In article ,
David Walters wrote:
You already have to enter your Oyster card number so that is covered
but nominating a station could be tricky for an irregular traveller as
I think the gates only remember that kind of thing for a week and you
don't know how long it will take to process the refund.

Sure; but if you make it optional, then those who use the tube at
least weekly, and start or end their trips at a single station -
and I expect that describes most Tube users - then it could be a
win. Probably cheaper for TfL, too.

A ticket machine with a suitable network connection when presented with an
Oyster card could offer the option to query a central database for any
refunds, auto-top-up changes etc. At the gate such a look up would slow
down lots of people but it could probably take 30 seconds without being
a problem at a ticket machine.

This is also true.

I expect there is a big wish list of this
kind of thing somewhere in TfL towers.

Ach, it's just a small matter of programming....

--
Mike Bristow