On Mon, 14 Jun 2004 11:40:48 +0100, Roland Perry
wrote:

In message , Dave Liney
writes
Why didn't someone make it a condition of national rails TOCs operating
within the Oyster area that they accept Oyster single tickets?

You cannot impose conditions like that. The regulatory regime and
structure of agreements established as part of privatisation do not
allow for unilateral action by TfL.

Oyster post-dates most of the TOCs in the London area.

But most contracts have clauses allowing for changes to be imposed
later.

Sorry but no they do not. Not in respect of ticketing technology or
Travelcard which are covered by National Agreements or ATOC schemes.

I should know as I was involved in the early attempts to get the TOCs to
be even vaguely interested in what LT was doing at the time. Believe me
it was an easy task.

(In any event, does Oyster really post-date the change from Thames
Trains to GW Link?)

After all, they accept Oyster Travelcards, so what's the fundamental
difference?

The revenue allocation is the fundamental difference. There is no
obligation whatsoever for a TOC to accept TfL pricing on parallel routes
except in those cases where it has been established for many, many years
(e.g. LTS / District Line). If a TOC agrees to accept the LUL fare
regime then there will be compensatory payments made to the TOC because
prima facie they will earn less revenue than originally predicted under
their franchise. The balancing aspect is to assess how much additional
usage will arise from an effective cut in fares and the greater ease of
use of the rail system. This is obviously open for extensive debate
between the TOC, SRA and TfL.

Oyster Travelcards are the same price as paper travelcards just using a
different medium. Oyster single tickets are priced differently.

And someone has to fund the cost of 2003 fares levels and weekend caps.

And that's the *tourist's* problem? Perhaps Ealing Broadway should have
signs on the gates saying that Oyster pre-pay isn't valid on National
Rail, only the Underground.

No of course it is not the tourist's problem - there should be adequate
information to make sure are aware of what ticket works where.
--
Paul C


Admits to working for London Underground!