On Jan 23, 8:36*pm, (Neil Williams)
wrote:
On Wed, 23 Jan 2008 19:34:24 +0000, James Farrar

wrote:
Probably the latter, going off past experiences (admittedly a few
years ago now). The train companies in general have always seemed
reluctant to implement any initiative that comes from London.

Because those initiatives benefit London, and not always other
passengers.

As an example, since Oyster PAYG became valid on London Midland
"mainline", the 1824 EUS-Northampton has become decidedly busier than
it was before. *Presumably the PAYG users were previously using the
Bakerloo to Harrow and Wealdstone.

Neil

Maybe, but Oyster PAYG has been valid on Euston - Harrow & Wealdstone
since it was introduced, both fast trains and the DC trains. This was
because the DC lines and the Bakerloo had both National Rail and LUL
fares available from inception (more or less) and there has been no
distinction between the fast and slow trains in recent times. This is
the reason for the Oyster readers on Platforms 16-18 at Euston, which
were introduced in Silverlink times. Harrow & Wealdstone also had the
Oyster readers on the footbridge, but none on the fast platforms
themselves.

The recent change has been the extension of PAYG to Bushey (from the
start of the London Overground concession) and Watford Junction
(shortly after the franchise changes). I don't see that PAYG has made
services any busier, more likely that the services are becoming busier
anyway, maybe due to timetable changes. Did the 18.24 always stop at
Harrow?