As someone hereabouts confidently asserted that it would not be possible to >add a railcard to an Oyster at a TfL Visitor Centre (they donrCOt have ticket >machines was the claim) I thought IrCOd ask TfL. Here is their response:
Thank you for your feedback form of 23 February about adding your National >Railcard discount to your Oyster card.
You can attach eligible National Railcard discounts to your Oyster card to >benefit from cheaper off-peak fares. Please ask a member of staff at a Tube >station or Visitor Centre to do this for you. Once the discount is set,
make sure you always have your Railcard with you when travelling.
In message <10nks9s$4kh1$1@dont-email.me>, at 18:57:00 on Tue, 24 Feb
2026, Tweed <usenet.tweed@gmail.com> remarked:
As someone hereabouts confidently asserted that it would not be possible to >> add a railcard to an Oyster at a TfL Visitor Centre (they donrCOt have ticket
machines was the claim) I thought IrCOd ask TfL. Here is their response:
Thank you for your feedback form of 23 February about adding your National >> Railcard discount to your Oyster card.
You can attach eligible National Railcard discounts to your Oyster card to >> benefit from cheaper off-peak fares. Please ask a member of staff at a Tube >> station or Visitor Centre to do this for you. Once the discount is set,
make sure you always have your Railcard with you when travelling.
Then perhaps they do have an Oyster TVM at that (all?) Visitor Centre,
which was the potential "missing link". I'll drop in next time I'm
passing.
Roland Perry <roland@perry.uk> wrote:
In message <10nks9s$4kh1$1@dont-email.me>, at 18:57:00 on Tue, 24 Feb
2026, Tweed <usenet.tweed@gmail.com> remarked:
As someone hereabouts confidently asserted that it would not be possible to >>> add a railcard to an Oyster at a TfL Visitor Centre (they donrCOt
have ticket
machines was the claim) I thought IrCOd ask TfL. Here is their response: >>>
Thank you for your feedback form of 23 February about adding your National >>> Railcard discount to your Oyster card.
You can attach eligible National Railcard discounts to your Oyster card to >>> benefit from cheaper off-peak fares. Please ask a member of staff at a Tube >>> station or Visitor Centre to do this for you. Once the discount is set,
make sure you always have your Railcard with you when travelling.
Then perhaps they do have an Oyster TVM at that (all?) Visitor Centre,
which was the potential "missing link". I'll drop in next time I'm
passing.
Thinking about it, I think they just need the equivalent of a yellow >validator. If you use the TfL Go app you can add credit to your Oyster. It >states the credit will be added next time you tap in on a yellow validator
or gate line. So perhaps the travel centre doesnrCOt even need that. They >just need a computer screen to tick a box about having a railcard. Next
time your Oyster touches in it would get updated.
In message <10nmvn8$qkjb$1@dont-email.me>, at 14:07:36 on Wed, 25 Feb
2026, Tweed <usenet.tweed@gmail.com> remarked:
Roland Perry <roland@perry.uk> wrote:
In message <10nks9s$4kh1$1@dont-email.me>, at 18:57:00 on Tue, 24 Feb
2026, Tweed <usenet.tweed@gmail.com> remarked:
As someone hereabouts confidently asserted that it would not be possible to
add a railcard to an Oyster at a TfL Visitor Centre (they donrCOt
have ticket
machines was the claim) I thought IrCOd ask TfL. Here is their response: >>>>
Thank you for your feedback form of 23 February about adding your National >>>> Railcard discount to your Oyster card.
You can attach eligible National Railcard discounts to your Oyster card to >>>> benefit from cheaper off-peak fares. Please ask a member of staff at a Tube
station or Visitor Centre to do this for you. Once the discount is set, >>>> make sure you always have your Railcard with you when travelling.
Then perhaps they do have an Oyster TVM at that (all?) Visitor Centre,
which was the potential "missing link". I'll drop in next time I'm
passing.
Thinking about it, I think they just need the equivalent of a yellow
validator. If you use the TfL Go app you can add credit to your Oyster. It >> states the credit will be added next time you tap in on a yellow validator >> or gate line. So perhaps the travel centre doesnrCOt even need that. They
just need a computer screen to tick a box about having a railcard. Next
time your Oyster touches in it would get updated.
I'll visit them and ask (at some point). Loading credit onto an
Oyster is a rather different scale of fraud risk than adding
something permanent like a railcard.
Roland Perry <roland@perry.uk> wrote:
In message <10nmvn8$qkjb$1@dont-email.me>, at 14:07:36 on Wed, 25 Feb
2026, Tweed <usenet.tweed@gmail.com> remarked:
Roland Perry <roland@perry.uk> wrote:
In message <10nks9s$4kh1$1@dont-email.me>, at 18:57:00 on Tue, 24 Feb
2026, Tweed <usenet.tweed@gmail.com> remarked:
As someone hereabouts confidently asserted that it would not be possible to
add a railcard to an Oyster at a TfL Visitor Centre (they donrCOt
have ticket
machines was the claim) I thought IrCOd ask TfL. Here is their response: >>>>>
Thank you for your feedback form of 23 February about adding your National
Railcard discount to your Oyster card.
You can attach eligible National Railcard discounts to your Oyster card to
benefit from cheaper off-peak fares. Please ask a member of staff at a Tube
station or Visitor Centre to do this for you. Once the discount is set, >>>>> make sure you always have your Railcard with you when travelling.
Then perhaps they do have an Oyster TVM at that (all?) Visitor Centre, >>>> which was the potential "missing link". I'll drop in next time I'm
passing.
Thinking about it, I think they just need the equivalent of a yellow
validator. If you use the TfL Go app you can add credit to your Oyster. It >>> states the credit will be added next time you tap in on a yellow validator >>> or gate line. So perhaps the travel centre doesnrCOt even need that. They >>> just need a computer screen to tick a box about having a railcard. Next
time your Oyster touches in it would get updated.
I'll visit them and ask (at some point). Loading credit onto an
Oyster is a rather different scale of fraud risk than adding
something permanent like a railcard.
How is the fraud risk increased? Presumably the visitor centre member of staff has a trusted login to the system. They check a box on some program
on their computer and it sets a flag to update the Oyster card when it next sees a validator/gateline.
Tweed <usenet.tweed@gmail.com> wrote:
Roland Perry <roland@perry.uk> wrote:
In message <10nmvn8$qkjb$1@dont-email.me>, at 14:07:36 on Wed, 25 Feb
2026, Tweed <usenet.tweed@gmail.com> remarked:
Roland Perry <roland@perry.uk> wrote:
In message <10nks9s$4kh1$1@dont-email.me>, at 18:57:00 on Tue, 24 Feb >>>>> 2026, Tweed <usenet.tweed@gmail.com> remarked:
As someone hereabouts confidently asserted that it would not be possible to
add a railcard to an Oyster at a TfL Visitor Centre (they donrCOt >>>>>> have ticket
machines was the claim) I thought IrCOd ask TfL. Here is their response: >>>>>>
Thank you for your feedback form of 23 February about adding your National
Railcard discount to your Oyster card.
You can attach eligible National Railcard discounts to your Oyster card to
benefit from cheaper off-peak fares. Please ask a member of staff at a Tube
station or Visitor Centre to do this for you. Once the discount is set, >>>>>> make sure you always have your Railcard with you when travelling.
Then perhaps they do have an Oyster TVM at that (all?) Visitor Centre, >>>>> which was the potential "missing link". I'll drop in next time I'm
passing.
