"Mizter T" wrote ...
The eventual outcome will almost certainly be that all fares totally
within
the zones will be based on the TfL system, and at a common price;
journeys
reaching outside the zones will continue as now - and, either way, the
Railway_Clearing_House's successors will continue to divide the spondulux
successfully they have continuously since 1842 on the national network.

Wow, Andrew - you do so love bringing a confident sense of certainty
when there's no real justification for it, and hence you end up making
wrongheaded assumptions or jumping to simplistic conclusions.

Re the idea that "all fares within the zones will be based on the TfL
system" - in actual fact there's been some evidence to suggest that
when Oyster PAYG is accepted across NR in London, the farescale
adopted for single fares will be exactly the same as that which
currently applies to NR in London (which is now uniform across all
TOCs for journeys within the zones) - in other words Oyster PAYG won't
offer a straightforward price advantage over buying paper tickets, and
it will be more expensive than Tube PAYG fares.

Snippy!
I've as much right to speculate as you, and have no less evidence to back it
up (ie none).
The key words are "eventual outcome" - not what is now, and not what
temporary compromises may be reached shortly; ultimately, the re-issuing of
franchises will allow for a long term solution, and in Southern's case,
probably the one after next.

I'll take a bet with you that once the dust settles, fares *entirely within
London's zonal area* become flat rate, zone-based fares, and the same on
train / LOROL / Tube. Because it's clearly the most sensible, least
confusing, and, if Oyster is to work (2012 etc), the only way to avoid never
ending complaints of being overcharged.

The one exception to the above that is conceivable (long term, still), is
overground fares being higher than tube; it would be stupid, and unfair of
those south of the river, but if they need a stupid compromise to silence
ATOC (often the way, sadly), that could be it. But still uniform, zone
based - because it makes sense.

ATOC doesn't want it, the TOCs won't care (it'll be costed into franchise),
but passengers will gain; it will be transparent.

I envisage no advantage to PAYG, paper tickets or anything else; just one
system for Londoners on London's trains.

And it has to happen sooner or later for LOROL to function properly.

£1.00 ?
--

Andrew

"She plays the tuba.
It is the only instrument capable
of imitating a distress call."