On Thu, 11 May 2006 14:06:36 +0100, Paul Terry
wrote:

In message , Dave Arquati
writes

Paul Terry wrote:

(TfL abandons plans to add e-payments for parking and goods to
Oyster).
I wonder if that was a sweetener to help get the TOCs onside?

The article via the URL doesn't paint TfL in a very good light as it
implies they are clueless and didn't know what they were trying to
procure. I doubt that is actually true but I can see why a deal was
difficult to put together in a way where the risks were understood and
correctly allocated. Given that almost all the shortlisted consortia
had banks (or similar) involved I would imagine the private sector view
of risk would be very cautious indeed leaving TfL "holding the baby".
That would never get past government.

Would that have really bothered the TOCs?

I'm only guessing, of course, but I imagine they might feel happier
using a product that is purely for travel purposes, rather than
something that is more obviously a "Ken Card" that could be used for a
wide range of purchases.

If I've read the Roger Ford articles properly the TOCs want ITSO
compatibility which they are likely to get eventually. The problem is
that they have to swallow Oyster in the short term.

The commercial exploitation deal seemed to involve the replacement of
the Oyster card base with more powerful *and* ITSO compatible cards.
However that is a risky proposition and I doubt the public sector were
hugely keen to take on this risk without TfL assistance and guarantees
re disruption to passengers during any changeover to the new technology.
It is also not without its technical and fraud risks.

Also, I wonder if there might have been some issue of storage capacity
on Oyster cards? TfL said they only require half the storage capacity
for their own use - hence the possibility of incorporating data for
parking meter charges, etc. But will extending Oyster to the TOCs mean
that some of this spare capacity will be needed for NR use (e.g. linking
with ITSO, if and when it happens).

I'm not sure about how this work as I've never seen the ITSO
requirements. I do know broadly what the Oyster card spec was like at
the initial stage - I've not seen a final one.

I see, incidentally, that ATOC have just appointed a "Director London"
to oversee the introduction of smart-card technology - it didn't take
them long to swallow the bitter pill.

This job was advertised months back - I very nearly applied for it but I
suspect ATOC wouldn't have wanted me and I'm not sure I'm Director
material!
--
Paul C


Admits to working for London Underground!