2016 TT-Forums Meet [THIS WEEK - please sign up!]

[Dave]

This year's forum meet will take place on Saturday 9th July in London.

Attached is a document detailing what is likely to happen.

Please sign up here: http://www.tt-wiki.net/wiki/TT_Meet_2016

The initial discussion thread is here: http://www.tt-forums.net/viewtopic.php?f=2&t=74540

Any questions about coming can be posted here

Look forward to seeing you!

[Chrill]

I will be in attendance, however most likely just for the first stop. I'm not sure my company will be too entertained by a bunch of people with the common interest of trains and 22-year old games.

Although we might rejoin you if you are still out being social by the evening!

[Geo Ghost]

Count me in.

It will be great to see everyone again

[Redirect Left]

I'll most likely be there, depending on cost of travel down, and me actually finding the pub.

[orudge]

Oh hey, that's my birthday! I won't be making it unfortunately, but I hope you all have fun - do let us know how it goes! Feel free to make a movie.

[JamieLei]

I will be there

[Geo Ghost]

Jamie, if you're travelling round via St Pancake, I could meet you there if you're up for that?

[JamieLei]

Jamie, if you're travelling round via St Pancake, I could meet you there if you're up for that?

Ok - can do!

[Pilot]

Guys, I want to edit the thing to say I'm coming, but I'm afraid to break it

I'm pretty sure I will be there, just dependant on travel costs and costs of a hotel.

Travel:
Outbound: Taxi Oldham to Manchester Airport, then flying Manchester Airport to London Heathrow, then Heathrow Express to Paddington, then the tube.
Rtn: Either reverse, or Train to Manchester Piccadilly.

Would an Oyster card be worth picking up for whilst I was there?

[Redirect Left]

Would an Oyster card be worth picking up for whilst I was there?

That reminds me, i've not used my Oyster for 4-5 years now. Assumably that'll have either been deactivated or just broke by now.

[Chrill]

Staying for 4 days (Fri-Mon), and travelling from Gatwick... What's the best purchase(s) in terms of public transport?

[Geo Ghost]

I always used to stick with your standard Zones 1-5 Travelcard for getting in and around London.
I know some use Oyster, but I never did.

Obviously now I use priv rate stuff which is quite a different kettle of fish. But I'd personally say travelcard. Pay for one ticket, go anywhere within the zones.

[orudge]

These days I believe there's a situation (although I can't remember what it is) where it's better value to use a contactless credit or debit card rather than an Oyster card. May be some weekly cap thing perhaps.

[Pilot]

Okay, so I've now updated the Wiki page with my information, I think I nearly broke it at one point, but I've fixed it now! (Fingers Crossed!!)

[Dave]

Contactless payment is the same as Oyster but cheaper than a travel card.

There's a weekly cap that you hit if you used a contactless debit card.

You'd be insane to use a paper travelcard. Over 4 days, the amount you save using an Oystercard repays the £5 deposit two or three times.

[Pilot]

What's the easiest way to get an Oyster, for those of us who don't have a Contactless Card? I seem to be heading down to London more and more, so having an Oyster Card will not hurt I guess!

[Chrill]

You'd be insane to use a paper travelcard. Over 4 days, the amount you save using an Oystercard repays the £5 deposit two or three times.

So basically, I'm buying an Oyster card. Do I charge it with a set sum or is there some sort of "unlimited rides for X days"?

[Redirect Left]

If I remember correctly, the oyster card will cap itself to the most appropriate amount. So you never pay more than you would if you had bought day/week tickets. You just load it with cash, oyster will cap itself to most appropriate for how much you do over x days.
This was 5 year ago though, it may have changed.

I'll also probably be getting to London through Grand Central at Mirfield or Brighouse, as GC usually have cheapest fares and free wifi. (Hmm.) I may instead get an EMT train from Sheffield or Leeds. Depends if I manage to get a deal from a certain forum member closer to the date.
edit: apparently that EMT train passes Wakefield Westgate. Useful!

If it's orudges birthday, we shall have to have a toast to it without him, and wish that somewhere he's having a blast!

[Nawdic]

Ill see if I can attend on both days...... of course I wont booze myself out as I will probably be driving on Sunday.

If anyone is staying in South London (I.e. south of Brixton) and wants a ride to the heritage railway if it goes ahead let me know.

[Dave]

Easy enough.

Chrill is arriving into LGW at 0840 on Friday morning. Once he's got his bags, etc, etc it'll be off peak (0920)

So he can buy an Oyster card from the machines at LGW... He will pay £5 for the privilege of owning one, and add around £50 to it.

He will use it to travel to London on a non-Gatwick express train - this is £8 off peak

Then he will have a lovely day in London with Mrs Chrill. He probably won't venture outside of Zone 2 so this will cost him a maximum of £6.50. Each fare is calculated individually, but once you've hit the cap every other journey is free.

He will repeat this on Saturday, Sunday and Monday, before using his Oyster to return to LGW on Monday. Unfortunately he has to travel during the peak on Monday, so this will cost him £14.

I total this to be £41.50 - the few extra pounds will help if he ventures to zone 3. When he's finished at LGW, he can sell his card for any unused balance and his £5 deposit.

Total cost £41.50

Paper tickets:
Return from Gatwick to Victoria: £31 (£22 with Oyster)
Off-peak travelcard: £12.10 per day (£6.50 with Oyster) - okay this gives you travel to Z6 but you'll never need to go there on a weekend break. Even if you do, travelling with Oyster is cheaper.

Total cost: £79.40

... You tell me which is better!

Pilot you can get an Oyster from wherever you arrive at, including Gatwick and Heathrow. Gatwick have finally convinced TfL to extend Gatwick so it can compete better with LHR.

EDIT: Chrill can get the Jubilee Line from North Greenwich to Southwark and follow my instructions.

He could also get the Emirates Airline then the DLR to Bank, thence on to Blackfriars and follow my instructions.

He could also get the BOAT from North Greenwich to Blackfriars Pier and follow my instructions.

Neither the boat nor airline count towards your Oyster cap though!