What is the difference between an oyster card and travel card?

The website says that an oyster card is generally a cheaper way to travel, but I don't understand, does using an oyster card give you a discount on prices? And what is up with the maximum journey times allowed? How long does a 'long' trip take, because getting charged extra would be a waste of money. What is the maximum price cap all about and being charged for peak hours and off peak cap if your journey is less than the peak hours? I will be living there for about 3 months, studying abroad.What is the difference between an oyster card and travel card?This is oyster card http://www.tfl.gov.uk/resources/corporat鈥?/a>



and these are travel cards http://gallery.hd.org/_exhibits/travel/_鈥?/a>



The Oyster card is a form of electronic ticketing used on public transport services within the Greater London area of the United Kingdom. It is promoted by Transport for London and is valid on a number of different travel systems across London including London Underground, buses, the Docklands Light Railway (DLR), London Overground, trams, some river boat services and most National Rail services within the London Fare Zones.

A standard Oyster card is a blue credit-card-sized stored value card which can hold a variety of single tickets, period tickets and travel permits which must be added to the card prior to travel. It is also a contactless smartcard which passengers must touch onto electronic reader when entering and leaving the transport system in order to validate it or deduct funds. The cards may be "recharged" in person from numerous sales points, by recurring payment authority or by online purchase. The card is designed to reduce the number of transactions at ticket offices and the number of single paper tickets sold on the London transport network. Usage is encouraged by offering substantially cheaper fares on Oyster than payment with cash.[1]

The card was first issued to the public in July 2003 with a limited range of features and there continues to be a phased introduction of further functions. By March 2007 over 10 million Oyster cards had been issued,[2] and more than 80% of all journeys on services run by Transport for London used the Oyster card.[3]



http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Oyster_card



The Travelcard is an inter-modal travel ticket for unlimited use on the London Underground, London Overground, Docklands Light Railway, Tramlink, London Buses and National Rail services in the Greater London area.[1] Travelcards can be purchased for a period of time varying from one day to a year, from Transport for London, National Rail and their agents. Depending on where it is purchased, and the length of validity, a Travelcard is either printed on a paper ticket with a magnetic stripe or encoded onto a reusable contactless electronic smart card, known as an Oyster card. The cost of a Travelcard is determined by the area it covers and, for this purpose, London is divided into a number of fare zones. The Travelcard season ticket for unlimited travel on London Buses and the London Underground was launched on 22 May 1983 by London Transport.[2][3] One Day Travelcards and validity on other transport modes were added from 1984 onwards. The introduction of the Travelcard caused an increase in patronage and reduced the number of tickets that needed to be purchased by passengers.



http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/TravelcardWhat is the difference between an oyster card and travel card?Travel cards were 1,2 or 3 day cards that gave you unlimited travel. When Oyster Cards were introduced some people were afraid that they would end up costing more than using travel cards. To reassure people there were safegaurds built in so that the Oyster Card would stop charging so that it is less than a travel card.



The city was greatly invested in getting most people to use Oyster Cards since it greatly speeds up transit since people are not waiting in line to purchase tickets. They made it by far the cheapest way to travel. Just buy the Oyster Card, and charge it up, and don't worry about it, when you leave you can keep it or sell it back.