11 Mar 2011
Boris sidelined as rail firms learn to love Oyster
Boris Johnson may have managed to keep the press and public away from his meeting with the bosses of London’s train companies – but what did it actually achieve?
Beyond the scrapping of the hated Oyster Extension Permits – something which TfL had been working for since they were quietly introduced (under Boris) 14 months ago – it seems a map is the only other concrete result from his efforts.
The problem is, that map already existed anyway. TfL the rail companies just made it a bit worse than it was.
“A new, clear and combined Rail and TfL Oyster map for London will soon be appearing at rail and Tube stations,” trumpets the mayor’s press release. But those maps have been up at stations since Oyster was introduced to mainline stations last year.
All that is different about the new map is that the colours have changed to showing which train company runs them, instead of which London terminal they run to.
Which seems a backward step. Surely someone looking for a train at East Croydon doesn’t care what company runs it, but does care about whether it goes to London Bridge or Victoria?
Most of the other achievements puffed up by TfL aren’t exactly earth-shattering. Improvements to London Overground, due to come in May, have been planned since before Boris even thought about running for the mayoralty.
Talks about using contactless bank cards on National Rail were announced last month, and if TfL and the rail companies aren’t talking about how to cope with the Olympics, then they aren’t doing their jobs properly.
There’s also no news on ironing out some of the differences in fares between National Rail and the TfL lines, and even between different National Rail lines.
But away from some of the desperate PR moves from the mayor’s office, it’s clear the rail firms are learning to love Oyster.
They were terrified of it ushering in a wave of fare evasion – but have found that us Londoners are actually an honest lot, and will pay our way when given the chance.
Indeed, it’s firms like Southeastern that have been the sneaky ones, penalty-charging passengers with Oyster travelcards not including Zone 1 at their central London ticket gates because they didn’t stop before their journey to get an extension permit – or, as is more likely, didn’t know about the permits.
Now the OEPs are dead, and they’re even talking about accepting the cards in towns just outside London – in places like Dartford, Waltham Cross and Slough where it’s easier to board a red bus with Oyster than faff around getting a paper rail ticket.
For the rail firms, Oyster means money. Simple economics and the popularity of the little blue card may well be achieving more for London’s passengers than any number of much-hyped mayoral “summits” ever will.
11 Mar 2011
Boris Johnson holds "public rail summit" in private
Boris Johnson was accused of breaking his manifesto promise to hold a “public summit of all the train operating companies” today as he met with operators behind closed doors.
London Assembly Members and the press were denied access to the meeting, following months of negative coverage of snow delays, above inflation fare increases and overcharging.
Assembly Members had been allowed to attend the Mayor’s first meeting with operators last year under the condition that they remained silent.
Repeated requests to attend today’s meeting were denied.
Operators are said to have agreed to abolish the unpopular and confusing Oyster Extension Permit system.
The system will reportedly cease operating from May 22nd.
They are also said to have discussed extending the Oyster card to towns just outside London.
However, because of the media ban it is not known whether the Mayor raised “the issue of exorbitant pricing” on national rail services as also promised in his manifesto.
Liberal Democrat London Assembly Member Caroline Pidgeon said today:
Today’s cosy meeting between the Mayor and the train operating companies falls far short of a public summit that the Mayor promised Londoners. The abolition of Oyster Extension Permits is long overdue. They were the daft invention of the Train Operating Companies which totally undermined the benefits of Oyster Pay As You Go.
11 Mar 2011
Animals at War
Some very sad dog related news coupled with some very fortunate Bird related news
11 Mar 2011
Take a Stroll Through Crufts History
As the largest dog show in the world celebrates it’s 120th anniversary in Birmingham, join us in a journey through the show’s earlier years.
11 Mar 2011
Who the hell do you think you are? A test of your success in your 20s, 30s, and 40s
Are you one of your generation’ s golden ones? Do you race ahead of the pack, a shining example to your peers of what can be achieved with the right mixture of talent and application? Or are you destined for a middle course? Or could it be that all your dreams and desires will come to nothing on the road to a sad and lonely death? It’s often so difficult to know. Well, navelgaze no longer, dear reader. For this handy guide to modern life will show you where you stand. Simply refer to your age bracket and choose the section which describes you best.
11 Mar 2011
Whatever You Do, Don’t Feed the Hipsters
With the rail link expansion now complete, the Evening Standard encourages its readers to venture out of their comfort zone and experience all the ultra-trendiness waiting for them along the Ginger Line.
11 Mar 2011
Nodzzz, The Mantles, Bomber Jackets
12th March @ The Victoria, 451 Queensbridge Rd, Dalston, E8 3AS
Bored of zombied front rows full of dozing young hip tings and view-obscuring ranks of iPhone photographers? Then get yourself a ticket to see Nodzzz, one of the most arse-shakingly brilliant bands to come out of San Francisco’s house parties (they also run hot label Make A Mess) in the last few years. With their deadbeat humour livening up the breaks, tonight they’ll have you jiggling your bits to songs that sound like Beat Happening and Television Personalities, if they’d had a thing for Barbershop quartets. Siltbreeze psych group The Mantles support.
11 Mar 2011
London agenda for Friday 11 March
1. Listen to Giles Deacon, designer of fashion for Princess Beatrice, Drew Barrymore, Thandie Newton and Scarlett Johansson at the Design Museum [Le Cool]
2. Watch a sexual awakening in Newfoundland at the ICA [Run Riot]
3. Hear post-drone soundscapes with Jaspar TX at Cafe Oto [Flavorpill]
4. Support a Field Day Night with DJs Four Tet, Floating Points, Brackles, Casper C and Chimes [Time Out]
5. See Queen Elizabeth’s Oak [Tired of London]
6. And tomorrow, 12 March, shake your arse at Nodzzz, The Mantles, Bomber Jackets [Sian Rowe]
11 Mar 2011
LIFE Finds Rare Treasure Trove of Eva Braun Photos
60 years later, it’s still possible to discover weird things that have something to do with Adolf Hitler.
10 Mar 2011
Snipe Highlights
Some popular articles from past years
- Peter Bayley has worked for 50 years as a cinema projectionist in East Finchley
- Margaret Thatcher statue rejected by public
- The best church names in London, and where they come from
- The five best places in London to have an epiphany
- Nice Interactive timeline lets you follow Londoners' historic fight against racism
- Silencing the Brick Lane curry touts could be fatal for the city's self-esteem
- An interview with Desiree Akhavan
- A unique collection of photos of Edwardian Londoners
- Hope and despair in Woolwich town centre
- Could red kites be London's next big nature success story?
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