London Banter - View Single Post - Oyster incomplete journeys

Earl Purple · October 30th 06, 11:32 AM posted to uk.transport.london

wrote:
MIG wrote:
Why, when standing in a huge queue for a machine that turns out not to
work while the ticket office is closed, do I have to read notices
gleefully telling me how much I will have to pay if I get "caught"
without a ticket?

This is something you really want to write to the company about, and in
fact i'd urge you to. Ticket office open times have been cut a lot
lately, and this is said to be in reaction to the fact most people now
use Oyster, which can be topped up online, by phone, or of course the
machines or ticket office when available.

Probably they think it is more profitable not to have to pay a member
of staff at a ticket office than the amount they may lose by the
occasional free-rider.

The same applies to putting any kind of gates at the stations - there
has to be a member of staff there who is able to open the gate in case
of a problem. They cannot lock passengers in (or expect them to jump
over the gate).

Unfortunately it doesn't work for everyone, as you've illustrated
above, so help us fight for better ticket office times by writing in!

Actually I would quite like to see an option to by tickets from your
mobile. Just imagine how flexible that could be.