Ken to cut tube fares...

[Deerfold]

Anyway, these Oyster Cards are all very well, but they're only any use if you live there, or work or visit frequently; if you just visit from time to time you have to either go down to the Tube station (at midnight) to get a £6-something travelcard, since Mayor Boris seems to have scrapped the useful Bus pass; that or pay £1.30 for a couple of stops on a Bus; and then you can't just hop on the first bus that comes along, oh now, you have to get a Ticket from a machine on the pavement, since that's so much quicker, more convenient and more efficient.

I think getting rid of the bus pass was a bad move but there's still the bus-only cap on Oyster - and if you're getting a £6 traevlcard instead you'd only need to do it a couple fo times before Oyster was cheaper.

I think Oyster is generally only not worth getting if you're only staying a day (perhaps 2) and you're never coming back.

Getting a ticket from a machine on the pavement is quicker, more convenient and more efficient for the people already on the bus so they don't have to wait for you and the driver to perform a cash transaction. You can pay on the bus outside Central London but most people don't try to as they'd rather have the cheaper fares.

 

[Metrailway]

If it is so awesome, incidentally, how come, every single day, some part of the Choob breaks down somewhere, though?

Just like NR which fails within London everyday? :roll:

And why does each new Mayor decide that what London needs is his idea for a New Bus for London, thousands of which are introduced at the generosity of the taxpayer, and then replaced with something else when the next Mayor comes in?

'Each new Mayor'??? There only has been two Mayors of London so far, Boris and Ken. I don't think Ken has suggested that he will replace the Boris's Routemaster with another bus. Boris's brain child of the new bus has lead to major cutbacks in spending in other parts of TfL.

 

[Schnellzug]

I think you might be a tad over critical here!

I only visit London once or twice a year, yet I have a PAYG Oyster that I haven't needed to top up yet! I find it very convenient for my purposes, though I may not be so keen if it didn't provide such a saving on the cash fares!

Have you really? I wouldn't have the faintest idea how to get hold of one.

 

[Greenback]

Well, I ordered it online before my trip (I think it was in 2008) and it was sent out by post. I've registered it online and I can check my journey history.

I believe you can get an Oyster card by other means as well though.

 

[Schnellzug]

'Each new Mayor'??? There only has been two Mayors of London so far, Boris and Ken.

Yes, round and round and round they go ....

I don't think Ken has suggested that he will replace the Boris's Routemaster with another bus. Boris's brain child of the new bus has lead to major cutbacks in spending in other parts of TfL.

Ken, before coming into office: "Anyone who wants to get rid of the Routemaster must be a ghastly dehumanised moron."
Ken, after coming into office "The Routemaster is outdated and Unsafe." And replaces it with artics, which, while quality vehicles in and of themselves, were simply way too long and had far too few seats for the job they were used for. So along comes Boris. Bendies must go; and instead, what muist he have? Regular standard doubledeckers? They're not nearly good enough for the conditions of London. We must design something completely new from scratch.
So what do you reckon ken would do, should he come back once again? do you think he be keen to look down on fleets of Borismasters cruising past, the brainchild of his predecessor? That's not how Politicians' minds usually work.

 

[Zoe]

Ken, before coming into office: "Anyone who wants to get rid of the Routemaster must be a ghastly dehumanised moron."

To be fair there wasn't much Ken could do as the routemaster didn't have disabled access.

 

[ainsworth74]

Have you really? I wouldn't have the faintest idea how to get hold of one.

See here and you want the Pay as you go option. I got mine a few weeks ago arrived about 3-4 days after I ordered it and so far I've only used it on one trip but seeing as it only costs when I travel I thought I might as well have one lying around the place for the odd trip to London.

 

[Mojo]

Ken didn't get rid of the Routemaster - he kept it on two heritage routes where they belong.

You can get hold of an Oyster card from the ticket office at all LU and Overground, plus some NR stations. You can get them from ticket machines at over 95% of LU-managed stations, from ticket stops or from TfL Travel Information Centres. They can also be purchased online and a number of other outlets sell them such as some airlines.

