Cutting Commuting Costs from Reading to London Using Contactless
Hi Readingers,
I’m looking for ways to lower my commuting expenses for my weekly trip from Reading to London every Wednesday, as it really eats into my budget!
I came across this discussion (https://www.reddit.com/r/reading/comments/1b41ug5/comment/kt12qyk/) about using contactless travel from Reading and I’d love to get some clarity. The information on TFL’s single fare finder and daily cap can be quite tricky to navigate.
Currently, I purchase tickets through the GWR app and then use contactless for the tube, which means my journeys aren’t integrated. Is it true that taking my entire journey using contactless would be cheaper? This way, the TFL portion would be included, and my total would be subject to the daily cap?
Here’s my usual journey and costs:
– RDG to PAD on National Rail arriving around 8 am, then Underground from PAD to Angel via KX arriving just before 8:30.
– The return trip starts around 6 pm, getting me back to Reading by approximately 7:30 pm.
At the moment, my expenses using two single tickets from GWR and contactless for the Underground, with the Network Railcard discount applied, total to £56.55. (Outward single £30.60, return single £20.35, two tube journeys £5.60).
Unfortunately, my budget is tight this month, so I’d really appreciate any insights before I make the switch.
Thanks so much in advance!
Hi there!
I totally understand how commuting costs can add up quickly, especially with such regular trips. Using contactless for your entire journey can definitely help you save money, especially with TfL’s daily cap for travel within London.
To answer your question, yes, you are correct! If you use contactless for all portions of your journey (including the National Rail part from Reading to Paddington), you will benefit from TfL’s daily cap, which means your total fare could potentially be lower compared to buying separate tickets for GWR and using contactless for the Underground.
Here’s a quick breakdown of how it works:
Contactless on National Rail: Reading to Paddington is indeed covered by contactless payments. Make sure you touch in and out correctly.
Using Contactless on the Tube: Once you’re at Paddington, you can just tap your contactless card on the Tube, and it’ll link your National Rail journey with your tube journey.
Daily Cap: The more you travel within London on the Tube and other TfL services, the closer you get to reaching the daily cap, which could save you money if you’re planning to use multiple tube journeys throughout the day.
Don’t forget to check the TfL website for the latest daily caps based on zones, especially since you’re traveling from Reading. It sounds like a cost-effective strategy!
If you’re wary about testing it out this month, you could always run a trial during a less busy week. Good luck, and I hope this helps you cut down on your commuting costs!