Thinking about it, I think they just need the equivalent of a yellow
validator. If you use the TfL Go app you can add credit to your Oyster. It >>>> states the credit will be added next time you tap in on a yellow validator >>>> or gate line. So perhaps the travel centre doesnrCOt even need that. They >>>> just need a computer screen to tick a box about having a railcard. Next >>>> time your Oyster touches in it would get updated.
I'll visit them and ask (at some point). Loading credit onto an
Oyster is a rather different scale of fraud risk than adding
something permanent like a railcard.
How is the fraud risk increased? Presumably the visitor centre member of
staff has a trusted login to the system. They check a box on some program
on their computer and it sets a flag to update the Oyster card when it next >> sees a validator/gateline.
Yes, that seems the most likely method.
How is the fraud risk increased? Presumably the visitor centre member of
staff has a trusted login to the system. They check a box on some program
on their computer and it sets a flag to update the Oyster card when it next >> sees a validator/gateline.
Yes, that seems the most likely method.
Roland Perry <roland@perry.uk> wrote:
In message <10nmvn8$qkjb$1@dont-email.me>, at 14:07:36 on Wed, 25 Feb
2026, Tweed <usenet.tweed@gmail.com> remarked:
Roland Perry <roland@perry.uk> wrote:
In message <10nks9s$4kh1$1@dont-email.me>, at 18:57:00 on Tue, 24 Feb
2026, Tweed <usenet.tweed@gmail.com> remarked:
As someone hereabouts confidently asserted that it would not be >>>>>possible to
add a railcard to an Oyster at a TfL Visitor Centre (they donrCOt
have ticket
machines was the claim) I thought IrCOd ask TfL. Here is their response: >>>>>
Thank you for your feedback form of 23 February about adding your National
Railcard discount to your Oyster card.
You can attach eligible National Railcard discounts to your Oyster card to
benefit from cheaper off-peak fares. Please ask a member of staff >>>>>at a Tube
station or Visitor Centre to do this for you. Once the discount is set, >>>>> make sure you always have your Railcard with you when travelling.
Then perhaps they do have an Oyster TVM at that (all?) Visitor Centre, >>>> which was the potential "missing link". I'll drop in next time I'm
passing.
Thinking about it, I think they just need the equivalent of a yellow
validator. If you use the TfL Go app you can add credit to your Oyster. It >>> states the credit will be added next time you tap in on a yellow validator >>> or gate line. So perhaps the travel centre doesnrCOt even need that. They >>> just need a computer screen to tick a box about having a railcard. Next
time your Oyster touches in it would get updated.
I'll visit them and ask (at some point). Loading credit onto an
Oyster is a rather different scale of fraud risk than adding
something permanent like a railcard.
How is the fraud risk increased?
Presumably the visitor centre member of staff has a trusted login to
the system. They check a box on some program on their computer and it
sets a flag to update the Oyster card when it next sees a >validator/gateline.
In message <10nn58v$smc3$1@dont-email.me>, at 15:42:23 on Wed, 25 Feb
2026, Tweed <usenet.tweed@gmail.com> remarked:
Roland Perry <roland@perry.uk> wrote:
In message <10nmvn8$qkjb$1@dont-email.me>, at 14:07:36 on Wed, 25 Feb
2026, Tweed <usenet.tweed@gmail.com> remarked:
Roland Perry <roland@perry.uk> wrote:
In message <10nks9s$4kh1$1@dont-email.me>, at 18:57:00 on Tue, 24 Feb >>>>> 2026, Tweed <usenet.tweed@gmail.com> remarked:
As someone hereabouts confidently asserted that it would not be
possible to
add a railcard to an Oyster at a TfL Visitor Centre (they donrCOt
have ticket
machines was the claim) I thought IrCOd ask TfL. Here is their response: >>>>>>
Thank you for your feedback form of 23 February about adding your National
Railcard discount to your Oyster card.
You can attach eligible National Railcard discounts to your Oyster card to
benefit from cheaper off-peak fares. Please ask a member of staff >>>>>> at a Tube
station or Visitor Centre to do this for you. Once the discount is set, >>>>>> make sure you always have your Railcard with you when travelling.
Then perhaps they do have an Oyster TVM at that (all?) Visitor Centre, >>>>> which was the potential "missing link". I'll drop in next time I'm
passing.
Thinking about it, I think they just need the equivalent of a yellow
validator. If you use the TfL Go app you can add credit to your Oyster. It >>>> states the credit will be added next time you tap in on a yellow validator >>>> or gate line. So perhaps the travel centre doesnrCOt even need that. They >>>> just need a computer screen to tick a box about having a railcard. Next >>>> time your Oyster touches in it would get updated.
I'll visit them and ask (at some point). Loading credit onto an
Oyster is a rather different scale of fraud risk than adding
something permanent like a railcard.
How is the fraud risk increased?
Because people could go on to buy thousands of pounds worth of
discounted travel, once the flag has been set. The risk for a top-up is capped at the amount of that top-up.
Presumably the visitor centre member of staff has a trusted login to
the system. They check a box on some program on their computer and it
sets a flag to update the Oyster card when it next sees a
validator/gateline.
We'll have to see. But the more ways you provide for tinkering with the contents of Oyster cards, the more the security risk.
Currently a passenger has to engage in a conversation with a
roving-helper, who then sets the flag using a TVM. It's stored on the
card, not somewhere else. Your method involves flags being stored in
some possibly mythical backoffice database awaiting the passenger's next
use of the card. Would they store it for months/years?
And how quickly can a validator or TVM contact the back office to ask
"are there any housekeeping tasks to be done on this card, today". Get
an answer back, and then do that task as well as then using the card to
buy a ticket (which has to be afterwards, to apply any potentially just-added Travelcard). They only have a few tens of milliseconds.
According to Recliner <recliner.usenet@gmail.com>:
How is the fraud risk increased? Presumably the visitor centre member of >>> staff has a trusted login to the system. They check a box on some program >>> on their computer and it sets a flag to update the Oyster card when it next >>> sees a validator/gateline.
Yes, that seems the most likely method.
When they add the railcard they also add the expiration date, something I noted
when I had a renewed railcard good for slightly over three years which
makde the
TVM reject it. (I told the guy to make it exactly three years, close enough.) >They may also add the railcard serial number.
That seems like a more complex transaction than just updating the balance so I >wonder if a validator can do it.
We await Roland's report of what he found at the Visitor Centre.
Recliner <recliner.usenet@gmail.com> wrote:
Tweed <usenet.tweed@gmail.com> wrote:
Roland Perry <roland@perry.uk> wrote:
In message <10nmvn8$qkjb$1@dont-email.me>, at 14:07:36 on Wed, 25 Feb
2026, Tweed <usenet.tweed@gmail.com> remarked:
Roland Perry <roland@perry.uk> wrote:
In message <10nks9s$4kh1$1@dont-email.me>, at 18:57:00 on Tue, 24 Feb >>>>>> 2026, Tweed <usenet.tweed@gmail.com> remarked:
As someone hereabouts confidently asserted that it would not be >>>>>>>possible toThen perhaps they do have an Oyster TVM at that (all?) Visitor Centre, >>>>>> which was the potential "missing link". I'll drop in next time I'm >>>>>> passing.
add a railcard to an Oyster at a TfL Visitor Centre (they donrCOt >>>>>>> have ticket
machines was the claim) I thought IrCOd ask TfL. Here is their response:
Thank you for your feedback form of 23 February about adding >>>>>>>your National
Railcard discount to your Oyster card.
