PLANS TO scrap the One Day Travelcard have reportedly been averted as Transport for London (TfL) strikes a deal with the government, but will be more expensive.
On Tuesday, October 24, TfL announced that it was no longer set to discontinue the travel cards following the proposals made by London mayor Sadiq Khan back in July.
The six-month process of discontinuing the travel cards began after it was announced the scheme cost TfL £40m a year in lost fares.
The move sparked outcry from transport campaigners, as well as members of Reading Borough Council, including the mayor of Reading, then lead councillor for climate strategy and transport.
Cllr Page said: “Whether on the basis of cost, the inconvenience of having to buy separate tickets, or the impact on both the environment and on London’s economy, the proposal to withdraw its day travelcard is completely at odds with the established direction of travel for TfL, and indeed local authorities.”
A campaign was also launched last month to save the scheme, which allows travellers to use a single ticket on trains, buses, and the tube.
Mr Khan said that the withdrawal of the travel cards was only being considered as a result of a funding deal with the government following the pandemic.
The plans would have seen increased off-peak fares into the capital, with much of the scheme’s users purchasing tickets to travel into London from the home counties as well as for use travelling around London.
However sources close to the mayor of London have said that an agreement has been reached to keep the daily Travel Card.
BBC London’s transport and environment correspondent, Tom Edwards, tweeted at around midday on Tuesday, October 24, to report that the funding deal had been struck and that plans to scrap the travel card had been shelved.
BREAKING: Daily travelcards have been saved after agreement between City Hall & Rail Delivery Group. Source close to the Mayor: “There’s been a lot of back and forth between TfL, Rail Delivery Group and Government in recent weeks and a good compromise has been found.” >
— Tom Edwards (@BBCTomEdwards) October 24, 2023
Norman Baker from Campaign for Better Transport said: “This is a great decision for sustainable transport and the people who use it, and a happy day for our capital and its businesses.
“Costly and complicated fares are a barrier for too many people when deciding how to travel, so The Day Travelcard is just the sort of simple, integrated ticket that we need across the country if we want to make public transport the easy choice.”
Mr Baker added: “Since we launched our campaign to save the Travelcard, hundreds of people have got in touch to tell us how much they value it, including families with children, teens travelling with youth groups, people with disabilities, people struggling with the cost of living, and people who don’t use contactless or mobile payments.
“They will breathe a sigh of relief today.”
