In message , at 21:51:38 on Thu, 21 Nov
2013, Mizter T remarked:
As I said earlier, I think CPCs will likely change the ticketing
picture significantly, but they're certainly not some magic solve-all
solve-all I wonder if the Tube sans ticket offices proposal is perhaps
a bit before its time

I think it's about 15 years after its time. City transport networks
need simple, automated ticketing. Ticket offices are for the mainline -
and TBH I see a reduced need for them there as well - better to have
them out showing how to use the machine next time.

The reason why I said that is because contactless cards are still
somewhat new on the scene, and there are still many with a (standard)
UK bank account who don't have them yet. If the 'close the Tube ticket
offices' plan is predicated on widespread CPC usage, then holding a CPC
also needs to be widespread. That said, the picture will inevitably
change over the next year and a half.

For people without a contactless credit card (and last time I was
involved in consumer credit issues it was said that about half the
population was fundamentally un-credit-worthy for whatever reason) then
there's always a pre-pay card.

Here's an article about that actually mentions use on London Underground
(so perhaps that answers my earlier question, unless the author means
buying tickets from a machine):

http://bankinnovation.net/2011/03/tr...at-us-payment-
habits/
--
Roland Perry