ESSENTIAL READ: TFL opens consultation to end the sale of One Day Travelcards 1904-2023

Update at 01-05-2023:

Thanks for those of you who have waded in and please write afresh to MP's and Councils and Government to pressure them to have an inclusive, accessible and diversified transport, ticketing and travel scope for all, not just those of a digital orientation. Economically we need visitors to sustain small to medium businesses, so optimising footfall and spend is in economic interest surely?

 

Likewise, transport other than cars and roads, is a contribution to cleaner air and given air pollution a major killer, should be supported and given a credit towards making it attractive. Cancel the card and you cancel the benefit. 

https://www.standard.co.uk/news/london/air-pollution-bad-london-sadiq-khan-ulez-ella-kissi-debrah-b977547.html

Socially, a day out in London, beit individuals or families, is a real social and educational gain and boost and in these austere times, optimising such opportunities 'social capital gains' should again be accredited and inclusive.

The message is clear, please retain the Travelcard.

Good morning. Sorry for the late response.

I'll have to mention that the loss of the One Day Travelcards will cause people to get stranded and will deter people from visiting London.

I've been told a story by a friend of a friend of a friend, etc. She mentioned that she had her Oyster card stolen to pick pockets, and she does not hold contactless cards as she fears thieves would use her stolen cards to buy stuff and travel on public transport as they don't require a chip and pin.

She's lucky she had cash (a minimum of £20) with her, which allowed her to buy a One Day Travelcard at a station to continue with her journey.

She had to wait ages for her new Oyster card to get sent through the post, there's no point getting a new one on the day because it costs £7, and it's really expensive! Instead, she purchases a One Day Travelcard on each day until her new Oyster card arrives in the post as she has to travel by train (TFL and National Rail) and bus in London to work, etc.

Not only will the withdrawal of the One Day Travelcard affect various groups of people (ranging from the disabled, vulnerable, tourists, etc.), but they will also have problems travelling on London's buses as they don't take cash payments and only accept Oyster cards and contactless cards.

This will certainly cause more vulnerable people to get stranded, especially companions of Railcard holders as they get 1/3 off on the One Day Travelcards, and this will cause more problems for the companions of disabled people that are wheelchair bound as they won't be able to travel on London's buses! This will cause disruption to London's bus services, as it will cause problems for bus drivers!

The big issue is that the withdrawal of the One Day Travelcard will cause people to get stranded!

Imagine losing your Oyster and contactless cards to thieves. How would you be able to travel? Especially as you safely arrived home and still had to wait for TFL and your bank to send you replacement cards, which usually take a long time, and you won't be able to travel on public transport because TFL ended the sale of One Day Travelcards? The people at the Greater London Authority (including the Mayor), TFL, and the government should realise the mental pain these people had to go through!

Please, I urge you to get your followers and subscribers to contact their local MP, Councillor, Assembly Member, etc. and raise their concerns on how TFL's proposal will affect all groups of people including the vulnerable! Also tell others, such as transport user groups, charities, etc., to do the same!

https://www.writetothem.com/

To recap, the people, including the Ministers in the Department for Transport, like to claim that TFL is a devolved matter, but they actually have the power by law to veto the proposal!

Greater London Authority Act 1999

Section 143 - Directions by the Secretary of State.

(1) Where the Secretary of State considers that—

(a) the transport strategy (or any part of it) is inconsistent with national policies relating to transport, and

(b) the inconsistency is detrimental to any area outside Greater London,he may direct the Mayor to make such revisions of the transport strategy in order to remove the inconsistency as may be specified in the direction.

(2) Where the Secretary of State gives the Mayor a direction under subsection (1) above, the Mayor shall revise the transport strategy in accordance with the direction.

https://www.legislation.gov.uk/ukpga/1999/29/section/143

And the proposal to withdraw the One Day Travelcards is against the Mayor of London's statutory transport duty:

Section 141 - General transport duty.

