On Mon, 14 Jun 2004 20:03:45 +0100, Roland Perry
wrote:

Just because tfl decided to go for Oystercards
doesn't mean the TOCs should be forced to as well.

So why are they installed at Ealing Broadway - a NR-TOC operated
station?

It would be bonkers for there not to be a form of oyster card validation
at Ealing Broadway which is served by 2 Underground lines. Given the
high revenue base at Ealing Broadway it made sense for Thames Trains to
contribute to the cost [1] as they would derive business benefit from
the gates as would LUL in that the Prestige project / Oyster would work
more effectively.

There are a number of TOCs who have voluntarily installed gates because
they saw the success that LUL derived from them. I was personally
involved in persuading the directors from Prism that gates would make
sense on the LTS line. It is nice to see that they took my advice and
that National Express have not removed them. So in other words - blame
me for the onward march of ticket gates :-)

[1] that was certainly the intent when I left the project. Whether an
agreement was eventually reached I do not know.
--
Paul C


Admits to working for London Underground!