Of course you'd expect onward travel by bus to be authorised at no further cost so it shouldn't matter that the buses don't take cash.
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London buses have become cashless
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Of course you'd expect onward travel by bus to be authorised at no further cost so it shouldn't matter that the buses don't take cash.
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Busaholic
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It sounded like the guard using his initiative in allowing passengers to stay or go: if there had been an official de-train then probably arrangements would have been made but it couldn't have been done in a few minutes. At least three bus companies run buses for TfL in that area
PermitToTravel
Established Member
Ticket acceptance would be arranged with TfL not with the local bus operators
One does wonder why no-one's thought to put posters up at bus stops, even if only at major railway stations, with general bus information including ways to pay. It's a no-brainer, especially given there are similar posters already explaining the various options for paying for the Tube.
Of course, of late, clarity of customer information from TfL has been poor, overtaken by PR bluster and spin.
Of course, of late, clarity of customer information from TfL has been poor, overtaken by PR bluster and spin.
There have been some posters at many bus stops, sides of a small number of buses, in buses, at stations, and inside a small minority of trains. Plus automatic announcements every 15 minutes on buses. They do say to use Oyster or Contactless cards.
Most people will now have a contactless card, so if the driver asked if someone had one then I'm sure people would have been fine.
I say most as I'm sure they've been out long enough that most people who didn't ask for one will have got a replacement that has it. Mind you, they might not know they have one I suppose.
When I had to get to Heathrow and there were problems that saw my train caped at Hayes & Harlington, I had the option to wait for the next train (which would likely be delayed and may well be cancelled too) or make my own way by bus - at my own expense (although maybe I could have claimed later, but I didn't bother). I opted to take the bus, which was very convenient and saved my fingernails and blood pressure.
I say most as I'm sure they've been out long enough that most people who didn't ask for one will have got a replacement that has it. Mind you, they might not know they have one I suppose.
When I had to get to Heathrow and there were problems that saw my train caped at Hayes & Harlington, I had the option to wait for the next train (which would likely be delayed and may well be cancelled too) or make my own way by bus - at my own expense (although maybe I could have claimed later, but I didn't bother). I opted to take the bus, which was very convenient and saved my fingernails and blood pressure.
I have had one - but having changed from a bank I used to work for to a Building Society I generally much prefer I no longer have one. Unfortunately they seem to have no idea when they'll start introducing them. Looks like I'll get one next time my American Express Credit Card is renewed but that's not due to run out for over a year.
I do think it would have been worth TfL hanging on a little longer until the proportion of cards with contactless had got a bit higher.
fairysdad
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It doesn't seem that all banks are issuing them as standard yet - I have dealings with two banks (HSBC and the Co-Op, both of which have sent out new debit cards in the past 12 months, neither of which have been contactless. Again with the 'disclaimer' though - I say what I do say as I've heard that both these banks have issued other customers with contactless cards in the same period of time (though I've not seen one myself) hence why I say 'as standard'.
(I did think I posted this here already, but that must have been on a different forum!)
There probably should be more publicity at bus stops about this though, I was recently in London for a wedding and had to drive somebody back from the venue to the hotel we were staying, then catch the bus back to the venue so I could have a few drinks. Had I not have known about this, I would have been stuck as all I had was £10, enough to get a bus ticket but not enough to get an Oyster card, even if I could find somewhere to get one (which I couldn't see instantly). Thankfully I (probably unlawfully!) borrowed a travelcard off a relative for the journey as I stupidly left my own Oyster card at home (along with other things needed for the weekend, but that's another story!).
I can kind of see why TfL have done this, but, as it has been said already in this thread several times, it could definitely cause confusion to tourists (foreigners or nationals) who may not be aware, and, let's face it, who would think of not being able to buy a ticket on a bus to look it up? London already is (or at least seems to me to be) strange in that when you could buy a ticket on board, you just bought a ticket, you didn't buy a ticket to a destination.
I had a contactless Visa debit card issued a year ago when I changed bank accounts, whereas I didn't get one at the beginning of 2012 when I first got an account. My dad's Visa debit has been contactless since 2012.
I have a couple of credit cards, and they were contactless and issued some time ago (well over a year ago, maybe more). I did have to ask Lloyds for a new debit card though (this was 2012), when even the staff weren't sure what they were - or if I'd get one (I had to basically ask for a new card and say 'let's see what turns up'). Odd that staff weren't briefed about what they were, but hey - this is Lloyds. Even funnier perhaps that Lloyds was an Olympic sponsor and for the Olympics Visa had enabled everything to take contactless (Visa) cards...
I was a very early adopter though, having a Barclays OnePulse card from the start - and when I was one of the only people using it at shops in and around the City of London where many retailers were kitted out as part of an early trial.
Thing is that there are still many places that seem to look at you funny if you use it, as well as a lot of places that have the compatible kit installed but still don't take them (many supermarkets, John Lewis and other big names).
As I've got an Oyster, I've not yet used any of my cards to pay for bus travel - but I must say that it would feel rather odd to pay with a debit or credit card, as against a specific ticket/card for travel. Suffice to say, in the years to come, people will get used to it and expect it everywhere - so once again, the railway and certainly buses outside of London will seem very much more antiquated.
I was a very early adopter though, having a Barclays OnePulse card from the start - and when I was one of the only people using it at shops in and around the City of London where many retailers were kitted out as part of an early trial.
Thing is that there are still many places that seem to look at you funny if you use it, as well as a lot of places that have the compatible kit installed but still don't take them (many supermarkets, John Lewis and other big names).
