In message , asdf
writes
On Mon, 23 Oct 2006 17:35:21 +0100, Paul Corfield wrote:

As others have clearly identified routing is going to be a big issue for
Oyster and I cannot see how a policy of intermediate validation at
interchanges (if people had to change, of course) would work.

Indeed. I think the only workable policy will be the current one - a
fare is defined between each pair of stations, based on the zones
travelled through on the "most direct" route, and that's the fare you
pay, regardless of the route actually taken. (If there are two
similarly direct routes then the benefit of the doubt could be given
and the cheaper fare charged.) If you take a detour via Z1 without
having to pay extra for it, then good luck to you (as no break of
journey is permitted there's no advantage in taking circuitous
routes). If you think you deserve a cheaper journey because you
travelled halfway round London on the NLL, tough.

One of the major selling points of the ELL and NLL upgrades are that
they will reduce the amount of passengers travelling through Zone 1; if
passengers are unable to save money taking circuitous routes, will the
hypothetically more spacious journey be enough?

Goodness
knows how charging is going to work with the push to shift people on to
orbital services and the existence of a premium charge to travel via the
centre!

Is there really such a push? As it is, the NLL and WLL are already as
crowded in the peaks as anything that goes into Z1.
Definitely. I've been to a TfL presentation about it! I would have
thought that Paul C has had a lot more bumph about it too.

--
Paul G
Typing from Barking