Is zis beaumbe yurs?

On the way to pick up JoJo last night, the District Line train I was on got into Victoria at 5:17. Hmm, the train from Victoria is at 5:19, and two minutes isn't enough time to get from the tube to the platform at the main station.

OK, stay on the train and get the 5:35 from Blackfriars (when using public transport in London, always have at least two options). It should get to Blackfriars by 5:30, and I can get from tube to platform there in a minute.

Tube train leaves Victoria. Stops at St James Park. Some people get off, others get on. Train leaves SJP. Stops at Westminster. People get off, including the man with no front teeth standing in front of me, and someone sitting beside me. Others get on.

"Is this your bag?"

Oh no, the person beside me had left her bag - something bland, size of a large handbag.

[Poll #241699]

Of course, someone had to pick the 'push the emergency button' option, and so after five minutes faff, I got off this train and onto one going back to Victoria to minimise how late I'd be.

How much is a single fare now?

One London Underground question I've had pending has just been answered - if your journey is delayed by 15 minutes, then in theory you can claim back the cost of the (single) journey if you're prepared to fill out a form.

(In practice, they usually go 'no record of any delay' / 'passenger action' / 'act of ghod' / 'snow in winter is freak weather' etc and turn it down or sometimes - as with my Central Line refund claim - just ignore it entirely.)

But what is the cost of a single journey, say in zone one now?

Is it the £2 cash fare? The £1.60 Oystercard (so named, because it's difficult for them to be open about the problems) fare? The £1.50 2004 carnet fare? Or the £1.15 2003 carnet fare that was actually paid for the ticket used that morning?

Turns out - I got a refund voucher this morning - they're going for the £1.60. Hmm.

Oh, speaking of the difference between the 2003 and 2004 carnet fares - the unspeakable people at the 'advance tickets' service received my work order for fifteen books of (ten) carnets before Christmas. On the 6th Jan, two days after the fares were increased, they ring while I'm out of the office to say 'did we know you can only get carnets in books of ten, and fifteen isn't a multiple of ten?' They get faxed back with 'yes, that's why the order says "fifteen books of ten"'.

Tickets finally arrive - they've charged us the 2004 price, claiming the order was made on the 8th Jan. This is, as they say, being disputed.