Richard J. wrote:
Jim wrote:

http://www.thisislondon.co.uk/news/articles/13301604


The official announcement (TfL press release) is at
http://www.tfl.gov.uk/tfl/press-rele...a-21-sep.shtml

with details of all the fares at
http://www.tfl.gov.uk/tfl/downloads/...ares-table.pdf


I never realised that for a bus commuter travelling twice a day for the
five working days, Pre-Pay (in both 2004 & 2005) is cheaper than a Bus Pass!

It's interesting that season Travelcard price increases are high for
inner zones but lower for many zones, whereas the opposite seems to be
true for Day Travelcards (up from £5.40 to £6.00 for off peak all zone!).

ISTR there used to be a £4.50 minimum fare for YP Railcard-discounted OP
Day Travelcards - I assume this will increase in 2005 as the cheapest
OPDT is now £4.70.

The zone changes aren't anywhere near as drastic as I thought - just
some fare simplification.

Interestingly, on Pre Pay, single fares from Zones 6 & 4 to Zone 1 have
decreased as a result of the simplification. *However* a whole new range
of complication has been introduced with Pre Pay "peak" & "off peak".

For example, if you're travelling at midday from Z6 to Z1 and back at
5pm, Pre Pay will be more expensive (£7) than a travelcard (£6) - but
travelling out at 12.00 and back at 20.00, Pre Pay will be cheaper (£5.50).

Although this will be confusing for the semi-regular or irregular user,
it could present *significant* savings for people working outside normal
hours (which I guess is the point!). Someone travelling from Z6 to Z1
for work for 07.00 (starting their journey before 06.30) and finishing
at 15.00 (£2 + £3.50) would save £12 off the weekly travelcard price -
some 30%! Obviously this saving would reduce if they made extra
journeys, but leisure journeys at evenings would easily be absorbed (3
return journeys into Z1).

Incidentally, using prepay for a Z6-1 return journey on a 9am-5pm
working day would still result in a £4.50 saving, although this would be
useless if the passenger broke journeys for some reason or make more
than one return leisure trip.

It will be interesting to see if capping extends to seven-day
travelcards as with the new peak/offpeak system it could present
benefits for early starters, late finishers or shift workers.

--
Dave Arquati
Imperial College, SW7
www.alwaystouchout.com - Transport projects in London