London Banter - View Single Post - The Tube Strike

[email protected] · February 5th 14, 11:33 PM posted to uk.transport.london

In article ,
(Paul Corfield) wrote:

On Wed, 05 Feb 2014 06:30:28 -0600,
wrote:

I am bemused by this. Does anyone have the ticket office usage figures
over the last decade? I can't believe they haven't fallen pretty sharply.
And station staffing is going to be maintained as demonstrated on
Overground, just not in booking offices, isn't it?

I don't have access to any detailed numbers but TfL have said the
proportion, taken across the system as a whole, is very low. The
problem, though, is that they have to achieve a step change in their
cost base to deal with the massive cut to revenue grant from the
government. This is compounded by the lower than expected fare
increase this year which obviously will raise less money than planned.
Therefore (IMO) this is a "must win" dispute for TfL or else they are
in dire trouble in a couple of years time. The removal of cash fare
payment on buses is symptomatic of the same funding cuts and need to
cut costs but not services.

There are obviously ticket offices in some places which are
tremendously busy all the time and others which have distinct peaks in
demand. There is a genuine debate to be had as to whether a "one size
fits all" solution is appropriate. The London Assembly Transport
Committee were not in a happy mood this morning about the strike and
the lack of negotiation between the parties. They were also miffed
about there having been no detailed briefing provided to them nor any
consultation. They were demanding that each station has to be
individually reviewed with a full consultation with politicians and
passengers. It'll be interesting to see how or if TfL respond to that
one.

I think there is no doubt that many people don't need to use ticket
offices in the way they used to do. I only use one once a year to buy
an annual ticket but I like to deal with a person who can ensure the
proper discount codes are set and give me a Gold Record Card on the
spot. I can't see how that will be done at a passenger operated
machine.

However it is the awkward, confusing problems like failed Oyster
cards, refunds, registering a card, setting a Railcard discount code,
ticket exchanges that need a human face and trained staff. If you
need a refund of £40 from a surrendered season ticket how is this done
at a passenger ticket machine even if a member of staff has signed on?
Do you get 40 £1 coins rather than 2 £20 notes? I think we all
deserve to understand how all these things will be dealt with in the
future before any one can "sign up" to the new vision of the future
for the Tube.

Totally agree with that. I registered my railcard at Westminster tube last
week and asked how it would be done in future. "Search me" was the reply.
It's about time there were replies to questions like yours before this goes
any further.

--
Colin Rosenstiel