Why Paper Tickets Should Be Retained For Travel

Excerpt from Staff Guide 2, Types of Tickets and Ways to Pay, March 2025

Transport for London (TfL) still provides paper tickets for Tube and rail journeys. However, earlier this year (2025), they withdrew the paper One Day Bus & Tram Pass from Tube and railway stations, unexpectedly and without consultation, although the Oyster version of the One Day Bus & Tram Pass continues to be available at Oyster ticket stops. As a follow-up, this is in response to my previous article reviewing TfL’s Technology Roadmap 2025, which outlines a long-term plan to phase out magnetic paper tickets.

Superloop Route SL11 to Temporarily Use New Routemasters, Plus Contract Costs Revealed for Routes 8 and 16, and Consultation to Amend Routes 19 and 38

This round-up focuses on the latest news concerning the New Routemaster bus, along with other significant updates from the London bus network.

It has been reported by the London Omnibus Traction Society (LOTS) that the Superloop route SL11 (Thamesmead – North Greenwich) is planned to temporarily use the three-door, two-staircase hybrid New Routemasters (NRMs). This temporary measure will be implemented while the operating company, Go-Ahead London Central, awaits the delivery of its new double-deck electric buses, as part of its new route contract.

London Bus Tender Awards: New Electric Buses for Route 29 and New Routemasters Continue On Route H32

As we approach the end of November, Transport for London (TfL) has announced new London Bus Tender Awards. Under these awards, route 29 will transition to new double-deck electric buses, while the three-door, two-staircase hybrid New Routemasters will continue operation on route H32.

LBSL intends to enter into new contracts for the following routes with the operators listed below:

UK Budget 2025: Rail Fares Frozen and £3 Bus Cap Retained, While Ireland Separately Announces €24.3bn Transport Plan

Following the UK Government’s Budget 2025 announcement, a look through the Treasury’s document reveals that railway fares will be frozen, the £3 bus fare cap will be retained, funding will be provided for new railway improvements, support will be given to Transport for London’s plan to extend the Docklands Light Railway (DLR) to Thamesmead, primarily funded by London with long-term government contributions, and in Ireland, €2 billion from the Irish Government’s Infrastructure, Climate and Nature Fund will support the construction of MetroLink, reflecting its scale and national importance.

Issues With My Videos Hosted On Dailymotion

Last update - 3rd December 2025

My Dailymotion channel in 2022
Via Archive Wayback Machine

Some of my readers and followers may have noticed that I have a Dailymotion channel, where I have uploaded hundreds of my videos since 2014. Unfortunately, some of my old articles now contain embedded Dailymotion videos that no longer play.

In short, Dailymotion is a French online video-sharing platform currently owned by Canal+. Prior to 2024, it was owned by Vivendi, establishing it as a significant European alternative to YouTube.

UK Treasury Announces First Rail Fare Freeze in 30 Years

What a coincidence! Just yesterday, I posted an article suggesting that rail fare consultation should be sought to give the general public input on options, and also shared my thoughts on reforming the fare and ticketing system to make it simpler.

From: HM Treasury Press Release:

Suggestion: Why I Believe That Transport Fares Should Be Consulted 💡

Every year, transport fares rise in line with inflation and the Retail Price Index across many areas of the UK and globally. This significantly impacts certain people, particularly those who are unemployed, receiving benefits, or on a low income.

The Precedent Set by Council Tax Consultation

Transport for London Technology Roadmap: A Strategic Overview of Investment to 2025 and Beyond

Transport for London (TfL) has disclosed its comprehensive strategic plan for the technological overhaul of the capital’s transport network. The document, titled Technology Roadmap 2025, was released into the public domain following a Freedom of Information request (Reference: FOI-2883-2526) made by another individual.

The roadmap details a multi-year investment strategy designed to align with the Mayor’s Transport Strategy, specifically the objective for 80 per cent of all trips in London to be made by foot, cycle, or public transport by 2041. The plan sets out a timeline for critical infrastructure upgrades and the implementation of advanced systems to tackle fare evasion and improve operational efficiency.

TfL Publishes the Most Common Station-to-Station Journeys for the National Rail, Elizabeth Line, London Overground, Underground and DLR for 2025

This is a follow-up to my previous article about the most common journeys on the London Underground and other services in 2023.

I can reveal that Transport for London (TfL) has published the most common journeys for the London Underground (LU), National Rail (NR), Elizabeth Line (EL), and the Docklands Light Railway (DLR) as of 2025.

Bear in mind, we are still in 2025, and the data for this year is only available up to and including 1st November.

With so many London Underground stations at the top, here are 100 journeys.

Request ID: FOI-2907-2526
Date published: 17 November 2025

Please find attached origin-destination data for 2025 up to and including 1st November:

Tap-in and tap-out contactless ticketing extended to 50 more stations across South East England, i̶n̶c̶l̶u̶d̶i̶n̶g̶ ̶L̶o̶n̶d̶o̶n̶ ̶S̶t̶a̶n̶s̶t̶e̶d̶ ̶a̶n̶d̶ ̶S̶o̶u̶t̶h̶e̶n̶d̶ ̶a̶i̶r̶p̶o̶r̶t̶s̶ — launching 14 December 2025!

Map of stations that will offer contactless ticketing

Update - 3rd December 2025

Noooooooooooooooooo! 😞

The Rail Delivery Group has announced that the expansion of contactless ticketing to Stansted and Southend Airports in London has been delayed.

London Bus Tender Awards: Hydrogen Buses to Leave Route 7 and New Electric Buses for Routes 7/N7, 156 and 344

Drawings of the Wrightbus StreetDeck Hydroliner

Transport for London (TfL) has announced in the London Bus Tender awards that routes 7/N7, 156 and 344 will soon be served using new double-deck electric buses as part of the new route contracts awarded to the relevant bus operating companies.

LBSL intends to enter into new contracts for the following routes with the operators listed below:

Transport for London Reveals the Top 20 Busiest Bus Routes and Top Three Longest Night Bus Routes of 2025

In searching through the Freedom of Information (FOI) releases on the Transport for London (TfL) website, I noted they have published a couple of interesting requests relating to London Buses.

Firstly, let's take a look at the top 20 busiest bus routes and commendations by bus users.

Request ID: FOI-2919-2526
Date published: 12 November 2025

London Bus Tender Awards: New Electric Buses for Routes 8 and 678, Hybrid New Routemasters to Leave Route 8

Transport for London (TfL) has announced that routes 8/N8 and 678 will be operated with new double-deck electric buses, meaning that the New Routemaster vehicles will be withdrawn from route 8. I understand that this news may be disappointing for some people.

31st October 2025 (for reference)

LBSL intends to enter into new contracts for the following routes with the operators listed below: