London Banter - View Single Post - BAA & HEX/CONnect Cash In On Tube Line Closure

Graeme[_2_] · March 8th 10, 10:51 AM posted to uk.railway,uk.transport.london

In message
d wrote:

On Sun, 7 Mar 2010 13:13:51 -0800 (PST) Mizter T
wrote:
Bingo - CJB, you do so love trotting out a BAA-bashing post each time a
part of the Piccadilly line is closed 'out west' (i.e. somewhere twixt
central London and Heathrow).

When arrangements were made for HEx and Heathrow Connect (HC) to accept
z1-6 Travelcards - and later any Oyster card (merely on sight) - then the
fact that HEx and HC tickets continued to be sold was proof of rip-off
Britain in your eyes. Now that there's no such arrangement, it's also
proof of rip-off Britain in your eyes.

The heathrow services are part of the london rail network. Theres no reason
for them NOT to accept travelcards other than the fact they're given
special treatment for reasons no doubt involving brown envelopes down at
whitehall.

They are not part of the London rail network, they are owned by BAA. So
there is every reason not to accept travelcards because they don't get any
income from them.

The only reason they can still charge extortionate fares is because there
are enough mugs willing to pay them.

It's called market forces.

Why anyone would pay 15 odd quid to be dumped at paddington is a mystery to
me.

So what? Nobody is making you use it. Enough people find it useful to make
it a viable service.

--
Graeme Wall

This address not read, substitute trains for rail
Transport Miscellany at www.greywall.demon.co.uk/rail
Photo galleries at http://graeme-wall.fotopic.net/