Mizter T wrote:

From BBC news online http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/england/london/6316245.stm

----------
Train firms to adopt Oyster cards

Train operators have agreed to introduce Oyster cards in London after
accepting a £20m grant from the mayor.
(snip)
----------

Wow - looks like the Mayor's risky brinkmanship has paid off.[...]
(snip)


It seems like the train companies haven't said an unequivocal yes to
Oyster Pay-as-you-go yet! The BBC story linked to above has
subsequently been updated to include this comment from Mayor Ken:

-----
Mayor of London Ken Livingstone said: "This is a step in the right
direction, however there is some way to go before an agreement is
reached.

"Transport for London will work with the companies over the next two
months to try to resolve outstanding issues."
-----

The comments above are taken from a statement released today by the
Mayor, the full text of which can be read on the TfL website he
http://www.tfl.gov.uk/tfl/press-cent...ress-releases-
content.asp?prID=1051
or via http://tinyurl.com/2ybc3j

ATOC has also released an interesting statement which outlines their
position on implementing Oyster Pay-as-you-go, including their
concerns - it can be read he
http://www.atoc-comms.org/atocstory.asp?
abstractorder=&toc=&category=&File_reference=83025 6
or via http://tinyurl.com/yvmrfg


The TfL statement confirms recent comments made here on utl that
Southern and Southeastern TOCs (both run by Govia) in particular have
concerns. The ATOC statement fleshes out some of those concerns -
alongside concerns about the extra processing needed to run the Oyster
PAYG system they also have concerns that Oyster PAYG might help to
assist fare evasion (I can see potential issues about short ticket
fraud for example). ATOC also suggest that smartcard ticketing ideally
needs ticket gates at all stations and points out that in contrast to
LU's network which is comprehensively gated, only 70 National Rail
stations in the capital have gates whilst the other 260 don't.

Nonetheless ATOC's statement does state that "These issues can be
overcome [...]".

It seems that in response to the Mayor's offer, on the deadline day
the TOCs have managed to say "yes, but..." - nonetheless this is
progress. Interesting times lie ahead.