The other way to look at it is that it is a high quality reliable product that can charge a "premium" so to speak. While people in London complain, all lines wi

The other way to look at it is that it is a high quality reliable product that can charge a "premium" so to speak. While people in London complain, all lines will have CBTC in the next couple of years (the vast majority already do), running at 30-36trains per hour per direction across rush hour depending on the line. It is very rare for there to be major service issues on more than one or two lines at a time, comparing that to service status in NYC which often has dozens of lines with various issues. My point really is that "even" £8 isn't that expensive in the grand scheme of things. And that money going into the system allows it to work well.