Mizter T wrote

I would assume that there is a set amount that must then go into the
'Travelcard pot' (for later sharing out) from each outboundary TC
purchase
though - but how much that is will surely be a commercially
confidential bit
of information.

As I recall previous discussion, it's more complex than that.

The TOC that sells a TC also gets to keep a proportion of the price.
This was revealed when there was an accounting scam whereby the correct
number of TCs was reported but it was pretended they had been bought at
a station that gave a bigger cut - because it had no tube station ?

However one thing I would say is that whilst outboundary Travelcard
prices
from stations not far beyond the zonal boundary (such as Bat & Ball
and
Sevenoaks) are often something of a considerable jump up from the
inboundary
price (i.e. just zones 1-6), at quick glance it doesn't appear that
any of
these add-ons is more than the cost of an (inboundary) z1&2 Day
Travelcard.

As I have previously noted, in SWT land it can be worthwhile to buy a
return to a Z6 station plus a inboundary 1-6 ODTC thus avoiding the
evening peak restriction at a very samll premium to the SOP with that
restriction.

W-O-T with Super Off-Peak ODTC £11.00 (7.25)
W-O-T to Surbiton Off-peak return plus ODTC @7.50 £11.85 (7.90)
W-O-T with Off-Peak ODTC £13.80 (9.10)


And to answer the question "is Oyster PAYG always cheaper"

a paper ticket is certainly cheaper is when you make only one trip all
day, it's in the evening peak, and you get a gold card or Railcard 1/3
discount.

Surbiton [National Rail] to Waterloo £4.90 Oyster, £5.00 Anytime
single, ~£3.80 with gold card or Railcard.


--
Mike D