TfL – Tea-leaves for London?

[Martin Cassini]

For decades, London Transport had a decent landline number for travel information: 0207 222 1234. Now TfL has imposed an indecent 0843 number which is excluded from "inclusive" phone packages. It charges 40p per minute, taking a cut of every minute you’re on the line. It maximises revenue by using a maze of options, saving the one you want until last. Then you are held in a queue and told your call is important to them. I bet it is. "TfL takes just a few pence from each call to cover the cost of running the improved service," said a spokesman. Don’t you love the ‘just’?