(1) The Mayor shall develop and implement policies for the promotion and encouragement of safe, integrated, efficient and economic transport facilities and services to, from and within Greater London.

(2) The powers of the Authority under this Part shall be exercised for the purpose of securing the provision of the transport facilities and services mentioned in subsection (1) above.

(3) The transport facilities and services mentioned in subsection (1) above include facilities and services for pedestrians and are—

(a) those required to meet the needs of persons living or working in, or visiting, Greater London, and

(b) those required for the transportation of freight.

https://www.legislation.gov.uk/ukpga/1999/29/section/141

Please, don't forget to quote these laws to MPs, Councillors and Assembly Members!

ESSENTIAL READ: TFL opens consultation to end the sale of One Day Travelcards

Hello

 

You may remember last year that I've sent a mass email to raise awareness about TFL's proposal to withdraw from the Travelcard Agreement.

 

Unfortunately there's bad news!

 

TFL has now opened up a consultation to withdraw the sale of One Day Travelcards.

 

https://haveyoursay.tfl.gov.uk/travelcards

 

The engagement will close on 23 May 2023.

 

Many areas in the UK and cities around the world have tickets equivalent to the One Day Travelcard (as shown from the previous email below), this will be totally unfair if TFL ditches theirs for London!

 

This will negatively impact people who are disabled (and hold a railcard for discounts) and overseas visitors to London. One wheelchair user tweeted that he got a maximum fare on Oyster PAYG because he had to take a break at Stratford station while interchanging.

 

"Hi @TfLAccess I’m having issues just breaking the max journey time now I’m in a wheelchair. Are you able to help in anyway? Got charged max fare off peak going to Green Park from Buckhurst Hill. I needed a short rest at Stratford inside gate line. Think I missed it by 10 mins."

 

https://twitter.com/TubeSnapper/status/1638202718706606081

 

And yet, TFL's policy can fix the maximum fares 3 times per calendar month. This will make travel very expensive for disabled people and this is a discriminatory move by TFL as it may breach the Equality Act 2010!

 

https://tfl.gov.uk/fares/refunds-and-replacements/exceeded-maximum-journey-time

 

No doubt this will create a barrier for disabled people because it will increase their travel costs to London. Although some disabled people don't have a Freedom pass because they live outside of Greater London or the London borough council refuses to issue them because it does not fit their criteria, which is discriminatory!

 

This is also not the time for TFL to consider such proposal as they are expanding ULEZ to the whole of Greater London.

 

I believe this may breach the Mayor's statutory powers from the Greater London Authority Act 1999, which states:

Section 141
General transport duty.

(1) The Mayor shall develop and implement policies for the promotion and encouragement of safe, integrated, efficient and economic transport facilities and services to, from and within Greater London.
(2) The powers of the Authority under this Part shall be exercised for the purpose of securing the provision of the transport facilities and services mentioned in subsection (1) above.
(3) The transport facilities and services mentioned in subsection (1) above include facilities and services for pedestrians and are—
(a) those required to meet the needs of persons living or working in, or visiting, Greater London, and
(b) those required for the transportation of freight.
 
https://www.legislation.gov.uk/ukpga/1999/29/section/141
 
By the way, I'm not a lawyer, I'm only showing these laws if anyone wishes to take legal action against TFL and the Mayor of London to stop their proposal on withdrawing the sale of One Day Travelcards.
 
Therefore, I urge to get the issue raised with your MP and get the Secretary of State to use the powers from the Greater London Authority Act 1999 to halt TFL's proposal on ending the sale of One Day Travelcards.
 
Section 143
Directions by the Secretary of State.

(1) Where the Secretary of State considers that—
(a) the transport strategy (or any part of it) is inconsistent with national policies relating to transport, and
(b) the inconsistency is detrimental to any area outside Greater London,
 
he may direct the Mayor to make such revisions of the transport strategy in order to remove the inconsistency as may be specified in the direction.

