On Feb 16, 6:27*pm, Paul Corfield wrote:
On Tue, 16 Feb 2010 05:04:35 -0800 (PST), Mizter T
wrote:







On Feb 16, 10:40*am, Neil *Williams wrote:

On Feb 16, 11:34*am, MIG wrote:

It turned out that a punter who was travelling from Euston to Watford
on a zone 1 - 9 travelcard season stored on Oyster was being told that
he was technically without a valid ticket because it hadn't registered
a touch at Euston. *(He wasn't actually PFed or anything.)

If it was a 1-9 Travelcard, the PFI was right, because Watford
Junction is not in Zone 9, it's in a special non-Travelcard zone.
Thus, he'd have had to register a touch in (and possibly an OEP?) to
pay the PAYG amount that would be due on top.

Correct. Not sure whether LM would be all that fussed about OEPs,
given that they managed without them until January yet accepted Oyster
PAYG for all possible journeys from Watford Jn and points south
thereof.

I think the entire issue in this debate is about the Z1-9 Travelcard not
being valid at Watford Junction. Without an entry record on the Oyster
card then the passenger will be charged a maximum fare on exit at
Watford as the system will be unable to calculate the add-on.

OEPs are actually required now to Watford Junction so that could be a
secondary issue in the "RPI vs passenger" debate. *I don't disagree with
you about it working OK up to Jan 2010 but the rules changed and London
Midland is a TOC so it's bound by the collective nonsense about OEPs.

Of course, Watford Junction, along with Bushey and Harrow &
Wealdstone, show some of the stupidity of the OEPs, as you don't need
them if travelling on the London Overground services.

If LO, which is still a National Rail operator even if the concession
is awarded differently, can opt out of the OEPs, is there any reason
why London Midland can't ?

I also wonder what the situation on the ground would be with Chiltern
to / from Amersham, as you may not know in advance whether you'll be
catching a Chiltern or Met line service, especially if changing at
Harrow-on-the-Hill.