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London Transport (uk.transport.london) Discussion of all forms of transport in London. |
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On Fri, 16 Mar 2007 19:06:34 +0000, Edward Cowling London UK
wrote: In message , David of Broadway writes Edward Cowling London UK wrote: In message , Richard J. writes The problem is that despite raising the congestion charge and enlarging the area, all most of us can see from Ken in the way of transport improvement is buses.... buses the numbers of which even God hasn't seen before :-) Then Ken made it 2 quid to get on them ! Don't be silly; it's £1 with Oyster. I know it's away from the thread, but I really think Oyster isn't the solution for many people who Ken should be helping. The out of work off to the odd interview, granny on a special trip.... they just aren't catered for, and of course it can hit tourists hard if they aren't prepared for it. Prepared for what? I had no trouble obtaining an Oyster card at Heathrow. And I can't understand why anyone who lives in the London area or ever visits the London area wouldn't have an Oyster card. Can you name the Paris Metro similar system ? Please note these responses are from memory and I have not checked websites. Mobilis is the day ticket. Carnet is for more occasional users. They have not yet implemented a PAYG system but seasons are on Smartcard. If you want to be ripped off you can buy a Paris Visite - just like the way we used to rip off tourists with Visitor Travelcards. I don't recall people howling about how unfair that was and how discriminatory it was given the accusations placed against Oyster. Are you aware where you buy it ? Every SNCF and RATP station in Paris system will sell a Mobilis, every RATP station will sell a Carnet and you can buy Paris Visite at Waterloo Eurostar if you want. You used to be able to buy on the train but I think that's been stopped now. How about New York, Metrocard - either in a PAYG type format but with an effective % discount or unlimited rides over a fixed time period. All Subway stations with a manned ticket booth sell them as a minimum. There may be other outlets but it's been years since I've been to NYC. until the yanks stop treating all visitors as potential criminals and terrorists it will be a long time before I visit again despite the fact I love the city. or maybe Moscow ? Never been and never checked. From memory there used to be tokens in use but I understand a smartcard system has been installed on the Moscow Metro. Representatives came across to see London's early smartcard trials at Harrow and were very impressed. Singapore is the EZ Pass and I have one in my wallet. Hong Kong is Octopus and I held one of those cards for years and years until the card regrettably failed on my penultimate journey on my last visit there. None of this is remotely difficult to deal with or understand. Just about every guide book I have ever bought has a decent section on local public transport and tickets and my Rough Guide to London (2003 edition so before Oyster) has a good, clear explanation of ticketing options available then. I imagine it deals with Oyster in the same way in the latest edition. I think you're being a might near sighted about this. I'm sure a great many tourists arrive here without a clue about Oyster and (to their mind) get ripped off for expensive fares. As Mr Jelf will vouch a great many tourists are so terrified by the mere thought of going anywhere by public transport that they never travel by tube or by bus. Personally I think they are missing out hugely but obviously you are routinely raped, attacked and assaulted every time you go within ½ a mile of a bus stop or tube platform ;-) As for the rest many people are in possession of brains and do suitable research in advance of arrival - as I do when I visit somewhere else. This group provides a decent amount of informal advice on exactly this subject. TfL are taking additional steps to improve the availability of Oyster based travel to visitors and I'm sure it will be just as good as it was when the old network of agents were tasked with flogging overpriced Visitor Travelcards. Usually my first purchase on arrival is a ride at will ticket that gives me freedom and flexibility to go as I please. I have never encountered a problem with doing this anywhere in the world. Ken needs to stop inflating cash paid fares and return to the old system that worked well since.... well forever ! Which is simply not going to happen. There will be no return to the old system although I imagine differentials may moderate once Oyster is available on all modes across all of London and take up rates on Oyster are very high. -- Paul C Admits to working for London Underground! |
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