tubechallenge.com

Some concerning news coming out this evening which will have a pretty big impact on Tube Challenges of any kind -

https://www.ianvisits.co.uk/blog/2021/1 ... s-defecit/

As part of a package of measures to help TfL reduce its deficit, one of the proposals is that TfL withdraws from the Travelcard Agreement with National Rail services. This would mean the end of paper travelcards and any challenge anyone does in the future would have to be done on Oyster/Contactless. The daily/weekly caps would still be in place but it would mean that you have to ensure that you tap in/out at the correct times to ensure you don't time out (and lead to a hefty fare if you don't/can't claim a refund) adding another complexity to challenges. Increased costs will come in as well if you have to use NR on top of LU (as this will be a separate charge outside of the caps).

Can’t see this being an issue, anyone serious about a record breaking attempt will take the time out fine

trains 500 wrote: ↑15 Dec 2021, 21:44 Can’t see this being an issue, anyone serious about a record breaking attempt will take the time out fine

It's not just the Full Network that it affects though, its all the other alternative challenges which are arguably more affected given that a number rely on NR connections and people aren't going to be keen to do them if the cost goes up quite a bit.

trains 500 wrote: ↑15 Dec 2021, 21:44 Can’t see this being an issue, anyone serious about a record breaking attempt will take the time out fine

What exactly is the "time out fee"? I've heard of it a few times but still not sure what it is apart from very vaguely.

On my first couple of attempts I bought a paper ticket, but I kept having problems with it losing its magnetism, so last time I switched to using a debit card. I probably got charged this "time out" fee but I haven't bothered to check so far. I hope it wasn't a lot of money!

edit — not sure how to delete posts

trains 500 wrote: ↑15 Dec 2021, 21:44 Can’t see this being an issue, anyone serious about a record breaking attempt will take the time out fine

I beg to differ! If you are trying to break the record, running in and out of the barriers a couple of times could easily make the difference between success and failure. OSIs become your enemy here. You may even have to go to the barriers artificially at times which is even worse.

ANDY_JS wrote: ↑16 Dec 2021, 02:00 What exactly is the "time out fee"? I've heard of it a few times but still not sure what it is apart from very vaguely.

On my first couple of attempts I bought a paper ticket, but I kept having problems with it losing its magnetism, so last time I switched to using a debit card. I probably got charged this "time out" fee but I haven't bothered to check so far. I hope it wasn't a lot of money!

https://tfl.gov.uk/fares/how-to-pay-and ... rney-times

If you haven't tapped out again after approx 1 hour, the system assumes you've travelled to one of the outer zones and charges you accordingly. For our tube challenges that usually means £5.80 for an off-peak journey. I have my debit card registered with TfL which means I can edit my journey history. For the Roads, Streets and Lanes challenge I didn't tap out between Park Royal and Mansion House (via Rayners Lane and Bow Road), so was charged the time out fee. The website allowed me to say that I'd gone via Rayners Lane (the furthest zone on that challenge) and I got a refund.

https://contactless.tfl.gov.uk/

But can it be longer than an hour. I've looked at the table and in certain instances it's 90 minutes or so. I only had a brief look and then got a headache calculating when I needed to tap out

jrparkin wrote: ↑16 Dec 2021, 18:34 But can it be longer than an hour. I've looked at the table and in certain instances it's 90 minutes or so. I only had a brief look and then got a headache calculating when I needed to tap out

Yeah, me too That's why I just check the website after a challenge to see if I've timed out anywhere. Saves thinking about it.

Is there an upper limit you can put on an Oyster Card? The solution seems to be load up with sufficient cash so you don't need any top ups which would waste even more time

More examples of how technology is not better for you!

jrparkin wrote: ↑17 Dec 2021, 18:57 Is there an upper limit you can put on an Oyster Card? The solution seems to be load up with sufficient cash so you don't need any top ups which would waste even more time

The maximum PAYG balance you can have on an Oyster is £90. In terms of the other "slots", you can have three discounts set and three Season tickets loaded at any one time.

But the Season ticket version is the one TFL are thinking of scrapping isn't it. Or will it still be available on Oyster. A £90 limit could get tricky quite easily. Although what about Contactless

trains 500 wrote: ↑15 Dec 2021, 21:44 Can’t see this being an issue, anyone serious about a record breaking attempt will take the time out fine

What's the maximum likely fine you could be hit with on one day on the Underground doing the tube challenge?

Also is there any way to avoid it? For example if you have a few spare minutes, would it be worth going out of a station and back in again perhaps...

Surely the TFL daily cap will just apply? That's about £19, assuming you are doing the extremities of the Metropolitan line before 9.30am. (Using contactless - Obviously it's £5 more to use a paper ticket)

That isn't much more than I spend with TfL to go to work.