Saturday, 28 October 2023

The One Day Travelcard Is Saved!

I know this news is slightly overdue, but I would like to specifically mention on my website that the One Day Travelcard is saved as Transport for London (TfL) and the Rail Delivery Group, which represents the train operating companies, agreed to retain the One Day Travelcard.

Rail Delivery Group:

Rail Delivery Group, Department for Transport and Transport for London reach agreement to save Day Travelcards for train passengers

Train companies, represented by Rail Delivery Group (RDG) and Transport for London (TfL) have reached an agreement which means Day Travelcards can continue to be bought by customers as part of their train tickets to London.  

This ends months of speculation about the future of this ticket, which offer rail customers freedom to use all bus, Tube and train services within the London zones.

This agreement follows a long period of negotiation by RDG representing train operators, TfL and the Department for Transport (DfT) to find a solution which secures the future of the tickets while at the same time enabling TfL to meet its budget commitments.

Paul Bowden, Commercial Director at RDG, said: “I think it is a great outcome for customers that we’re able to keep this popular ticket, which offers customers complete travel flexibility in London. There has been a huge amount of work behind the scenes, with the industry working together with a firm focus on customers’ interests”.

Alex Williams, Chief Customer and Strategy Officer at TfL said: “I’m delighted that after close collaboration with the Rail Delivery Group and Department for Transport, we have now been able to find a solution which allows the Day Travelcard to continue to be accepted on TfL services, while still meeting the terms of TfL’s funding agreement with Government.”

Rail Minister, Huw Merriman said: “The Travelcard is an invaluable way of encouraging commuters and visitors to travel into London, hugely boosting the economy in the process – I’m pleased that following a Government intervention, working with TfL and the train operators, we were able to save it.

“Alongside the more than £6 billion we have already given to TfL over the past three years, this is just another way the Government is helping Londoners, its millions of visitors and all those who commute into our capital get around for less.”

The Mayor of London, Sadiq Khan said: “I'm delighted that we have managed to save the Day Travelcard. As part of the Covid-19 financial deal TfL made with the Government, there is a requirement to make savings of £600m. I refused to countenance removing weekly, monthly or season travelcards and today I am pleased to confirm the Day Travelcard is also now safe.  

"The offer now on the table saves a much-valued product for visitors to London, while giving TfL a fairer share of ticket revenue.”

The proposal also includes a one-off price increase on Day Travelcards for travel from stations outside Zones 1-6 as part of a National Rail ticket from March 2024 (on average 3%) which will be in addition to any general regulated fares increase at the time.

TfL's Have Your Say:
Engagement to withdraw Day Travelcards
Update 25 October 2023

Thank you for your input into our engagement earlier in the year via our Have Your Say webpage on the potential impacts of the withdrawal of the Day Travelcards on our network.

We are pleased to confirm that after close collaboration with the Rail Delivery Group, we have now been able to find a solution which allows the Day Travelcard to continue to be accepted on TfL services, while still meeting the terms of our funding agreement with Government.

Campaign for Better Transport:
Campaign success – we helped save London’s Travelcard!

After a long-fought campaign, Campaign for Better Transport has successfully secured the future of the Day Travelcard – integral to the lives of so many in and around London.

Transport for London and Rail Operators announced on Tuesday that the Day Travelcard had been saved – bringing joy and relief to the millions who rely on the ticket each year. A London Labour government and a Conservative Westminster government found consensus on the Day Travelcard and our campaign, which brought together our supporters and figures from across the industry, was integral to ensuring the continuing acceptance of the ticket. So how did we do it?

Read more

Well done to the organisations and others involved in pressuring TfL, the government, etc. to retain the One Day Travelcard. This is a sigh of relief as various groups of people (including overseas visitors, railcard holders, including companions, the disabled, the digitally excluded, victims of crime awaiting replacement cards, etc.) can continue to travel on London's public transport system without a major hassle.

My conclusion

As part of the plan to expand contactless to 233 railway stations in the South East of England. I do wish to see the Travelcard scheme progress by providing smart, flexible ticketing options by covering more transport services outside of Greater London and as an alternative to 'Pay As You Go' on Oyster and Contactless. You can read my article here.

I have also suggested a new regional transport body for the South East of England, subsuming TfL, the railway services of the former Network SouthEast, and other transport services to provide a wider responsibility to improve public transport in the region. My idea also extends to all areas of the UK.

Here's a roundup of my tweets about the One Day Travelcard on Twitter/X.

I invite you to follow me on Twitter/X by searching for @CLondoner92 or by clicking on the direct link to my Twitter/X page here. I'm also on BlueSky and Mastodon.
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