(2) Where the Secretary of State gives the Mayor a direction under subsection (1) above, the Mayor shall revise the transport strategy in accordance with the direction.

https://www.legislation.gov.uk/ukpga/1999/29/section/143
 
The reason for quoting the legislation because the government tends to claim that TFL is a devolved matter, but the law states that the government do have the powers to stop their plans!
 
And yet the government, as part of the Bus Service Improvement Plan, is encouraging more local transport authorities to create their own ticketing schemes equivalent to the Travelcard.
 
There must be seamless, integrated local ticketing between operators and this should be across all types of transport
85. The Strategy sets out a bold ambition for an integrated ticketing approach to allow passengers to buy a through journey for local bus, rail and metro with a single tap on a smartphone. BSIPs should set out at a high level what is required to deliver nofuss, multi-operator tickets and price caps on contactless credit and debit cards, at little or no premium to single operator fares, and where appropriate how this could be expanded to tickets that cover all travel modes (bus, light rail/metro, rail). All buses should accept contactless payment and all operators running on the same route should accept the same tickets.
 
https://assets.publishing.service.gov.uk/government/uploads/system/uploads/attachment_data/file/985379/bus-service-improvement-plans-guidance-to-local-authorities-and-bus-operators.pdf
 
Despite the proposal, TFL is stuck in the past and does not sell One Day Travelcards and Bus Passes in their Oyster and Contactless app, unlike other areas where they sell day travel passes in their apps.
 
https://tfl.gov.uk/fares/how-to-pay-and-where-to-buy-tickets-and-oyster/tfl-oyster-and-contactless-app
 
Please, I urge you to circulate this among other user groups ASAP!

ERTA Comment: A correspondent who wishes to remain anonymous has sent this report to us which some of you may be interested in. We need a railway and system which caters for both digital and non-digital audiences and preserves walk-on, walk-off liberty and discounts available. 

The paper travelcard has a provenly good and encouraging track record and serves London-wide access to better public transport well. We need people staffing at stations who are not just security jackets, but public friendly faces able to equip and assist passengers with their needs as per the design of rolling stock, jury at least is out as to whether we're getting there or still at odds with these goals. More provision - a vestibule for luggage, bikes and other bulky stuff is needed, as access when crowded means inaccessibility between corridors, carriages and a bad situation if ones bag on wheels for example is in a luggage section and your 'reserved seat' is half way down the carriage and it is crowded. Luggage in such a circumstance can be tampered with or indeed a security risk? Please write to your MP and help retain the One Day Paper Travel Cards, the retention of Booking Offices and adequate customer service oriented staff. 

One thought is that privatisation has bled money out of the industry whereas renationalisation could mean profit can be better ploughed back into more and better x whatever we wish for. No panaceas, but time has shown the Government keeps a tight grip, money is constrained and more and better is compromised. Then there's expansion!

So please have a read and if sympathetic act now. See attached/scroll down for the pdf. Feel free to pass on.

For the article above as a pdf please email richard.erta@gmail.com

 

 

Rail Users Deserve Better - A joined-up railway and value for money/quality and prices people can buy into!

Travel Diary: On 11th March I took the train between #Bedford and Market Harborough (MH) and back. I took a bag on wheels. Whilst government must take some responsibility, it begs the question also does the Unitary-Mayoral model of Local Government render to a quisling culture and a figurehead as 'the extended arm of Central Government' rather than a lobby-voice for the people and their 'local' aspirations? Bedford has a huge debate on routes and to be or not to be on East-West Rail but existing rail-based public transport leaves much to be desired. To get to MH one needs to change at Kettering, invariably go over the footbridge and do the same on return, meaning 2 trains to get to and from MH or #Leicester from #Bedford. That is a time-cost, that is an inconvenience. The gaps between low platforms and train steps in a context of many getting off and on, means for older people like myself, great care is required to avoid falling through the gap or breaking a bone on a hard step-off.