You can attach eligible National Railcard discounts to your >>>>>>>Oyster card to
benefit from cheaper off-peak fares. Please ask a member of >>>>>>>staff at a Tube
station or Visitor Centre to do this for you. Once the discount is set, >>>>>>> make sure you always have your Railcard with you when travelling. >>>>>>
Thinking about it, I think they just need the equivalent of a yellow >>>>> validator. If you use the TfL Go app you can add credit to your Oyster. It
states the credit will be added next time you tap in on a yellow validator
or gate line. So perhaps the travel centre doesnrCOt even need that. They >>>>> just need a computer screen to tick a box about having a railcard. Next >>>>> time your Oyster touches in it would get updated.
I'll visit them and ask (at some point). Loading credit onto an
Oyster is a rather different scale of fraud risk than adding
something permanent like a railcard.
How is the fraud risk increased? Presumably the visitor centre member of >>> staff has a trusted login to the system. They check a box on some program >>> on their computer and it sets a flag to update the Oyster card when it next >>> sees a validator/gateline.
Yes, that seems the most likely method.
They might even have a validator in the visitor centre.
They sell Oyster cards and itrCOs not unreasonable for the customer to
want to put some credit on it as part of the purchase transaction.
They probably also need a means of reading Oysters to deal with
customer queries about cards not working etc.
IrCOm guessing that validators have an Ethernet connection and tunnel >themselves back to the backend via an encrypted VPN.
Roland Perry <roland@perry.uk> wrote:
In message <10nks9s$4kh1$1@dont-email.me>, at 18:57:00 on Tue, 24 Feb
2026, Tweed <usenet.tweed@gmail.com> remarked:
As someone hereabouts confidently asserted that it would not be possible to >>> add a railcard to an Oyster at a TfL Visitor Centre (they donAt have ticket >>> machines was the claim) I thought IAd ask TfL. Here is their response:
Thank you for your feedback form of 23 February about adding your National >>> Railcard discount to your Oyster card.
You can attach eligible National Railcard discounts to your Oyster card to >>> benefit from cheaper off-peak fares. Please ask a member of staff at a Tube >>> station or Visitor Centre to do this for you. Once the discount is set,
make sure you always have your Railcard with you when travelling.
Then perhaps they do have an Oyster TVM at that (all?) Visitor Centre,
which was the potential "missing link". I'll drop in next time I'm
passing.
Thinking about it, I think they just need the equivalent of a yellow >validator. If you use the TfL Go app you can add credit to your Oyster. It >states the credit will be added next time you tap in on a yellow validator
or gate line. So perhaps the travel centre doesnAt even need that. They
just need a computer screen to tick a box about having a railcard. Next
time your Oyster touches in it would get updated.
Roland Perry <roland@perry.uk> wrote:
In message <10nn58v$smc3$1@dont-email.me>, at 15:42:23 on Wed, 25 Feb
2026, Tweed <usenet.tweed@gmail.com> remarked:
Roland Perry <roland@perry.uk> wrote:
In message <10nmvn8$qkjb$1@dont-email.me>, at 14:07:36 on Wed, 25 Feb
2026, Tweed <usenet.tweed@gmail.com> remarked:
Roland Perry <roland@perry.uk> wrote:
In message <10nks9s$4kh1$1@dont-email.me>, at 18:57:00 on Tue, 24 Feb >>>>>> 2026, Tweed <usenet.tweed@gmail.com> remarked:
As someone hereabouts confidently asserted that it would not be >>>>>>> possible toThen perhaps they do have an Oyster TVM at that (all?) Visitor Centre, >>>>>> which was the potential "missing link". I'll drop in next time I'm >>>>>> passing.
add a railcard to an Oyster at a TfL Visitor Centre (they donrCOt >>>>>>> have ticket
machines was the claim) I thought IrCOd ask TfL. Here is their response:
Thank you for your feedback form of 23 February about adding your National
Railcard discount to your Oyster card.
You can attach eligible National Railcard discounts to your Oyster card to
benefit from cheaper off-peak fares. Please ask a member of staff >>>>>>> at a Tube
station or Visitor Centre to do this for you. Once the discount is set, >>>>>>> make sure you always have your Railcard with you when travelling. >>>>>>
Thinking about it, I think they just need the equivalent of a yellow >>>>> validator. If you use the TfL Go app you can add credit to your Oyster. It
states the credit will be added next time you tap in on a yellow validator
or gate line. So perhaps the travel centre doesnrCOt even need that. They >>>>> just need a computer screen to tick a box about having a railcard. Next >>>>> time your Oyster touches in it would get updated.
I'll visit them and ask (at some point). Loading credit onto an
Oyster is a rather different scale of fraud risk than adding
something permanent like a railcard.
How is the fraud risk increased?
Because people could go on to buy thousands of pounds worth of
discounted travel, once the flag has been set. The risk for a top-up is
capped at the amount of that top-up.
Presumably the visitor centre member of staff has a trusted login to
the system. They check a box on some program on their computer and it
sets a flag to update the Oyster card when it next sees a
validator/gateline.
We'll have to see. But the more ways you provide for tinkering with the
contents of Oyster cards, the more the security risk.
Currently a passenger has to engage in a conversation with a
roving-helper, who then sets the flag using a TVM. It's stored on the
card, not somewhere else. Your method involves flags being stored in
some possibly mythical backoffice database awaiting the passenger's next
use of the card. Would they store it for months/years?
And how quickly can a validator or TVM contact the back office to ask
"are there any housekeeping tasks to be done on this card, today". Get
an answer back, and then do that task as well as then using the card to
buy a ticket (which has to be afterwards, to apply any potentially
just-added Travelcard). They only have a few tens of milliseconds.
It seems an oyster can be topped up via a validator, once you add credit
via the TfL Go app. So the backend holds the top up until it is transferred via the validator. So I see no reason why a railcard canrCOt be so transferred. I was using flag loosely. It could quite easily transfer the railcard type, expiry date etc.
ThererCOs no reason why the transaction time canrCOt be extended. My Glasgow Subway ITSO card takes noticeably longer when a top up is being loaded.
On Wed, 25 Feb 2026 14:07:36 -0000 (UTC), Tweed
<usenet.tweed@gmail.com> wrote:
Roland Perry <roland@perry.uk> wrote:With ny local Underground station the process of adding a railcard is
In message <10nks9s$4kh1$1@dont-email.me>, at 18:57:00 on Tue, 24 Feb
2026, Tweed <usenet.tweed@gmail.com> remarked:
As someone hereabouts confidently asserted that it would not be possible to
add a railcard to an Oyster at a TfL Visitor Centre (they donrCOt have ticket
machines was the claim) I thought IrCOd ask TfL. Here is their response: >>>>
Thank you for your feedback form of 23 February about adding your National >>>> Railcard discount to your Oyster card.
You can attach eligible National Railcard discounts to your Oyster card to >>>> benefit from cheaper off-peak fares. Please ask a member of staff at a Tube
station or Visitor Centre to do this for you. Once the discount is set, >>>> make sure you always have your Railcard with you when travelling.
Then perhaps they do have an Oyster TVM at that (all?) Visitor Centre,
which was the potential "missing link". I'll drop in next time I'm
passing.
Thinking about it, I think they just need the equivalent of a yellow >>validator. If you use the TfL Go app you can add credit to your Oyster. It >>states the credit will be added next time you tap in on a yellow validator >>or gate line. So perhaps the travel centre doesnrCOt even need that. They >>just need a computer screen to tick a box about having a railcard. Next >>time your Oyster touches in it would get updated.
carried out on the normal TVM accessed by the staff.
