On Wed, 26 Nov 2003 18:47:34 +0000, Paul Corfield
wrote:

On Tue, 25 Nov 2003 23:56:36 -0000, "Colin"
wrote:


"Rob" _rjayjaycox_at_nildram_dot_co_dot_uk_nodot wrote in message
. ..

Snip

This sounds correct to me. I have it on good authority, for instance,
that passengers with Oyster at NR stations without readers have been
told to show 'extreme discretion' during the teething period.

Rob

Ah-ha - so it sounds as if TfL have not got full co-operation from all the
TOC's yet. Maybe certain TOCs are holding out to see if TfL will stump up
the cash for the readers?

Well I was involved in talking to the TOCs in the early stages of
Prestige (Oyster). Some like C2C were very keen as they were going gated
anyway. Others were downright hostile. I think the balance may have
tilted a bit given how many are using ticket gates.

TfL cannot afford to pay for equipping all TOC gates and actually has no
obligation to do so except at Joint Stations where the Tube stops as
well. Even there though the discussion will be about mutual benefit
because the TOCs will gain benefits from employing Oyster technology.
The record card (or Inspection Ticket as I called it in the spec) was
always envisaged because there was always the possibility of there being
a station where a Travelcard was valid but where gates would never be
justified - e.g Sudbury Hill and Harrow on the Chiltern Line. There are
LUL / ATOC agreements that govern ticketing technology changes as well
as Travelcard, apportionment and Through Ticketing.

Quite what has been agreed with the TOCs and how it is being funded now
I do not know. I would expect that interesting discussions are going on
given TfL's policies about Overground and also the plan to equate the
fare scales between National Rail and LUL / Docklands (subject to
funding from govt). Once that happens you can expect Oyster and Pre-Pay
in particular to be required London wide using gates or validators (as
installed at certain LUL and all DLR stns).

I have (s*d's law) just noticed my mistake: it's the RPIs who were
advised to show "maximum discretion", I'm sure the faredodgers are
using their discretion already!

Rob