First class at Padd

[whole diary]

[paul7575]

Don't think of them as abbreviations.

A code such as LT should just be seen as an anachronistic two letter code that used to stand for London Transport, but it is left as LT because it is not generally intended as 'public facing information'.  There is no cost benefit in updating codes in computerised systems everytime they change.  They might not be able change it to TfL^» (Transport for London - about) because the base system that use it (perhaps RJIS?) only allows for a two letter code such as TL - which might be confused with Thameslink.  If correct, that will explain precisely why for instance FC^‡(resolve) is not shown as FCC^▸ (First Capital Connect) - the data field isn't big enough, that's all.

Likewise with the regular fares discussions.  'SVR' is one of the codes used for Offpeak Return - it used to be the main code for Saver, but that latter term should no longer be used, and isn't used in publicly displayed info such as on fares websites.  You cannot buy a Saver, no matter how often the term is used in discussion by 'fares gurus' - what you buy is an Offpeak Return...

Paul

[JayMac]

The correct abbreviations for each Train Operating Company (TOC^▸ (Train Operating Company)), in brackets are some common AKAs^▸ (also known as) (which are technically wrong):

I wouldn't say 'technically wrong'. The list you have given are the abbreviations used by the industry and its systems. The others, such as FGW^▸ (First Great Western), SWT^▸ (South West Trains), EMT^» (East Midlands Trains - about), are in fairly common usage both within and without the industry. It's the usage for words, terminology, abbreviations, acronyms etc. that tends to define general acceptance as opposed to what may be official according to, in this case, ATOC^» (Association of Train Operating Companies See - here) and NR^» (Network Rail - home page) (that's the Association of Train Operating Companies and Network Rail  )

That said, a post full of acronyms/abbreviations which hasn't included the full name for each term at least once should be avoided. I used to post a lot of abbrvs. thinking I was only conversing with folk who would know what I meant, forgetting the wider audience who may have stumbled on the forum via Google. I'm still guilty of posting  acronyms/abbreviations without explanation occasionally, but I'm much better than I used to be. IYKWIM. 

[bobm]

Even First Great Western use FGW^▸ (First Great Western) - www.fgw.co.uk

[swrural]

Thanks very much (my heading is definitely 'greeny') and regarding London Underground, do try not to use the acronym for that with Limited on the end.  In Dutch it is an obscene profanity and I do hope the London Underground Ltd do not put it on station posters.  (By the way it is the male member).

   

[thetrout]

Urm... I'm not sure what happened there...

My post was ALOT longer than that... Hmmm maybe when I copied it out of Word i didn't copy it all! (was on the train when I wrote the post in a 3G notspot* ) It explained what the staff did(n't) do... (Delete as applicable) I also posted a YouTube link of some prat who tried it on, on that very train! I'm on my iPhone in a Bar at the moment and about to go and see Skyfall so once I've seen an LT ( ) train crash and got home again. If I'm allowed I will reapply the post as it'll be in my laptop cache

* = A location where Cell Data doesn't exist/work reliably/hideously slow!

[TerminalJunkie]

regarding London Underground, do try not to use the acronym for that with Limited on the end.  In Dutch it is an obscene profanity  

This should upset you, then:
http://www.steveprentice.net/tube/TfLSillyMaps/rude_map.jpg