Seasons

[John @ home]

the way to resolve it is for ATOC to sort it out, so that all valid tickets carry the appropriate + marking.

This is certainly desirable and I would support its introduction. But it is not a trivial matter. The software for all ticket issuing systems would have to be amended to check fares by different routes at the time of purchase. Using the example in my post #19 above, a SVR ticket bought on 1 January 2011 would have been printed:

From SOUTHAMPTON CTL To BIRMINGHAM STNS Route NOT LONDON

and one bought the next day should have been printed

From SOUTHAMPTON CTL To BIRMINGHAM STNS Route † NOT LONDON.

Where I disagree is that I don't think passengers can be asked to wait until this software has been written. ATOC and London Underground should co-operate urgently to ensure that appropriate local instructions are issued and that passengers are able to travel without hindrance by a route valid by the terms of their contract.

how hard is it for ATOC to correctly include "+" on all tickets which are valid via a route which requires a cross-London transfer?

I don't agree that it would be appropriate to limit this to routes which require a cross-London transfer. My experience is that difficulties are more likely to arise with tickets which permit a cross-London transfer but are also valid by route(s) avoiding London.

 

[34D]

This is certainly desirable and I would support its introduction. But it is not a trivial matter. The software for all ticket issuing systems would have to be amended to check fares by different routes at the time of purchase.

Not necedsarily. All that is required is for 'someone' to review each fares manual before it goes live, look at flows which could be via London, and ensure the Maltese cross is on the appropriate ones.

Or better LU training..... Or some kind of TOC marker that guards could do to tickets to confirm via tube.