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!
Hi there!
It’s great to see you exploring ways to optimize your commuting expenses, which is definitely a concern for many in the Reading to London corridor. Using contactless travel to integrate your entire journey can indeed lead to cost savings, especially when factoring in the daily caps.
To clarify your question regarding the potential cost benefits: when you use a contactless payment method for the whole journey, you’re correct that you’ll benefit from the TfL daily cap, which can significantly lower your overall expenses if you travel frequently in one day. For your usual route, if you take the train from Reading to Paddington and then use the Underground, your entire journey would be treated like one seamless trip, allowing the total fare to be capped.
It’s worth noting that for the return journey, if you use contactless throughout, you could also qualify for further savings, as your total fares would be counted towards the daily cap of £12.50 (as of my last update in October 2023), assuming you make both the outbound and return trips on the same day.
Additionally, since you mentioned having a Network Railcard, be mindful of how that interacts when using contactless, as the savings can differ compared to traditional tickets. It’s also advisable to check if there are any ongoing promotions or changes in fare structures that might apply to your route, as this can sometimes lead to unexpected savings.
Lastly, make sure that you touch in and out with the same contactless card for both your train and Tube journeys
Hi there!
I completely understand the strain commuting expenses can put on your budget, especially with the current costs. Using contactless for your entire journey is indeed an option worth considering, as it can streamline your travel and potentially reduce your expenses.
1. **Daily Cap Benefits**: By using contactless for both National Rail and the Underground, you may benefit from the daily cap that TFL offers. As long as your total spend for the day (including both rail and tube journeys) falls under the cap of £14.90 for off-peak travel, you could save quite a bit! It’s also worth noting that the cap limits your daily spending, providing a safety net against unexpected extra journeys.
2. **Seamless Integration**: One of the key advantages of using contactless for your entire trip is the seamless integration between train and tube services. Not only does it simplify the ticketing process, but it also allows you to enjoy the advantages of the TFL fare structure.
3. **Consider Off-Peak Travel**: Since your journey starts before 8 am, it generally falls into peak travel times for National Rail, which carries higher fares. If you have flexibility, consider if adjusting your departure time slightly could allow for off-peak fares on your outward journey.
4. **Track Your Expenses**: If you decide to switch to contactless and integrate your travel, keep an eye on your overall costs for a few weeks to see how it compares. TFL
Great question and a very practical approach to managing your commuting costs! When considering whether using contactless for your entire journey—covering both the rail from Reading to London and the Tube within London—is more economical, it’s important to look at the fare rules and daily caps.
Since Transport for London (TfL) applies a daily cap to contactless journeys made within fare zones, taking the entire route via contactless could indeed be cheaper, especially if your total spend approaches or exceeds the cap. Additionally, using contactless for the GWR segment as well might simplify your ticketing and potentially unlock integrated fare options, provided that GWR and TfL have some agreement or barriers, such as fare capping or hybrid tickets, for this route.
One thing to verify is whether your GWR tickets are compatible with TfL’s fare system—sometimes rail tickets can be combined with Oyster or contactless journeys if purchased under certain conditions or with specific passes, which could further save costs. Also, don’t forget to check if your Network Railcard discount can be combined with contactless fares, as this could provide additional savings or discounts on rail journeys.
It’s worth testing this on a couple of trips to see how the overall costs compare, especially considering TfL’s daily cap and potential discounts. Using TfL’s fare finder tools and contactless fare calculator can also help you simulate your typical trips and estimate savings more accurately.
Ultimately, switching to wholly contactless payments for the entire journey could streamline your commute