London Banter - View Single Post - So much for the Oyster Revolution in London

Mizter T · January 10th 07, 10:00 PM posted to uk.transport.london

wrote:

Not every Londoner as a underground near them so they use a Overground
which don't take Oyster card pay as you go so we don't save on the cost
of one-day travel with a Oyster card pay as you go,we have to use Cash
fares.
So much for the Oyster Revolution in London

The Mayor currently has no powers to compel the National Rail train
companies - i.e. the companies that operate overground trains - to
accept Oyster Pay-as-you-go (PAYG) on their services. He is trying to
cagoule them into accepting Oyster PAYG but he can't force them to.

However when each train company's franchise (i.e. contract) finishes,
there will then be a new franchise - and as part of this new franchise
between the train company and central government (the Department for
Transport), the train company will be compelled to accept Oyster PAYG.
Indeed South West Trains has just been awarded a new franchise, and
this compels them to offer Oyster PAYG on their routes, though
unfortunately not until 2009. I think it's quite possible that they'll
offer it earlier.

In other words, in time all train companies will have to accept Oyster
PAYG. It is indeed most annoying that they don't yet do so, but to be
fair to the Mayor and TfL it is not for want of them trying - blame the
train companies, and blame the Department for Transport.

People who don't live near Underground stations can nonetheless take
part in the "Oyster Revolution" by using Oyster PAYG to pay for their
bus fares - the saving is considerable, as on Oyster bus fares are only
£1 - half the cash fare of £2 - and if you make several journeys on
buses during the day the daily price capping system means you'll pay a
maximum of £3, which is cheaper than the £3.50 cost of a paper
one-day bus pass.

Of course if you are going to be using National Rail (the overground)
during your days travelling then it will probably work out cheaper for
you to buy a Day Travelcard. That's just how it is at the moment.

If you wish to complain about it, the best people to write to would be
your local MP (if you live in London), to the Department for Transport
and to your local train company.

Like any revolution, the Oyster Revolution has encountered some
opposition from those wedded to the old ways - in this case the train
companies - but it seems that eventually they'll be won over too.