On Sun, 05 Nov 2006 22:08:05 GMT, David of Broadway
wrote:

Paul Corfield wrote:

Do you know what particularly about Oyster they are watching closely? I
can't imagine it is the smartcard element as that is proven in many
places and they already have experience of key elements of such a system
via the magnetic Metrocard installation.

I can't say exactly, but NYCT has only just gotten into the smartcard
world with a pilot program on a single subway line. The MetroCard
program will be phased out.

Phased out? - really? That's a very big step given how relatively new
the Metrocard system is. I can see why they may wish to remove the need
to collect / recycle old Metrocards as that must be a management
nightmare but that's a big investment to make.

[snip]

And, as I've pointed out, a traveler following the rules to the letter
can still get hit with the penalty charge, or even two on a single trip!
Fix those glitches and I'd be much less critical of the charge.

If they follow the rules I don't see how they get hit.

I've already explained how. If a trip takes longer than the Oyster
system expects it to take, it will time out, splitting a single trip
into two unconnected trips, one with no beginning and one with no end.
That's a double penalty right there.

You keep repeating this but the odds of it happening are extremely
remote and if it did occur it would be the result of some awful system
failure / accident / line closure. There are system facilities that can
automatically deal with these situations. If you think about it there
have to be such facilities.

Anyone
encountering a problem with validation due to equipment failure or
emergency evacuation will be treated sympathetically and would have the
£4 adjusted away.

Not by the station staff!

Yes by the station staff. This is clearly stated in the official
internal training material.

If they follow the rules then they would otherwise
have touched in and out properly and thus there would be no risk of
overcharging or missed caps.

If only that were the case!

Let's just agree to disagree on this as you clearly won't be convinced
by anything I might say.
--
Paul C


Admits to working for London Underground!