As I've got an Oyster, I've not yet used any of my cards to pay for bus travel - but I must say that it would feel rather odd to pay with a debit or credit card, as against a specific ticket/card for travel. Suffice to say, in the years to come, people will get used to it and expect it everywhere - so once again, the railway and certainly buses outside of London will seem very much more antiquated.
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ModernRailways
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But what ended up happening? Did the driver let people on without paying or did the driver tell everyone to get lost? I imagine it was the latter, especially if it was a considerable amount of people.
Whilst the guard was being helpful they could have mentioned that buses required a contactless card or Oyster. Obviously a guard shouldn't be expected to remember that kind of thing though.
Still not good enough. There needs to be a permanent display at bus stops, perhaps on the timetable boards. Not an ad, because people tend to ignore them and they have to pay to keep them up. (And even the ads'cash free buses have arrived'aren't good enough: if English wasn't your first language, or you were unfamiliar with public transport, would the phrasing necessarily translate to 'you cannot pay with coins or notes'?)
Brighton and Hove have timetables at every stop detailing the range of fares available, i.e. what you can expect to pay, and how to pay. It would seem obvious for TfL, being (in theory) more integrated, and run in the public interest, to do something similar. But apparently not.
Barclays customers and those with certain accounts in the south-east will usually have contactless cards.
Overseas visitors won't, anyone with a poor credit rating/basic bank account/account without overdraft facility won't/unlikely to have a contactless card.
Overseas visitors won't, anyone with a poor credit rating/basic bank account/account without overdraft facility won't/unlikely to have a contactless card.
jonmorris0844:1899568 said:
I've got an Oyster but I will use contactless exclusively when the rollout is complete. I already do so when I know that I will be only using buses that day. I may even cash in my Oyster.
The only issue was that my Santander 123 credit card didn't have contactless but that has been replaced with one that does. So I will be getting 3% off my trips as well as not being in credit to TfL.
Deregulation on the buses outside London was supposed to lead to innovation, but they have lagged far behind regarding ticketing and still predominantly deal in cash on the vehicle.
The guard was using his initiative in letting passengers leave the train. It was far too soon after the incident to have arranged acceptance and had this notified to the drivers.
The station was quite congested as was the pavement immediately outside the station, particularly was almost all the people who'd left the train had luggage and had no idea where to go or what to do next.
The bus stop opposite the station was closed although I did notice a bus stop there. I hot footed it down to the next stop when I saw a 105 bus to Greenford station approaching the station. There was a long queue at that stop and the bus must have been stopped there for a good 10 minutes as people from the train tried to board the bus, the poor driver having to explain that he couldn't take cash.
Contactless cards are far from universal at the moment. I've got a debit card and two credit cards issued by different banks and not one of the is contactless. I don't believe any of the banks I deal with issue contactless cards yet.
The station was quite congested as was the pavement immediately outside the station, particularly was almost all the people who'd left the train had luggage and had no idea where to go or what to do next.
The bus stop opposite the station was closed although I did notice a bus stop there. I hot footed it down to the next stop when I saw a 105 bus to Greenford station approaching the station. There was a long queue at that stop and the bus must have been stopped there for a good 10 minutes as people from the train tried to board the bus, the poor driver having to explain that he couldn't take cash.
Contactless cards are far from universal at the moment. I've got a debit card and two credit cards issued by different banks and not one of the is contactless. I don't believe any of the banks I deal with issue contactless cards yet.
Many of the 'best buy' current accounts (ones that give you switching incentives or high interest) available at the moment issue contactless cards. Anyone that spends £100 or more per month on train tickets and petrol might as well get the Santander 123 credit card as the £24 annual fee would be outweighed by the cashback.
I have a basic account with Nat West with a contactless card.
It can't be a basic account in that case as they only offer chip and pin with it with no overdraft or cheque book.
You probably have the 'Select' Current Account which offers an overdraft and contactless.
I have no overdraft facility, pay no fee and I have a contactless card. I am thinking that maybe this is because I had an account where I paid a fee and asked them to change it to a free one when I went travelling. At the end of the day though I have an account without any of the trimmings but I do have a contactless card, which I hasten to add I never use for contactless payments. I don't like them as the money just disappears for a few days and the bank don't seem to be aware of payments made.
Busaholic
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The point being that TfL would have to liaise with the bus operators, which was why I phrased it the way I did.
TfL just send a message to drivers on all the buses on the routes which will accept tickets - this is an automated system using the iBus system. TfL does not need to "liaise" with the bus companies each time as accepting whatever tickets TfL should decree are acceptable is in each contract - an advantage of the franchise system operating in London.
It sounds like you have a simple bank account, not a Basic Bank Account (note capitals).
There is also a distinction between an account with a zero overdraft, but if you applied you'd probably get one and other customers with the same account type may have one..and an account type that will not let any customer, under any circumstances go overdrawn.
No, the type of account I have does not allow me to have an overdraft.
That's a new one as I also have a basic bank account. The card was issued in 2013 and doesn't have contactless. It should be clear that you have that account as Basic is written on the card. Those cards also have to have a live connection to the bank which contactless doesn't allow. This is an issue for people who attempt to use those cards to pay for rail tickets from the guard.
Natwest's website mentions nothing about the Basic Account being contactless, however the account is being upgraded to allow you to use the Link network again by the end of the year and to make deposits at the Post Office from the end of October.
Bringing the thread back on topic, yes, it's great isn't it. Wait till you see what it does when you use it on trains. It's very impressive.
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