Who knew this was even possible? (Picture: In Pictures via Getty Images)
Usually while travelling on the London Underground, passengers are trying to reach their destination as quickly as possible.
After all, who would want to spend more time than necessary squashed into a Tube train during rush hour?
But it turns out Transport for London (TfL) is able to issue fines if passengers take too long to tap out.
The London Underground handles up to five million journeys every day – but Oyster cards have set maximum travel times to make sure people don’t take advantage.
This means passengers can’t do more than just travel on the Tube, and if you do take too long you could be fined double the maximum fare.
Make sure you don’t dawdle on the tube! (Picture: Dan Kitwood/Getty Images)
The single fare maximum is up to £9.40 in Zones 1-9 and up to £26.00 beyond Zone 9, including on the Heathrow Express.
Maximum journey times on the London Underground to avoid a fine
Monday to Friday, 4.30am-7pm
Zone 1 only: 1 hour and 30 minutes
Zone 2 only: 1 hour and 30 minutes
Zones 2 to 3: 1 hour and 30 minutes
Zones 1-2: 1 hour and 40 minutes
Zones 1-3: 1 hour and 50 minutes
Zones 1-4 (for journeys across up to five zones within Zones 1-4): 1 hour and 50 minutes
Monday to Friday after 7pm and all day Saturday
Zone 1 only: 1 hour and 40 minutes
Zone 2 only: 1 hour and 40 minutes
Zones 2-3: 1 hour and 40 minutes
Zones 1-2: 1 hour and 50 minutes
Zones 1-3: 2 hours and 5 minutes
Zones 1-4: 2 hours and 5 minutes
Sundays and public holidays
Zone 1 only: 1 hour and 50 minutes
Zone 2 only: 1 hour and 50 minutes
Zones 2-3: 1 hour and 50 minutes
Zones 1-2: 2 hours
Zones 1-3: 2 hours and 15 minutes
Zones 1-4: 2 hours and 15 minutes
You can find further travel times for zones 1-6 on the Transport for London website.
TfL says these journey times are set generously and should only be exceeded under exceptional circumstances – but that passengers will receive an automatic refund if your journey time is out of your control, such as the result of severe delays.
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