Misleading e-mail from TfL

[MikeWh]

Any idea why the contactless technology that works on every other type of bus isn't fitted to a Routemaster? Surely the Oyster-only readers aren't old enough to be classed as heritage?

The best guess I can make is that contactless relies on the iBus connectivity to pass transactions back to the central system. Would the RMs have iBus fitted?

 

[Be3G]

Yep they do, as they show up on Countdown.

 

[button_boxer]

Yep they do, as they show up on Countdown.

But the conductor's hand-held machine is presumably not tied into the iBus reporting system like the fixed ticket machines on other buses.

 

[bluegoblin7]

I'm sure it is held on the database, though frustratingly the information isn't displayed online as part of the card summary.

It's information we're given via the "Staff Oyster Help Line" and the (shiny, new, launched this week) "Failed Card Portal" if querying the contents of a card, so there's no reason it can't be shown online. Sigh.