Tweed <usenet.tweed@gmail.com> wrote:
Roland Perry <roland@perry.uk> wrote:
In message <10nn58v$smc3$1@dont-email.me>, at 15:42:23 on Wed, 25 Feb
2026, Tweed <usenet.tweed@gmail.com> remarked:
Roland Perry <roland@perry.uk> wrote:
In message <10nmvn8$qkjb$1@dont-email.me>, at 14:07:36 on Wed, 25 Feb >>>>> 2026, Tweed <usenet.tweed@gmail.com> remarked:
Roland Perry <roland@perry.uk> wrote:
In message <10nks9s$4kh1$1@dont-email.me>, at 18:57:00 on Tue, 24 Feb >>>>>>> 2026, Tweed <usenet.tweed@gmail.com> remarked:
As someone hereabouts confidently asserted that it would not be >>>>>>>> possible toThen perhaps they do have an Oyster TVM at that (all?) Visitor Centre, >>>>>>> which was the potential "missing link". I'll drop in next time I'm >>>>>>> passing.
add a railcard to an Oyster at a TfL Visitor Centre (they donrCOt >>>>>>>> have ticket
machines was the claim) I thought IrCOd ask TfL. Here is their >>>>>>>>response:
Thank you for your feedback form of 23 February about adding >>>>>>>>your National
Railcard discount to your Oyster card.
You can attach eligible National Railcard discounts to your >>>>>>>>Oyster card to
benefit from cheaper off-peak fares. Please ask a member of staff >>>>>>>> at a Tube
station or Visitor Centre to do this for you. Once the discount is set,
make sure you always have your Railcard with you when travelling. >>>>>>>
Thinking about it, I think they just need the equivalent of a yellow >>>>>> validator. If you use the TfL Go app you can add credit to your >>>>>>Oyster. It
states the credit will be added next time you tap in on a yellow >>>>>>validator
or gate line. So perhaps the travel centre doesnrCOt even need that. They
just need a computer screen to tick a box about having a railcard. Next >>>>>> time your Oyster touches in it would get updated.
I'll visit them and ask (at some point). Loading credit onto an
Oyster is a rather different scale of fraud risk than adding
something permanent like a railcard.
How is the fraud risk increased?
Because people could go on to buy thousands of pounds worth of
discounted travel, once the flag has been set. The risk for a top-up is
capped at the amount of that top-up.
Presumably the visitor centre member of staff has a trusted login to
the system. They check a box on some program on their computer and it
sets a flag to update the Oyster card when it next sees a
validator/gateline.
We'll have to see. But the more ways you provide for tinkering with the
contents of Oyster cards, the more the security risk.
Currently a passenger has to engage in a conversation with a
roving-helper, who then sets the flag using a TVM. It's stored on the
card, not somewhere else. Your method involves flags being stored in
some possibly mythical backoffice database awaiting the passenger's next >>> use of the card. Would they store it for months/years?
And how quickly can a validator or TVM contact the back office to ask
"are there any housekeeping tasks to be done on this card, today". Get
an answer back, and then do that task as well as then using the card to
buy a ticket (which has to be afterwards, to apply any potentially
just-added Travelcard). They only have a few tens of milliseconds.
It seems an oyster can be topped up via a validator, once you add credit
via the TfL Go app. So the backend holds the top up until it is transferred >> via the validator. So I see no reason why a railcard canrCOt be so
transferred. I was using flag loosely. It could quite easily transfer the
railcard type, expiry date etc.
ThererCOs no reason why the transaction time canrCOt be extended. My Glasgow >> Subway ITSO card takes noticeably longer when a top up is being loaded.
Oyster cards can also hold details of up to three season tickets at the
same time. Season tickets are Bus/Tram Passes or Travelcards lasting 7
days, 1 month, or any duration up to one year, for varying zones.
Travelcard season tickets are sold for any consecutive zone combinations >including at least 2 consecutive zones within 1rCo6, while season tickets for >the outer zones are offered in the combinations 1rCo7, 1rCo8, 1rCo9, 2rCo7, 2rCo9
(including Watford Junction), 4rCo7 and 4rCo9 (including Watford Junction) >only. These probably each need more data transmitted than a railcard.
In message <P3LnR.138$Lwx6.70@fx16.ams1>, at 22:53:35 on Wed, 25 Feb
2026, Recliner <recliner.usenet@gmail.com> remarked:
Tweed <usenet.tweed@gmail.com> wrote:
Roland Perry <roland@perry.uk> wrote:
In message <10nn58v$smc3$1@dont-email.me>, at 15:42:23 on Wed, 25 Feb
2026, Tweed <usenet.tweed@gmail.com> remarked:
Roland Perry <roland@perry.uk> wrote:
In message <10nmvn8$qkjb$1@dont-email.me>, at 14:07:36 on Wed, 25 Feb >>>>>> 2026, Tweed <usenet.tweed@gmail.com> remarked:
Roland Perry <roland@perry.uk> wrote:
In message <10nks9s$4kh1$1@dont-email.me>, at 18:57:00 on Tue, 24 Feb >>>>>>>> 2026, Tweed <usenet.tweed@gmail.com> remarked:
As someone hereabouts confidently asserted that it would not be >>>>>>>>> possible toThen perhaps they do have an Oyster TVM at that (all?) Visitor Centre, >>>>>>>> which was the potential "missing link". I'll drop in next time I'm >>>>>>>> passing.
add a railcard to an Oyster at a TfL Visitor Centre (they donrCOt >>>>>>>>> have ticket
machines was the claim) I thought IrCOd ask TfL. Here is their >>>>>>>>> response:
Thank you for your feedback form of 23 February about adding >>>>>>>>> your National
Railcard discount to your Oyster card.
You can attach eligible National Railcard discounts to your >>>>>>>>> Oyster card to
benefit from cheaper off-peak fares. Please ask a member of staff >>>>>>>>> at a Tube
station or Visitor Centre to do this for you. Once the discount is set,
make sure you always have your Railcard with you when travelling. >>>>>>>>
Thinking about it, I think they just need the equivalent of a yellow >>>>>>> validator. If you use the TfL Go app you can add credit to your >>>>>>> Oyster. It
states the credit will be added next time you tap in on a yellow >>>>>>> validator
or gate line. So perhaps the travel centre doesnrCOt even need that. They
just need a computer screen to tick a box about having a railcard. Next >>>>>>> time your Oyster touches in it would get updated.
I'll visit them and ask (at some point). Loading credit onto an
Oyster is a rather different scale of fraud risk than adding
something permanent like a railcard.
How is the fraud risk increased?
Because people could go on to buy thousands of pounds worth of
discounted travel, once the flag has been set. The risk for a top-up is >>>> capped at the amount of that top-up.
Presumably the visitor centre member of staff has a trusted login to >>>>> the system. They check a box on some program on their computer and it >>>>> sets a flag to update the Oyster card when it next sees a
validator/gateline.
We'll have to see. But the more ways you provide for tinkering with the >>>> contents of Oyster cards, the more the security risk.
Currently a passenger has to engage in a conversation with a
roving-helper, who then sets the flag using a TVM. It's stored on the
card, not somewhere else. Your method involves flags being stored in
some possibly mythical backoffice database awaiting the passenger's next >>>> use of the card. Would they store it for months/years?
