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.
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.”
Maryam Eslamdoust, TSSA General Secretary, said: “The One Day Travelcard is a popular product for Transport for London passengers, particularly passengers coming from outside London, and the latest announcement now resolves how the fare box income is fairly allocated which is good news for passengers and staff.
“The news bodes well for future negotiations between the London Mayor and Department for Transport which we are monitoring closely.”
Photo credit: Rail Delivery Group
