"D DB 90001" wrote ...
Southern have stated previously that they didn't want to make the
fares the same as TfL zonal fares, and I believe they were considering
having different single fares for the South London TOCs, especially
SWT which was refusing to accept oyster at all unless the condition of
them being able to set different fares was met, hence the slow take-up
of Oyster in SWT-land. Not to mention SWT's own brand of smartcard
which is being rolled out soon.
I hope that they drop the argument that fares should be independent,
because this complicates issues further if they don't follow the same
fares as TfL has set in North London for Tube, NR and combinations.

Don't worry about Southern; fine company though they are, they are in the
tail end of a franchise, and won't do anything to take financial risks at
this stage. Things will change with the new owner (hopefully Southern!),
because it'll be written in....

.... hopefully better than SWT, who had a franchise commitment to be ITSO
compliant, AND accept Oyster. While ITSO and Oyster remain incompatible
(though I hear rumours that progress is being made). SWT's predicament is
one reason I'm confident of a sensible solution (eventually). Although they
cocked it up, there was a serious attempt to write it into contract that the
TOC would be sensible. Shame about the loopholes, as Mr Souter loves 'em!
--

Andrew

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