TfL proposes to withdraw Day Travelcards

[stuving]

There is a consultation running until 23rd May at https://haveyoursay.tfl.gov.uk/travelcards and perhaps we should all put in our two pennyworth.

The end date of the "engagement" has been extended by two weeks to 6th June.

 

[Wallsendmag]

The end date of the "engagement" has been extended by two weeks to 6th June.

So 6th June is "D Day" then, I'll get my coat.

 

[Joe Paxton]

So 6th June is "D Day" then, I'll get my coat.

Or indeed DTC day...

 

[winks]

If they have extended it I’m hoping they are having second thoughts on its removal.

We can wish….

 

[Sm5]

I suspect there has been a considerable volume of complaint, hence the extension…its coming thick and fast.

 

[35B]

If they have extended it I’m hoping they are having second thoughts on its removal.

We can wish….

More time to gather evidence that this government imposed policy will be able to be presented back as "UK Government have imposed this and we have no choice"...

 

[778]

I've responded to to the consultation. The only real issue I have with this is not being able to add a Network Railcard discount to an Oyster card. I am doubly stung by the removal as my nearest Zone 6 station is Heathrow T4 where only anytime fares are available, so I am always paying a premium if I can't buy a discounted travelcard.

I assume the answer is no chance... but have there been any discussions at TFL re adding a Network Railcard discount to Oyster?

The Network Railcard will probably be gone in a few years time. If it was ever going to be added to Oyster it would have happened years ago.

 

[SussexSeagull]

Letter from Matt Rodda, MP for Redding East

 

[JonathanH]

Letter from Matt Rodda, MP for Redding East

Again, a shame that he is misinformed about the cost of the off-peak Contactless cap from Reading. His letter, while absolutely expressing the right sentiment, will be dismissed easily by TfL.

 

[alholmes]

Tom Edwards from BBC reporting on Twitter that the Mayor has just confirmed the withdrawal of the one-day Travelcard from outside London. Not been able to find any confirmation on the Mayor of London website yet.

https://twitter.com/bbctomedwards/status/1682365611886669825?s=61&t=v8jM_B9OBPwJtGB_7WM2Fg

 

[Adam Williams]

Nice Friday news dump from TfL, there.

 

[Bletchleyite]

If the issue is the price of these tickets, why not simply increase the price so the Travelcard component is paid the same as it would be inboundary? Many are priced that way anyway.

 

[island]

If the issue is the price of these tickets, why not simply increase the price so the Travelcard component is paid the same as it would be inboundary? Many are priced that way anyway.

Indeed, that would seem more reasonable. The way it stands it's just Sadiq pissing people off.

 

[James H]

Full documentation here:

MD3142 Withdrawal of Day Travelcards on TfL Network

MD3142 Withdrawal of Day Travelcards on TfL Network

www.london.gov.uk

TfL has previously discussed with the Train Operating Companies (TOCs) whether a fairer way to share the income from Day Travelcards could be agreed, however this has not yet been achieved. Therefore, in line with the requirement of the government funding settlement for TfL to generate additional revenue in the current financial year, this Mayoral Decision (MD) asks the Mayor to direct TfL to give six-months’ notice to terminate the relevant provisions of the Travelcard Agreement. This would mean from a date in January 2024 before 21 January 2024, Day Travelcards will no longer be sold or accepted by TfL for travel on the TfL network. Should the Department for Transport and TOCs propose an alternative arrangement during this notice period which is financially acceptable to TfL and allows it to meet the requirements of its funding agreement with Government, this notice could (by agreement) be retracted and Day Travelcards remain available.

 

[Bletchleyite]

Indeed, that would seem more reasonable. The way it stands it's just Sadiq pissing people off.

Indeed. People would still buy them priced like that* for the convenience.

Edit: the document James H posted would seem to suggest this is a possibility if the TOCs agree it. But I can't help but think the Government would prefer Sadiq to get bad publicity than for this to be done.

* That is, an outboundary Travelcard would be priced the same as a return from Boundary Zone 6 plus the inboundary Travelcard, on which TfL would get the value of the Travelcard component and the TOC get whatever their normal cut would be from it, with the BZ part going fully to the TOC as it would before.

 

[Hadders]

Very sad that a true integrated ticket is being withdrawn. Talk about joined up transport...

TfL should at least wait until phase 2 of Project Oval is implemented.

 

[island]

Full documentation here:

MD3142 Withdrawal of Day Travelcards on TfL Network

MD3142 Withdrawal of Day Travelcards on TfL Network

www.london.gov.uk

Looks like it's affecting all day Travelcards not just outboundary

 

[Watershed]

An utterly pathetic urination contest.

 

[Bletchleyite]

Looks like it's affecting all day Travelcards not just outboundary

I wonder if TfL would see this as an opportunity to withdraw all paper tickets? Would save TVM and gateline maintenance costs.

An utterly pathetic urination contest.

So it seems.

 

[crablab]

I wonder if TfL would see this as an opportunity to withdraw all paper tickets? Would save TVM and gateline maintenance costs.

I expect that is something they are aiming for, but they currently have to accept cross-London tickets so that isn't possible right now.

Although I imagine those will disappear soon too as doing integrated ticketing properly is apparently too hard...

 

[island]

I wonder if TfL would see this as an opportunity to withdraw all paper tickets? Would save TVM and gateline maintenance costs.

I suspect they'd like it very much. If a solution could be found to Maltese-Cross tickets it would probably be happening. (I know there are Zone U12* etc. tickets but sales of these must be a rounding error these days.)

 

[reddragon]

I had the email

Transport for London​ ​

Day Travelcard - Mayoral Decision​

Thank you for your input into our recent engagement via our Have Your Say webpage on the potential impacts of our proposal to stop accepting Day Travelcards on our network. We are writing to you with an update. It is a requirement of our funding settlement with Government – a deal that was required solely because of the impact of the pandemic – for is to deliver considerable savings and generate significant amounts of new additional income. The Mayor has been clear that the withdrawal of Day Travelcards is not something he would be considering were it not for the requirements of the funding deal. The Mayor has now considered our proposal, and after careful consideration, including information you provided in response to the engagement exercise, an Equality Impact Assessment (EqIA) and requirements under our funding settlement with government, the Mayor has reluctantly instructed us to give the required minimum six months’ notice to withdraw from the relevant provisions of the Travelcard agreement. While this six-month process is now underway, it is important that we are clear this remains reversible and does not therefore mean that Day Travelcards will be withdrawn. We and the Mayor remain open to discussing all options with both the Department for Transport, the Rail Delivery Group and the train operating companies, but in a way which would allow us to continue to meet the requirements of the government funding agreement. The existing daily pay as you go caps on contactless or Oyster, which are used by the overwhelming majority of those travelling, will not be affected by this. We would like to reassure you that while these discussions take place Day Travelcards will remain available. We will be in touch when we have a further update.​

 

[Peter Mugridge]

Looks like it's affecting all day Travelcards not just outboundary

That was always the intention.

 

[Jan Mayen]

Presumably the solution to Maltese-Cross tickets is to withdraw those, and get people to pay for cross London travel by contactless

 

[crablab]

Presumably the solution to Maltese-Cross tickets is to withdraw those, and get people to pay for cross London travel by contactless

Which a proportion of people do anyway, despite having a cross-London ticket, because they don't understand they have it/what it is.

 

[Adam Williams]

Or, they choose to do so because it's better/more convenient for them to buy tickets to/from London Terminals and make use of a modern ticket fulfilment method (E-Ticket) instead of ToD. In some cases this is also cheaper than the equivalent cross-London ticket, which a sufficiently advanced journey planner will highlight for you.

 

[crablab]

To be clear: I'm referring to those who have bought and hold a ticket with Maltese cross validity, but who use contactless through the TfL gatelines because they don't know their ticket is valid for that TfL journey.

I have seen, and know people, who do this!

 

[Hadders]

TfL seem to think that Network Railcards and Two Togather Railcards can be added to Oyster.....

MD3142 Withdrawal of Day Travelcards on TfL Network

MD3142 Withdrawal of Day Travelcards on TfL Network

www.london.gov.uk

1.38 Holders of the following Railcards are currently entitled to one-third off the price of a standard off-peak Day Travelcard: 16-25 Railcard; 26-30 Railcard; Senior Railcard; Disabled Persons Railcard; HM Forces Railcard; Veterans Railcard; Network Railcard; Two Together Railcard; and Annual Gold Card. If this MD is approved, customers would no longer be able to buy discounted travelcards; however, they would still be able to add their Railcard to their registered Oyster card (but not contactless bank cards) to get a one-third discount on off-peak daily PAYG fares and price caps.

 

[DanNCL]

This announced the day after Labour failed to win a crucial by election in Uxbridge, partially down to Sadiq Kahn's record as mayor. It's almost as if Labour don't want the support of Londoners...

 

[12LDA28C]

Looks like it's affecting all day Travelcards not just outboundary

Indeed. Pretty much every major city I've been to in Europe and America has an integrated one-day Travelcard type product for use on trains / metro / buses / trams, it seems crazy that London will be doing away with it.