfL to change how extension fares worked on contactless for Gatwick Airport, and now they’ve done it again. What we have now is almost what was supposed to be put in place in the beginning, so it’s not going to be reversed.
Why is there a need of so many different prices? Other countries can fit an area of a hundred kilometre radius into about a dozen of fare zones or even less! 40 years ago work was done to fit London into 5 (eventually 6) fare zones, why can’t the process be repeated now to the wider commuter area?!
I have just got a response of an FOI about this change, and it has basically revealed no information about this change at all:
“By way of context, TSGN understands that your request relates to a technical change made in December 2025 to the way Oyster pay as you go (PAYG) capping is calculated for journeys involving Cuffley and Epsom. We are advised that this change did not alter the fares paid by Oyster PAYG customers.”
1. Any communication between TSGN and TfL (who operates the Oyster system) in regard to the rezoning of these two stations
“TSGN has identified no recorded information relating to discussions with Transport for London (TfL) concerning a decision to rezone Cuffley and Epsom from Zone 9 to Zone 10.
We are advised that TSGN was not involved in discussions regarding the technical implementation of the change referred to in your request.”2. The business case of rezoning these stations from Zone 9 to Zone 10, along with any impact assessment and publicity relating to the change
“TSGN does not hold a business case relating to the change referenced in your
request.
We are advised that no business case or impact assessment was produced by TSGN
in relation to this change.
TSGN also does not hold any specific publicity material concerning the change. We are advised that the only changes made were updates to published PAYG cap
information.”3. Any legal advice sought on the issue of fare regulation, as Oyster PAYG fares are regulated fares
“TSGN does not hold any recorded legal advice within the scope of this part of your request.
We are advised that no legal advice was sought in relation to this matter.”4. The number of penalty fares given at Epsom and Cuffley since the change took effect when passengers presented a Travelcard not covering the correct zones
“The change took effect on 7 December 2025.
TSGN has reviewed the available Revenue Protection records for Epsom and Cuffley following implementation of the change. Revenue Protection records do not identify any penalty fares issued where a passenger presented a Travelcard that did not cover the correct zones as a result of this change.
We are also advised that none of the identified penalty fare records show a Travelcard as the ticket type presented.
Accordingly, the number identified within the scope of your request is: 0.”I am so surprised with this outcome, that they could have silently slipped a fare increase without any prior discussion (items 1 and 2), without them being aware of it (“We are advised that this change
did not alter the fares paid by Oyster PAYG customers.”) and without any existing passengers being affected (items 4).
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