asdf wrote:
On 23 Mar 2006 04:42:31 -0800, "John B" wrote:

This isn't really a duplication either. I think Chiltern first accepted
it because it doesn't make sense to only allow NR trips between the
Ruislips on PrePay. Now that Wembley Stadium station is increasing in
importance, Chiltern might start accepting PrePay there too (in fact,
they should definitely do so IMO).
They certainly should. Whether they -will- is another question,
especially as their franchise isn't up for renegotiation any time soon.
I suspect any changes would have to involve Ken throwing them some
money...

Chiltern are a fairly enterprising and customer-focused TOC, and given
the level of customer demand for pre-pay, I suspect (though I have no
direct reason to) that the main reason they aren't accepting it there
yet is due to the obstructiveness of ATOC (re ITSO compliance etc).

I also imagine it's difficult to negotiate the fares for these journeys.

Currently, a Standard Day Single from Marylebone to Wembley Stadium is
£2.80. The equivalent TfL PAYG fare is £2.00 offpeak and £2.50 peak. To
accept prepay, one of two things has to happen:

(a) Chiltern accept PAYG as it stands, with TfL negotiating a regular
bulk payment to them based on the number of prepay passengers using the
appropriate services.
TfL's payment will probably exceed the new PAYG revenues because:
- TfL fares are cheaper anyway (for singles)
- Through fares from other Tube destinations incur no additional cost to
the passenger (e.g. Embankment to Wembley Stadium would be the same as
Marylebone to Wembley Stadium, so the additional PAYG revenue for the
latter part of the journey would be even smaller).

(b) TfL and Chiltern agree that PAYG on the relevant services will be
the same (or similar) price as existing paper tickets, meaning that
passengers are confused even further by the fare structure, and that the
capping logic becomes even more complicated (or doesn't apply to the
relevant service).

Having said all that, they've obviously managed to negotiate it for the
Ruislips to Marylebone when no such agreement was in place for paper
tickets.

Incidentally, if/when PAYG is implemented on most rail services in
London, I wonder how the fare income will be distributed - the
Travelcard fare distribution system seems to work fairly well, but TfL
will have extensive data about exactly how much each particular route is
being used by Oyster holders.


--
Dave Arquati
Imperial College, SW7
www.alwaystouchout.com - Transport projects in London