And how quickly can a validator or TVM contact the back office to ask
"are there any housekeeping tasks to be done on this card, today". Get >>>> an answer back, and then do that task as well as then using the card to >>>> buy a ticket (which has to be afterwards, to apply any potentially
just-added Travelcard). They only have a few tens of milliseconds.
It seems an oyster can be topped up via a validator, once you add credit >>> via the TfL Go app. So the backend holds the top up until it is transferred >>> via the validator. So I see no reason why a railcard canrCOt be so
transferred. I was using flag loosely. It could quite easily transfer the >>> railcard type, expiry date etc.
ThererCOs no reason why the transaction time canrCOt be extended. My Glasgow
Subway ITSO card takes noticeably longer when a top up is being loaded.
Oyster cards can also hold details of up to three season tickets at the
same time. Season tickets are Bus/Tram Passes or Travelcards lasting 7
days, 1 month, or any duration up to one year, for varying zones.
Travelcard season tickets are sold for any consecutive zone combinations
including at least 2 consecutive zones within 1rCo6, while season tickets for
the outer zones are offered in the combinations 1rCo7, 1rCo8, 1rCo9, 2rCo7, 2rCo9
(including Watford Junction), 4rCo7 and 4rCo9 (including Watford Junction) >> only. These probably each need more data transmitted than a railcard.
They need [more] data transmitted to set them up, but there's no need
for data transmission each time the Oyster is subsequently used, because
all the sums are done by the card, not at a back-office.
Roland Perry <roland@perry.uk> wrote:
In message <P3LnR.138$Lwx6.70@fx16.ams1>, at 22:53:35 on Wed, 25 Feb
2026, Recliner <recliner.usenet@gmail.com> remarked:
Tweed <usenet.tweed@gmail.com> wrote:
Roland Perry <roland@perry.uk> wrote:Oyster cards can also hold details of up to three season tickets at the
In message <10nn58v$smc3$1@dont-email.me>, at 15:42:23 on Wed, 25 Feb >>>>> 2026, Tweed <usenet.tweed@gmail.com> remarked:
Roland Perry <roland@perry.uk> wrote:
In message <10nmvn8$qkjb$1@dont-email.me>, at 14:07:36 on Wed, 25 Feb >>>>>>> 2026, Tweed <usenet.tweed@gmail.com> remarked:
Roland Perry <roland@perry.uk> wrote:
In message <10nks9s$4kh1$1@dont-email.me>, at 18:57:00 on Tue, 24 Feb >>>>>>>>> 2026, Tweed <usenet.tweed@gmail.com> remarked:
As someone hereabouts confidently asserted that it would not be >>>>>>>>>> possible toThen perhaps they do have an Oyster TVM at that (all?) Visitor Centre,
add a railcard to an Oyster at a TfL Visitor Centre (they donrCOt >>>>>>>>>> have ticket
machines was the claim) I thought IrCOd ask TfL. Here is their >>>>>>>>>> response:
Thank you for your feedback form of 23 February about adding >>>>>>>>>> your National
Railcard discount to your Oyster card.
You can attach eligible National Railcard discounts to your >>>>>>>>>> Oyster card to
benefit from cheaper off-peak fares. Please ask a member of staff >>>>>>>>>> at a Tube
station or Visitor Centre to do this for you. Once the discount is set,
make sure you always have your Railcard with you when travelling. >>>>>>>>>
which was the potential "missing link". I'll drop in next time I'm >>>>>>>>> passing.
Thinking about it, I think they just need the equivalent of a yellow >>>>>>>> validator. If you use the TfL Go app you can add credit to your >>>>>>>> Oyster. It
states the credit will be added next time you tap in on a yellow >>>>>>>> validator
or gate line. So perhaps the travel centre doesnrCOt even need that. They
just need a computer screen to tick a box about having a railcard. Next
time your Oyster touches in it would get updated.
I'll visit them and ask (at some point). Loading credit onto an
Oyster is a rather different scale of fraud risk than adding
something permanent like a railcard.
How is the fraud risk increased?
Because people could go on to buy thousands of pounds worth of
discounted travel, once the flag has been set. The risk for a top-up is >>>>> capped at the amount of that top-up.
Presumably the visitor centre member of staff has a trusted login to >>>>>> the system. They check a box on some program on their computer and it >>>>>> sets a flag to update the Oyster card when it next sees a
validator/gateline.
We'll have to see. But the more ways you provide for tinkering with the >>>>> contents of Oyster cards, the more the security risk.
Currently a passenger has to engage in a conversation with a
roving-helper, who then sets the flag using a TVM. It's stored on the >>>>> card, not somewhere else. Your method involves flags being stored in >>>>> some possibly mythical backoffice database awaiting the passenger's next >>>>> use of the card. Would they store it for months/years?
And how quickly can a validator or TVM contact the back office to ask >>>>> "are there any housekeeping tasks to be done on this card, today". Get >>>>> an answer back, and then do that task as well as then using the card to >>>>> buy a ticket (which has to be afterwards, to apply any potentially
just-added Travelcard). They only have a few tens of milliseconds.
It seems an oyster can be topped up via a validator, once you add credit >>>> via the TfL Go app. So the backend holds the top up until it is transferred
via the validator. So I see no reason why a railcard canrCOt be so
transferred. I was using flag loosely. It could quite easily transfer the >>>> railcard type, expiry date etc.
ThererCOs no reason why the transaction time canrCOt be extended. My Glasgow
Subway ITSO card takes noticeably longer when a top up is being loaded. >>>
same time. Season tickets are Bus/Tram Passes or Travelcards lasting 7
days, 1 month, or any duration up to one year, for varying zones.
Travelcard season tickets are sold for any consecutive zone combinations >>> including at least 2 consecutive zones within 1rCo6, while season tickets for
the outer zones are offered in the combinations 1rCo7, 1rCo8, 1rCo9, 2rCo7, 2rCo9
(including Watford Junction), 4rCo7 and 4rCo9 (including Watford Junction) >>> only. These probably each need more data transmitted than a railcard.
They need [more] data transmitted to set them up, but there's no need
for data transmission each time the Oyster is subsequently used, because
all the sums are done by the card, not at a back-office.
Well thatrCOs the point. Customer visits travel centre with railcard. TfL person logs into their computer and sets the railcard against the customerrCOs account. Next time the Oyster sees a validator (in travel centre perhaps, or gateline) the Oyster gets an update with railcard details. Just as it would get an update if you added more cash via the TfL app. To answer your earlier query about how long this transaction might remain pending, it seems a cash update remains pending for 4 days. After that it is refunded
to the original payment card. Fundamentally, whatrCOs the difference between a TfL ticket machine and a validator? I suspect the ticket machine is just
a validator with a payment method and user interface attached.