They are not useful only if you live in London or if you visit frequently. They can save time for anyone who doesn't have to go to the ticket office or machine every time they arrive.

 

[HSTEd]

They are not useful only if you live in London or if you visit frequently. They can save time for anyone who doesn't have to go to the ticket office or machine every time they arrive.

I dont like spending 45 minutes in the ticket office queue at London Euston or Kings Cross St Pancras

 

[Deerfold]

I dont like spending 45 minutes in the ticket office queue at London Euston or Kings Cross St Pancras

Once. And then save time on every subsequent vist.

And as pointed out you can get them on line in advance.
--- old post above --- --- new post below ---

Have you really? I wouldn't have the faintest idea how to get hold of one.

Ask at a ticket office?

Google?

Look at the TfL website?

It's not rocket science...

 

[Mojo]

If you don't want to queue in the ticket office queue then how do you propose buying a magnetic ticket? You can get them from the Poms but you can also buy Oyster cards from the Poms. In any case ticket office queues are not 45 Min long.

 

[HSTEd]

I am in support of Oyster Cards, I use PRIV tickets so I have to go to the ticket office every single time, and Euston at peak sometimes its hard to even get into the underground statino because of the crowds.

I am now trying to fill out the paperwork to get me a PRIV oyster

 

[jon0844]

To be fair there wasn't much Ken could do as the routemaster didn't have disabled access.

True, so he shouldn't have said anything without having checked first.

The bendy buses were bad, in London, and they'll be fine elsewhere I'm sure. The 73 is a lot better, even though they're not actually new buses (at least none of the ones I've been on so far have been - they're circa 2003). Still better though.

I doubt very much anything will need to change come the next change of mayor bus wise. I do agree that the new bus design is a bit of a waste of money (many modern double deckers are just fine) though.

Also, even at King's Cross St Pancras after a Eurostar or two have arrived, the queues won't mean waiting 45 minutes. I've queued for a long time (and 10 minutes feels like a LONG time) at many stations, but never 45 minutes! I doubt that's possible as the ticket offices are pretty well staffed.

 

[Deerfold]

True, so he shouldn't have said anything without having checked first.

The bendy buses were bad, in London, and they'll be fine elsewhere I'm sure. The 73 is a lot better, even though they're not actually new buses (at least none of the ones I've been on so far have been - they're circa 2003). Still better though.

The contract calls for new buses (20 Hybrid, 31 Diesel). It's possible they've been late arriving though as it's only 3 weeks since the change.

I only found a few places poor for the buses - usually where there were traffic lights with short timings and a couple of tight turns.

I doubt very much anything will need to change come the next change of mayor bus wise. I do agree that the new bus design is a bit of a waste of money (many modern double deckers are just fine) though.

A huge waste of money in my opinion.

 

[455driver]

Have you really? I wouldn't have the faintest idea how to get hold of one.

Go to any Underground ticket office with some money and ask for 1, hand over the money and they give you the PAYG Oyster.

It took me about 3 minutes when I got mine.

It can also be done on-line as well but its easy at the ticket office (as long as its LU).
Some NR stations do them as well.

 

[Rational Plan]

Oh Kens cut in fares was not to be paid for by tax increases. It was for a massive increase in bonds issued on the debt market to build a new crossrail line and use some of the money to lower fares. Yes that's right borrowing money to reduce income.

But he has also been spraying around spending promises all over town. Musing that he oppose expanding Euston for HS2, that there should be a new line cross london, with long distance services going to other cities. Apart from the many billions extra that would cost, where are the spare paths on the rest of the Network.

Also he was promising a new orbital tram network for North London.

That's a lot of borrowing, looks great for the next five years, but who has to pay the debt service on that.

 

[jon0844]

He would surely be too old to stand again after the next term? And then it hardly matters about the bill.

I used to have respect for him but no more.