Still no response from NRE re availability of licenses...
I started the referenced google thread in the above article after noticing the new paragraph on the live departure boards API page, and realised it would have an impact on my (completely noncommercial) site (liveTrains.co.uk) , that has for years used the API with no problems.
I too have had no response, other than the very formulaic, from Derek at NRE. He has asked my to take down the site. I have asked him if I can have a license, but have received a response. Since I will loose access on the 23rd of November if they don't give me one, there seems little point in me taking down the site until they either tell me I can't have a license or introduce tokens without giving me one - however, despite two requests, I am still waiting to hear from the NRE if they intend to issue licenses for non-commercial users, and if they want to charge for a license I won't be able to pay them :-)
This seems a very backward step - seems similar to phoning a shop to ask if they have goods in stock, being told they do, but then told that thre will be an additional charge if you want to know when the store is open! Since the information provided via the API is only of any use to direct or indirect users of the railway system - who provide the railway companies with their revenue stream, this seems a bizzare move - especially after so long of it being apparently completely open.
Oh well - I guess I'll just have to wait and see what happens...