Roland Perry <roland@perry.uk> wrote:
In message <P3LnR.138$Lwx6.70@fx16.ams1>, at 22:53:35 on Wed, 25 Feb
2026, Recliner <recliner.usenet@gmail.com> remarked:
Tweed <usenet.tweed@gmail.com> wrote:
Roland Perry <roland@perry.uk> wrote:Oyster cards can also hold details of up to three season tickets at the
In message <10nn58v$smc3$1@dont-email.me>, at 15:42:23 on Wed, 25 Feb >>>>> 2026, Tweed <usenet.tweed@gmail.com> remarked:
Roland Perry <roland@perry.uk> wrote:
In message <10nmvn8$qkjb$1@dont-email.me>, at 14:07:36 on Wed, 25 Feb >>>>>>> 2026, Tweed <usenet.tweed@gmail.com> remarked:
Roland Perry <roland@perry.uk> wrote:
In message <10nks9s$4kh1$1@dont-email.me>, at 18:57:00 on Tue, 24 Feb >>>>>>>>> 2026, Tweed <usenet.tweed@gmail.com> remarked:
As someone hereabouts confidently asserted that it would not be >>>>>>>>>> possible toThen perhaps they do have an Oyster TVM at that (all?) Visitor Centre,
add a railcard to an Oyster at a TfL Visitor Centre (they donrCOt >>>>>>>>>> have ticket
machines was the claim) I thought IrCOd ask TfL. Here is their >>>>>>>>>> response:
Thank you for your feedback form of 23 February about adding >>>>>>>>>> your National
Railcard discount to your Oyster card.
You can attach eligible National Railcard discounts to your >>>>>>>>>> Oyster card to
benefit from cheaper off-peak fares. Please ask a member of staff >>>>>>>>>> at a Tube
station or Visitor Centre to do this for you. Once the >>>>>>>>>>discount is set,
make sure you always have your Railcard with you when travelling. >>>>>>>>>
which was the potential "missing link". I'll drop in next time I'm >>>>>>>>> passing.
Thinking about it, I think they just need the equivalent of a yellow >>>>>>>> validator. If you use the TfL Go app you can add credit to your >>>>>>>> Oyster. It
states the credit will be added next time you tap in on a yellow >>>>>>>> validator
or gate line. So perhaps the travel centre doesnrCOt even need >>>>>>>>that. They
just need a computer screen to tick a box about having a railcard. Next
time your Oyster touches in it would get updated.
I'll visit them and ask (at some point). Loading credit onto an
Oyster is a rather different scale of fraud risk than adding
something permanent like a railcard.
How is the fraud risk increased?
Because people could go on to buy thousands of pounds worth of
discounted travel, once the flag has been set. The risk for a top-up is >>>>> capped at the amount of that top-up.
Presumably the visitor centre member of staff has a trusted login to >>>>>> the system. They check a box on some program on their computer and it >>>>>> sets a flag to update the Oyster card when it next sees a
validator/gateline.
We'll have to see. But the more ways you provide for tinkering with the >>>>> contents of Oyster cards, the more the security risk.
Currently a passenger has to engage in a conversation with a
roving-helper, who then sets the flag using a TVM. It's stored on the >>>>> card, not somewhere else. Your method involves flags being stored in >>>>> some possibly mythical backoffice database awaiting the passenger's next >>>>> use of the card. Would they store it for months/years?
And how quickly can a validator or TVM contact the back office to ask >>>>> "are there any housekeeping tasks to be done on this card, today". Get >>>>> an answer back, and then do that task as well as then using the card to >>>>> buy a ticket (which has to be afterwards, to apply any potentially
just-added Travelcard). They only have a few tens of milliseconds.
It seems an oyster can be topped up via a validator, once you add credit >>>> via the TfL Go app. So the backend holds the top up until it is transferred
via the validator. So I see no reason why a railcard canrCOt be so
transferred. I was using flag loosely. It could quite easily transfer the >>>> railcard type, expiry date etc.
ThererCOs no reason why the transaction time canrCOt be extended.
My Glasgow
Subway ITSO card takes noticeably longer when a top up is being loaded. >>>
same time. Season tickets are Bus/Tram Passes or Travelcards lasting 7
days, 1 month, or any duration up to one year, for varying zones.
Travelcard season tickets are sold for any consecutive zone combinations >>> including at least 2 consecutive zones within 1rCo6, while season >>>tickets for
the outer zones are offered in the combinations 1rCo7, 1rCo8, 1rCo9, >>>2rCo7, 2rCo9
(including Watford Junction), 4rCo7 and 4rCo9 (including Watford Junction) >>> only. These probably each need more data transmitted than a railcard.
They need [more] data transmitted to set them up, but there's no need
for data transmission each time the Oyster is subsequently used, because
all the sums are done by the card, not at a back-office.
Well thatrCOs the point. Customer visits travel centre with railcard. TfL >person logs into their computer and sets the railcard against the >customerrCOs account. Next time the Oyster sees a validator (in travel centre >perhaps, or gateline) the Oyster gets an update with railcard details. Just >as it would get an update if you added more cash via the TfL app. To answer >your earlier query about how long this transaction might remain pending, it >seems a cash update remains pending for 4 days. After that it is refunded
to the original payment card. Fundamentally, whatrCOs the difference between >a TfL ticket machine and a validator? I suspect the ticket machine is just
a validator with a payment method and user interface attached.
It seems an oyster can be topped up via a validator, once you add credit
via the TfL Go app. So the backend holds the top up until it is transferred >via the validator. So I see no reason why a railcard canrCOt be so >transferred. I was using flag loosely. It could quite easily transfer the >railcard type, expiry date etc.
In message <10nru7n$2f16b$1@dont-email.me>, at 11:12:55 on Fri, 27 Feb
2026, Tweed <usenet.tweed@gmail.com> remarked:
Roland Perry <roland@perry.uk> wrote:
In message <P3LnR.138$Lwx6.70@fx16.ams1>, at 22:53:35 on Wed, 25 Feb
2026, Recliner <recliner.usenet@gmail.com> remarked:
Tweed <usenet.tweed@gmail.com> wrote:
Roland Perry <roland@perry.uk> wrote:Oyster cards can also hold details of up to three season tickets at the >>>> same time. Season tickets are Bus/Tram Passes or Travelcards lasting 7 >>>> days, 1 month, or any duration up to one year, for varying zones.
In message <10nn58v$smc3$1@dont-email.me>, at 15:42:23 on Wed, 25 Feb >>>>>> 2026, Tweed <usenet.tweed@gmail.com> remarked:
Roland Perry <roland@perry.uk> wrote:
In message <10nmvn8$qkjb$1@dont-email.me>, at 14:07:36 on Wed, 25 Feb >>>>>>>> 2026, Tweed <usenet.tweed@gmail.com> remarked:
Roland Perry <roland@perry.uk> wrote:
In message <10nks9s$4kh1$1@dont-email.me>, at 18:57:00 on Tue, 24 Feb
2026, Tweed <usenet.tweed@gmail.com> remarked:
As someone hereabouts confidently asserted that it would not be >>>>>>>>>>> possible toThen perhaps they do have an Oyster TVM at that (all?) Visitor Centre,
add a railcard to an Oyster at a TfL Visitor Centre (they donrCOt >>>>>>>>>>> have ticket
machines was the claim) I thought IrCOd ask TfL. Here is their >>>>>>>>>>> response:
Thank you for your feedback form of 23 February about adding >>>>>>>>>>> your National
Railcard discount to your Oyster card.
You can attach eligible National Railcard discounts to your >>>>>>>>>>> Oyster card to
benefit from cheaper off-peak fares. Please ask a member of staff >>>>>>>>>>> at a Tube
station or Visitor Centre to do this for you. Once the
discount is set,
make sure you always have your Railcard with you when travelling. >>>>>>>>>>
which was the potential "missing link". I'll drop in next time I'm >>>>>>>>>> passing.
Thinking about it, I think they just need the equivalent of a yellow >>>>>>>>> validator. If you use the TfL Go app you can add credit to your >>>>>>>>> Oyster. It
states the credit will be added next time you tap in on a yellow >>>>>>>>> validator
or gate line. So perhaps the travel centre doesnrCOt even need >>>>>>>>> that. They
just need a computer screen to tick a box about having a railcard. Next
time your Oyster touches in it would get updated.
