On Thu, 10 Feb 2005 23:48:10 -0000, "Graham J"
wrote:


Having seen some of the training materials today and looked through the
wide range of examples of how it will work your statement is broadly
correct.

Hopefully the Tramlink problem has been solved. At the moment they expect
you to touch in before every leg of a tram journey on Oyster even though the
paper ticket allows you to change trams.

I don't know if this has changed but I imagine that there is something
built in to the system that requires the additional validation to
recognise the second leg as all one journey rather than two which the
system might do if you exceed a time limit. I'm just guessing here so
don't hold me to it or write lots of challenging follow up questions!

It is stated in the TfL Board agenda papers for 9/2/05 that the DfT have
decreed that TfL zonal fares will apply to all NR journeys within the
zonal area by 2007. Implementation will be on a TOC by TOC basis
between now and 2007. Pre-pay will be part of the roll out of this
policy.

Interesting. Could have sworn it was only today I was reading how the TOCs
weren't playing ball. I would have thought since it was clear that it was
going to happen anyway sooner or later that the TOCs might have been better
off getting involved as soon as they could. Better to be seen to be a
willing and enthusiastic partner if you want influence.

I agree with your final remark but my experience of trying to drag ATOC
to the table in the early days of developing Prestige says that the
opposite is true. Apart from one or two more focused TOCs with long
franchise terms the lack of interest was palpable. All they were worried
about was cost and revenue - will LUL pay all their costs and will LUL
cover any and all revenue loss. Stuff whether it would bring business
benefits like reduced fraud, usage information, revenue growth from
making travel more convenient. It was very, very difficult.

I think the fact that the SRA is going and DfT is taking over provides
the context for this. Ken won the election for Labour, he wants more
influence over transport and to make Oyster work for him as part of
making transport in London more effective. Part of the payback is DfT
instructing the TOCs to participate - there appears to be a form of
revenue sharing arrangement which will deal with TOC concerns over
revenue losses as fares will, in part, be cut for a reasonable
proportion of passengers who will be able to take advantage of pre-pay
and capping once the system gets expanded.
--
Paul C


Admits to working for London Underground!