6. It is interesting to know

Read the following information and then answer the questions.

Word list:

hassle – неприємна ситуація

to cash – платити чеком

cash-in price – тут ціна для вигідного придбання будь-чого

entitlement – дозвіл на проїзд

carnet – книжка з відривними квитками

Types of Tickets

You will be able to obtain a free leaflet at your local tube station which covers underground and bus fares within Greater London.

There are a variety of tickets which can reduce the cost of travel. The longer the period of ticket purchased the cheaper each individual journey will work out. Try to get to grips with the London underground zone system – this can assist with any journey. Zone 1 is the centre of the City, the area of the Circle line and inside it. Zone numbers go outwards to Zone 6 which is on the outskirts of London as far as Heathrow.

Note the following:

• stations at the northern end of the Metropolitan line are outside Greater London and subject to different fares, which are listed at the relevant stations,

• if you are travelling on the Bakerloo line north of Queen’s Park the fare rate is different, but full details are on display at the appropriate stations.

The main types of tickets are detailed below. Many are available at local newsagents as well as underground stations, London Transport travel information centres and some national railway stations.

1. You can purchase a single ticket for each journey separately as you travel. This can prove to be expensive if you travel frequently, although definitely the best bet for the occasional journey.

2. You can buy a return ticket which is exactly the same price as two single tickets to and from your destination. The only advantage to this type of ticket is that you will not have to queue twice.

3. You can purchase a one-day Travelcard if you begin your journey after 09.30. You can complete your journey at any time within the day the ticket is dated and use the ticket as often as you like within the stated zone(s) and date. This is excellent value if you are travelling frequently on one day.

4. Weekend Travelcards are similar to the one-day Travelcard, but allow you to travel on the two weekend days and/or two consecutive days during public holidays.

5. Seven-day Travelcards within specified zones allow as many journeys as you wish within the days and zones. This is a great value ticket for commuters, especially if you are paid weekly.

6. One-month Travelcards within specified zones allow you to travel as often as you wish within the zones stated on the ticket for one month. Take care if you are taking an annual holiday when purchasing such a ticket. The saving is excellent for frequent travellers. Note that most people seem to purchase these types of ticket on the first day of each month, so there can be long queues. They are available from any start date in the month.

7. Three-month Travelcards can be purchased and London Transport will always be willing to price a ticket for a different period. These types of ticket are the least regularly purchased.

8. Annual Travelcards are usually bought by employees of companies which give an interest-free season ticket loan as one of the benefits. It is a great benefit. Your saving will be huge and you only have the hassle once a year of purchasing a ticket. However, you need to make sure you will not be cashing it in. The ‘cash-in price’ is calculated to allow for the fact that you would have been travelling for the expired period of time. Briefly, if you cash-in a one-year ticket after six months you will not receive as much as half of the money back; you will receive the sum paid originally less than the cost of a six-month ticket. This is to stop people buying annual tickets then cashing them in straight away. You can also purchase an annual ‘gold card’ season ticket for an additional sum which gives you extra entitlements.

9. Carnet tickets are available in books of ten tickets. These can be bought in advance for travel within Zone 1 only. They represent a large saving on the purchase on ten standard single tickets within the zone.

10. Family Travelcards and group day tickets (for groups over ten) are also available.

11. Discounts are available for children and teenagers up to 17 years old, and 18-24-year-olds participating in the ‘New Deal’ programme can obtain a leaflet from the Employment Services which will allow discounts.

In order to purchase a Travelcard of seven days or more you will need to get a photocard which has to be kept with the ticket at all times. These are available with:

• passport photograph and resident details,

• a completed application form - available at your local underground station.