I'll visit them and ask (at some point). Loading credit onto an >>>>>>>> Oyster is a rather different scale of fraud risk than adding
something permanent like a railcard.
How is the fraud risk increased?
Because people could go on to buy thousands of pounds worth of
discounted travel, once the flag has been set. The risk for a top-up is >>>>>> capped at the amount of that top-up.
Presumably the visitor centre member of staff has a trusted login to >>>>>>> the system. They check a box on some program on their computer and it >>>>>>> sets a flag to update the Oyster card when it next sees a
validator/gateline.
We'll have to see. But the more ways you provide for tinkering with the >>>>>> contents of Oyster cards, the more the security risk.
Currently a passenger has to engage in a conversation with a
roving-helper, who then sets the flag using a TVM. It's stored on the >>>>>> card, not somewhere else. Your method involves flags being stored in >>>>>> some possibly mythical backoffice database awaiting the passenger's next >>>>>> use of the card. Would they store it for months/years?
And how quickly can a validator or TVM contact the back office to ask >>>>>> "are there any housekeeping tasks to be done on this card, today". Get >>>>>> an answer back, and then do that task as well as then using the card to >>>>>> buy a ticket (which has to be afterwards, to apply any potentially >>>>>> just-added Travelcard). They only have a few tens of milliseconds.
It seems an oyster can be topped up via a validator, once you add credit >>>>> via the TfL Go app. So the backend holds the top up until it is transferred
via the validator. So I see no reason why a railcard canrCOt be so
transferred. I was using flag loosely. It could quite easily transfer the >>>>> railcard type, expiry date etc.
ThererCOs no reason why the transaction time canrCOt be extended.
My Glasgow
Subway ITSO card takes noticeably longer when a top up is being loaded. >>>>
Travelcard season tickets are sold for any consecutive zone combinations >>>> including at least 2 consecutive zones within 1rCo6, while season
tickets for
the outer zones are offered in the combinations 1rCo7, 1rCo8, 1rCo9,
2rCo7, 2rCo9
(including Watford Junction), 4rCo7 and 4rCo9 (including Watford Junction) >>>> only. These probably each need more data transmitted than a railcard.
They need [more] data transmitted to set them up, but there's no need
for data transmission each time the Oyster is subsequently used, because >>> all the sums are done by the card, not at a back-office.
Well thatrCOs the point. Customer visits travel centre with railcard. TfL
person logs into their computer and sets the railcard against the
customerrCOs account. Next time the Oyster sees a validator (in travel centre
perhaps, or gateline) the Oyster gets an update with railcard details. Just >> as it would get an update if you added more cash via the TfL app. To answer >> your earlier query about how long this transaction might remain pending, it >> seems a cash update remains pending for 4 days. After that it is refunded
to the original payment card. Fundamentally, whatrCOs the difference between >> a TfL ticket machine and a validator? I suspect the ticket machine is just >> a validator with a payment method and user interface attached.
The fundamental point you keep missing is that adding a Travelcard flag
to a card is a much higher security risk than just adding some credit
(be it top-up or refund).
In message <10nnkn1$12lsq$1@dont-email.me>, at 20:05:53 on Wed, 25 Feb
2026, Tweed <usenet.tweed@gmail.com> remarked:
It seems an oyster can be topped up via a validator, once you add credit
via the TfL Go app. So the backend holds the top up until it is transferred >> via the validator. So I see no reason why a railcard canrCOt be so
transferred. I was using flag loosely. It could quite easily transfer the
railcard type, expiry date etc.
You say "could". Well, TfL *could* change their backoffice to add
Travelcard discounts, and better capping algorithms, to CCC accounts.
But they don't.
Cock-up or conspiracy - I favour the latter because it increases their revenue.
Roland Perry <roland@perry.uk> wrote:
In message <10nnkn1$12lsq$1@dont-email.me>, at 20:05:53 on Wed, 25 Feb
2026, Tweed <usenet.tweed@gmail.com> remarked:
It seems an oyster can be topped up via a validator, once you add credit >>> via the TfL Go app. So the backend holds the top up until it is transferred >>> via the validator. So I see no reason why a railcard canrCOt be so
transferred. I was using flag loosely. It could quite easily transfer the >>> railcard type, expiry date etc.
You say "could". Well, TfL *could* change their backoffice to add
Travelcard discounts, and better capping algorithms, to CCC accounts.
But they don't.
Cock-up or conspiracy - I favour the latter because it increases their
revenue.
Dispute over a change of supplier is probably more like it.
The fundamental point you keep missing is that adding a Travelcard flag
to a card is a much higher security risk than just adding some credit
(be it top-up or refund).
And the point you keep missing is that a validator is a secure means of >adding it. If validators are compromised the whole TfL ticketing system is
in a mess.
Roland Perry <roland@perry.uk> wrote:
In message <10nnkn1$12lsq$1@dont-email.me>, at 20:05:53 on Wed, 25 Feb
2026, Tweed <usenet.tweed@gmail.com> remarked:
It seems an oyster can be topped up via a validator, once you add credit >>> via the TfL Go app. So the backend holds the top up until it is transferred >>> via the validator. So I see no reason why a railcard canrCOt be so
transferred. I was using flag loosely. It could quite easily transfer the >>> railcard type, expiry date etc.
You say "could". Well, TfL *could* change their backoffice to add
Travelcard discounts, and better capping algorithms, to CCC accounts.
But they don't.
Cock-up or conspiracy - I favour the latter because it increases their
revenue.
Dispute over a change of supplier is probably more like it.
In message <10nsm2a$2nsat$1@dont-email.me>, at 17:59:38 on Fri, 27 Feb
2026, Tweed <usenet.tweed@gmail.com> remarked:
The fundamental point you keep missing is that adding a Travelcard flag
to a card is a much higher security risk than just adding some credit
(be it top-up or refund).
And the point you keep missing is that a validator is a secure means of
adding it. If validators are compromised the whole TfL ticketing system is >> in a mess.
No, the point is who or what authorises the transaction. A minimum wage (+commission) seller of tickets to West End Musicals and attractions
like the London Aquarium, might not be your first choice.
Roland Perry <roland@perry.uk> wrote:
In message <10nsm2a$2nsat$1@dont-email.me>, at 17:59:38 on Fri, 27 Feb
2026, Tweed <usenet.tweed@gmail.com> remarked:
The fundamental point you keep missing is that adding a Travelcard flag >>>> to a card is a much higher security risk than just adding some credit
(be it top-up or refund).
And the point you keep missing is that a validator is a secure means of
adding it. If validators are compromised the whole TfL ticketing system is >>> in a mess.
No, the point is who or what authorises the transaction. A minimum wage
(+commission) seller of tickets to West End Musicals and attractions
like the London Aquarium, might not be your first choice.
And that is radically different to the roving customer assistant at the StP >ticket hall?
You are making all sorts of assumptions about the TfL employee
in the visitor centre to justify your original mistaken assertion that you >couldnrCOt get railcards added in the visitor centre.
The point is you *can* get railcards added by the visitor centre. (As >confirmed by TfL).
The point is you *can* get railcards added by the visitor centre. (As >>confirmed by TfL).
We don't know that the visitor centre role is more than advising people
to go to the adjacent ticket hall and get it done there.