Cost and ticket was not such an issue, but NRES, which is fairly good, said pre-book when kind ticket office people said not required. I was thankful for the latter. Plenty of spare seats to Kettering, but only 5 coaches or so and choca-block on the East Midlands express services which call at MH. Standing room only, yes fast, yes only a few minutes, but had I of pre-booked a specific seat reservation: a. I could not get to it and where to put luggage? b. I could not get up and to doors to alight. No better coming back either. Lifts useful when working, not always the case, so I have to carry bag on wheels over busy footbridges. Government cuts and 'reforms' mean less staff, stringent rationing and Mick Lynch is right to flag these up as dysfunction for rail and passenger needs also.

On 5th April I travelled off-peak to #Guildford and the ticket with a disabled railcard cost £31.85 return. Now why get rid of Return Tickets? I bought it on the day at a ticket office and one ticket took me there with underground and the other brought me back via 'any permitted route'. I think Returns should be an option and should give a discount regardless plus concessionaries off peak and singles should be either comparable or Returns courting a discount for more rail usage? From Bedford, train was delayed due to no driver we were told, and then went semi-fast calling only at #Luton to St Pancras and onwards as a #Thameslink normal service. I alighted at St Pancras, got the tube and ended up at Waterloo. As the sun shone, I thought Waterloo was at its best. I found a fast train for #Portsmouth via Guildford and only one stop at #Woking. There was a commotion by one lady and some others who discovered 3 out of 4 toilets locked out of action, this a busy 'express' service!

I did what I went to do and came back via Guildford-#Redhill (for Thameslink connection). All fine as far as it goes, but no-one on that route checked any tickets, so plenty for free-bies? Cause unknown and uncommunicated. I left Guildford approx. 15.15

I got a Thameslink train at Redhill but it was going to #Peterborough, so I alighted at busy #Blackfriars and due to a 10 minute wait at a signal en-route to London Bridge, the Bedford train came in within about 10 minutes. It was packed but by Luton plenty of spare capacity. One person walked through the train (Peterborough bound) from East Croydon-#London asking for money, food and any donations. One knows not whether genuine or a scammer, but how did he afford a ticket if destitute/who paid it? Likewise grafitti can be observed in many cases where one can think 'how did they get 'there''? Like bike theft, such is either well planned, organised and executed, an insider job or some grey area between?

Lastly as far as Bedford is concerned, reinstate trains on the Bedford-#Bletchley Railway as Vivarail stock is available elsewhere, why not exact same model and deal for our line too? Farce is how one observer describes it, darned reckless could be another. Government is not going public, is not communicating and surely Government must bring fragments together and ensure the rail wheels keep turning?

My conclusion so far is that whilst we need reopenings, rebuilds and reinstatements and that agenda, we also need some human-faced and funded TLC of customer care, seamless journeys and more attention to detail and joined-upness. I am glad disabled people's views are being sought. I want one nation, one railway and basic standards from accessible toilets (Bedford male/female toilets are too small per volume/where is the 'disabled' cubical?) and price/value for money and no, I am not an advocate for 'Third Class' either!

Addendum: Re: https://www.railwaygazette.com/uk/class-230s-finally-enter-service-with-transport-for-wales/63897.article If they, Isle of Wright, Wrexham can procure and manage these trains, why not London North Western for Bedford-Bletchley or third-party joint loan scheme and share costs on maintenance for example?

It seems we are being made an exception when with X5 now hourly and curtailed time-table-wise, we need more public transport options to arc across between WCML and MML/Bedford and Milton Keynes? Waiting for East-West Rail seems daft, they won't want loads of intermediate stations to serve, rather end-to-end fasts. So we need champions for the shuttle too and who blinks first, must surely win?

ERTA hits the news, but how-to get our trains back with a fragmented half-hearted system?

https://www.bedsbulletin.com/bulletin/2023/04/13/erta-perplexed-with-where-have-all-our-trains-gone/

Let us have your ideas and feedback via richard.erta@gmail.com

See latest update at 14-09-2023: 

https://www.londonnorthwesternrailway.co.uk/travel-information/service-disruptions/marston-vale-line-buses-replace-trains-until-autumn-2023