Get canny to cut the cost of the Tube
PLANNING YOUR COMMUTE CAN HELP AVOID SOME OF THE PRICIER FARES AND SAVE YOU MONEY
WITH all the chopping and changing most of us do on our commutes it can be hard to keep track of how much we’re actually spending on the London Underground.
That is until our bank statements come at the end of the night and everything is put into sharp perspective.
But riding the underground doesn’t have to be as confusing as all that, and there are, in fact, many ways to save money on your trips.
A quick perusal of Transport for London’s website provides a handy breakdown of the fees commuters can expect to pay during their journeys.
A multitude of different factors affect the cost of individual journeys including travel time, off peak and how many zones you cross.
According to the site, a maximum single fare for travelling in Zones 1-9 will set you back £8.60.
If you were to leave Zone 9 however this could rise to £25.70.
Another thing to be aware of when travelling between zones is TfL’s maximum journey allowances.
Should you overload your allotted time, you risk being charged double the maximum fare.
What does this all mean in practice?
Well if we take one of the longest single fare journeys you can take in London, we can see the fare system in action.
The journey from East London’s Shenfield in East London to Heathrow Terminal 5 traverses the length of London.
If you were to complete this journey in the quickest possible way at peak time you would pay £12.50.
However, if you travelled outside of peak hours and took steps to avoid Zone 1, you could pay just £8.70.
It takes some work, but if you spend enough time planning your commute, you can miss out on some of the pricier fares.
Visit tfl.gov.uk/fares/how-to-payand-where-to-buy-tickets-and-oyster/ pay-as-you-go/keep-within-maximum-journey-times for information.