In other news, why don't the Railcard sellers inform TfL that someone
has just bought a card, and then TfL add it to the Oyster next time they
see the Oyster being used. Like many of the pipedreams floated here,
they *could* do that, but why *don't* they?
According to Roland Perry <roland@perry.uk>:
The point is you *can* get railcards added by the visitor centre. (As >>>confirmed by TfL).
We don't know that the visitor centre role is more than advising people
to go to the adjacent ticket hall and get it done there.
In other news, why don't the Railcard sellers inform TfL that someone
has just bought a card, and then TfL add it to the Oyster next time they >>see the Oyster being used. Like many of the pipedreams floated here,
they *could* do that, but why *don't* they?
I could see that when you renew an existing railcard, but if the card
is new, how are they supposed to know which Oyster it goes with?
In message <10o1v4g$htq$1@gal.iecc.com>, at 18:05:04 on Sun, 1 Mar 2026, John Levine <johnl@taugh.com> remarked:
According to Roland Perry <roland@perry.uk>:
The point is you *can* get railcards added by the visitor centre. (As
confirmed by TfL).
We don't know that the visitor centre role is more than advising people
to go to the adjacent ticket hall and get it done there.
In other news, why don't the Railcard sellers inform TfL that someone
has just bought a card, and then TfL add it to the Oyster next time they >>> see the Oyster being used. Like many of the pipedreams floated here,
they *could* do that, but why *don't* they?
I could see that when you renew an existing railcard, but if the card
is new, how are they supposed to know which Oyster it goes with?
The organisation issuing the Railcard could ask the applicant "would you like this automagically added to your Oyster, and if so, what's its
number".
Roland Perry <roland@perry.uk> wrote:
In message <10o1v4g$htq$1@gal.iecc.com>, at 18:05:04 on Sun, 1 Mar 2026,
John Levine <johnl@taugh.com> remarked:
According to Roland Perry <roland@perry.uk>:
The point is you *can* get railcards added by the visitor centre. (As >>>>> confirmed by TfL).
We don't know that the visitor centre role is more than advising people >>>> to go to the adjacent ticket hall and get it done there.
In other news, why don't the Railcard sellers inform TfL that someone
has just bought a card, and then TfL add it to the Oyster next time they >>>> see the Oyster being used. Like many of the pipedreams floated here,
they *could* do that, but why *don't* they?
I could see that when you renew an existing railcard, but if the card
is new, how are they supposed to know which Oyster it goes with?
The organisation issuing the Railcard could ask the applicant "would you
like this automagically added to your Oyster, and if so, what's its
number".
LetrCOs see what happens once the new ticketing contractor gets their feet >under the table.
In message <10o3is1$103qm$1@dont-email.me>, at 08:48:01 on Mon, 2 Mar
2026, Tweed <usenet.tweed@gmail.com> remarked:
Roland Perry <roland@perry.uk> wrote:
In message <10o1v4g$htq$1@gal.iecc.com>, at 18:05:04 on Sun, 1 Mar 2026, >>> John Levine <johnl@taugh.com> remarked:
According to Roland Perry <roland@perry.uk>:
The point is you *can* get railcards added by the visitor centre. (As >>>>>> confirmed by TfL).
We don't know that the visitor centre role is more than advising people >>>>> to go to the adjacent ticket hall and get it done there.
In other news, why don't the Railcard sellers inform TfL that someone >>>>> has just bought a card, and then TfL add it to the Oyster next time they >>>>> see the Oyster being used. Like many of the pipedreams floated here, >>>>> they *could* do that, but why *don't* they?
I could see that when you renew an existing railcard, but if the card
is new, how are they supposed to know which Oyster it goes with?
The organisation issuing the Railcard could ask the applicant "would you >>> like this automagically added to your Oyster, and if so, what's its
number".
LetrCOs see what happens once the new ticketing contractor gets their feet >> under the table.
I'm not holding my breath. Ditto for the long over-promised and under-delivered railcard discounts for TfL CCC users.
Roland Perry <roland@perry.uk> wrote:
In message <10o3is1$103qm$1@dont-email.me>, at 08:48:01 on Mon, 2 Mar
2026, Tweed <usenet.tweed@gmail.com> remarked:
Roland Perry <roland@perry.uk> wrote:
In message <10o1v4g$htq$1@gal.iecc.com>, at 18:05:04 on Sun, 1 Mar 2026, >>>> John Levine <johnl@taugh.com> remarked:
According to Roland Perry <roland@perry.uk>:
The point is you *can* get railcards added by the visitor centre. (As >>>>>>> confirmed by TfL).
We don't know that the visitor centre role is more than advising people >>>>>> to go to the adjacent ticket hall and get it done there.
In other news, why don't the Railcard sellers inform TfL that someone >>>>>> has just bought a card, and then TfL add it to the Oyster next time they >>>>>> see the Oyster being used. Like many of the pipedreams floated here, >>>>>> they *could* do that, but why *don't* they?
I could see that when you renew an existing railcard, but if the card >>>>> is new, how are they supposed to know which Oyster it goes with?
The organisation issuing the Railcard could ask the applicant "would you >>>> like this automagically added to your Oyster, and if so, what's its
number".
LetrCOs see what happens once the new ticketing contractor gets their feet >>> under the table.
I'm not holding my breath. Ditto for the long over-promised and
under-delivered railcard discounts for TfL CCC users.
Well any changes will be a couple of years away. The transition from the
old contractor doesnrCOt complete until August. Then there will be development time for anything new after that.
In other news, why don't the Railcard sellers inform TfL that someone
has just bought a card, and then TfL add it to the Oyster next time they >>>see the Oyster being used. Like many of the pipedreams floated here,
they *could* do that, but why *don't* they?
I could see that when you renew an existing railcard, but if the card
is new, how are they supposed to know which Oyster it goes with?
The organisation issuing the Railcard could ask the applicant "would you >like this automagically added to your Oyster, and if so, what's its
number".
According to Roland Perry <roland@perry.uk>:
In other news, why don't the Railcard sellers inform TfL that someone
has just bought a card, and then TfL add it to the Oyster next time they >>>> see the Oyster being used. Like many of the pipedreams floated here,
they *could* do that, but why *don't* they?
I could see that when you renew an existing railcard, but if the card
is new, how are they supposed to know which Oyster it goes with?
The organisation issuing the Railcard could ask the applicant "would you
like this automagically added to your Oyster, and if so, what's its
number".
Maybe, but since you're almost always going to be at a station with a
TVM when you use your Oyster, avoiding one chat with the attendant
every three years doesn't strike me as something worth doing.
According to Roland Perry <roland@perry.uk>:
In other news, why don't the Railcard sellers inform TfL that someone >>>>has just bought a card, and then TfL add it to the Oyster next time they >>>>see the Oyster being used. Like many of the pipedreams floated here, >>>>they *could* do that, but why *don't* they?
I could see that when you renew an existing railcard, but if the card
is new, how are they supposed to know which Oyster it goes with?
The organisation issuing the Railcard could ask the applicant "would you >>like this automagically added to your Oyster, and if so, what's its >>number".
Maybe, but since you're almost always going to be at a station with a
TVM when you use your Oyster, avoiding one chat with the attendant
every three years doesn't strike me as something worth doing.
| Sysop: | Amessyroom |
|---|---|
| Location: | Fayetteville, NC |
| Users: | 59 |
| Nodes: | 6 (0 / 6) |
| Uptime: | 24:33:01 |
| Calls: | 810 |
| Files: | 1,287 |
| Messages: | 195,978 |