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To reinforce this policy, ticket gates will be installed at more stations commencing in 2008, in addition to the 19 stations already gated. During 2008, London Waterloo will also have gates for the first time. There will be more patrols by Revenue Protection staff, especially early in the morning and late at night when fare evasion is most likely, and more prosecutions of persistent offenders.
“But hang on,” you protest. “That’s fine but I’m not a fare evader. I always intended to buy a ticket—I just couldn’t face the queue.”
“Unfortunately, unless you do not have a ticket because there were no ticket issuing facilities available or you were unable to access them at the station, that reason will no longer be accepted,” says Dave. “We recognise that there are people who sometimes find it difficult to buy a ticket before boarding and it is never our intention to penalise someone who genuinely cannot purchase a ticket. That’s why our new fares policy is supported by a range of measures to make ticket buying easier, so everyone has the opportunity to purchase before they travel.”
Passengers have already seen new touch-screen ticket vending machines arriving at stations across the network. These are more user-friendly, and accept debit and credit cards. At least 100 more are being installed, which means at least one ticket machine at every station by September 2008.
Other plans to banish the queues and take the stress out of ticket buying include improvements to ticket halls and “queue buster” staff who will monitor ticket queues in peak hours and offer mobile ticket buying.
“We are considering introducing a ‘ticket on demand’ service at larger stations,” says Dave. “This would allow you to book your tickets online and pick them up from a ticket machine at the station using your debit or credit card. We’re also committed to introduce Oyster-compatible smartcard ticketing, together with Oyster Pay As You Go for passengers in the London area, by 2009.”
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