In message , at 12:45:36 on
Tue, 14 Oct 2014, Paul Corfield remarked:
Didn't Southern get Travelcards working on 17th Sept? (So TfL's side of
things must be working OK).

I would hazard a guess that the links between TfL and C2Cs Head office
system (HOPS) is still under test or C2C have decided to "bed down"
their own season ticket launch into London before extending to
Travelcards. Unfortunately TfL is no longer reporting on any
ticketing projects in its Investment reports for 2014/15. I assume
ITSO implementation is now "business as usual" to add in extra TOCs as
the system mods (readers etc) are complete on TfL's estate.

Has anything more emerged about the significance of the 17th Sept date?

Not that I have seen.

There was speculation that Oyster on National Rail launched on the 16th
might have co-incided with the new TSGN franchise starting on the 14th.

Well I can see why there might have been a desire to "celebrate"
something positive at the same time even though it is really a
Southern Railway launch and they're not within TSGN just yet.

My speculation didn't involve Govia getting the franchise, just FCC
dragging their feet at the end of their tenure and everyone waiting for
the new broom to come in and throw some switch that meant CPC (and now
perhaps ITSO-Travelcard the next day) could go from trial to public
rollout.

Clearly, though, the work SR have done will be a help to the wider TSGN
aspirations to extend ITSO and Oyster. I'm assuming the wider Govia
ownership of the companies will ensure the knowledge is shared.

That'll help with any future extensions, yes. As would NatEx winning
TSGN and importing their C2C experience.
--
Roland Perry