On 1 Jan 2007 15:17:08 -0800, "SamB" wrote:

Sorry to bring this topic up yet again! Have been out of the country
and therefore a bit out of the loop.

I know that there were all the problems with KXT, and not being London
Terminals from the south, etc etc. I also read that, in January, it
*would* be classed as London Terminals. When does this start? From 2nd,
I assume?

Not quite correct I'm afraid. The change does apply from today. The fare
to each station in Zone 1 will be the same from say Haywards Heath.
However you must purchase a ticket to your destination station and
cannot use it to a station further on even if the fare is the same. For
example a ticket issued to Farringdon cannot be used to Kings Cross
Thameslink even though the fare will be the same. If you did travel
beyond Farringdon and encountered a ticket inspection you would be
subject to an excess / penalty fare (I don't know if Penalty Fares
operate on Thameslink or not).

This was the explanation provided by Barry Doe in Rail magazine. IMO
it's a rather nasty and deceptive tactic by FCC - why on earth they have
made things more complicated than before rather than give passengers
what would be convenient I do not know. They will have to do so
eventually when full zonal fares integration arrives and they have to
adopt PAYG.
--
Paul C


Admits to working for London Underground!