Sunday, 21 May 2023

London Travel Card Withdrawal threat - please push for its retetion and versatility.

Update 01-08-23

Congratulations to Chris Hyomes for getting ERTA on BBC Radio 4 You and Yours Programme about it. Also our Bedford and Kempston MP has taken up the baton as well: https://mohammadyasin.org/rail-ticket-office-closure-consultation-response/ So a Bravo for all who are doing up proud and will this government listen? Consultation extended by a few weeks so far... we all remember the rail concessionary card attempt to eradicate them at Privatisation? It back-tracked! Costs have spiralled whilst most ordinary people are priced off public transport and government subsidies for more roads/road-based guzzling or battery jobs-at-any-cost, when reopening local railways would massively boost sustainable employment and supply chains. Yet Labour itself is not pro-green as much as it should be it seems. So all need continual lobbying and levelling up for equality for all in better public transport access, but affordability as well in the wider environmental interest please. Join our email newsy loop free via requests to richard.erta@gmail.com

What others are doing: 
I believe a third council from Wokingham has spoken out against TFL's proposal to withdraw One Day Travelcards.


Also, the London Assembly Member named Caroline Pidgeon has published an open letter objecting to TFL's proposal and provided loads of detail including people that had their wallets stolen.


Media coverage 05-06-2023: 

Update 02-06-2023

This is the consultation
https://haveyoursay.tfl.gov.uk/travelcards
The email address to engage in the consultation is Haveyoursay@tfl.gov.uk

He can also contact TFL using the government relations email address.
https://tfl.gov.uk/corporate/about-tfl/how-we-work/public-affairs#on-this-page-2
memberscorrespondence@tfl.gov.uk

Also, you can show him the video posted on YouTube by a transport enthusiast raising issues with the withdrawal of the One Day Travelcard, with references in the description and comments raised under the video. Also people who don't have Oyster or contactless won't be able to travel on London's buses as they don't accept cash payments.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IbSu5ylZonY

And the sales of the One Day Travelcards had increased since the Coronavirus pandemic started in 2020.
https://tfl.gov.uk/corporate/transparency/freedom-of-information/foi-request-detail?referenceId=FOI-2365-2223

Also the MP should know about the London Mayor's transport duty
https://www.legislation.gov.uk/ukpga/1999/29/section/141

and the Equality Act 2010 as it will affect protected groups.
https://www.legislation.gov.uk/ukpga/2010/15/part/1
https://www.legislation.gov.uk/ukpga/2010/15/notes/division/3/1/1

and

Would you be able to share this out to various people including your local MP and Neil Middleton of Railfuture please.

This is very recent information I've found on TFL's freedom of information website about the Day Travelcards:

TfL Issued Tickets
Year 2018/19
2019/20
2020/21
2021/22
2022/23

Issues TfL Revenue (£) Issues TfL Revenue (£) Issues TfL Revenue (£) Issues TfL Revenue (£) Issues TfL Revenue (£)
Day Travelcard (Peak) 823,871 9,438,239 726,700 8,306,361 21,040 286,193 160,876 1,912,416 521,845 5,883,158

Day Travelcard (Off-peak) 4,564,103 46,270,685 3,678,702 38,541,652 216,796 1,919,530 1,439,986 14,470,122 3,049,404 32,181,557
of which Railcard discount N/A
236,880
27,525
141,943
181,881
of which Group Day Travelcard N/A
216,347
806
16,092
132,902

N/A - these figures were not reported at the time and data required to extract this from is only kept for 4 years.

Here's a link to the freedom of information page containing the spreadsheet attachment.
https://tfl.gov.uk/corporate/transparency/freedom-of-information/foi-request-detail?referenceId=FOI-0339-2324

This is proof that TFL must retain the Day Travelcards and they must finally back off on their decision.

The campaign is making progress and we welcome you to kindly help keep up the pressure. Thanks to all who have responded.
ERTA London More Rails for Hertfordshire English Regional Transport Association (ERTA)

Hope food for thought and action in favour of retention of the Travelcard please. Write/email your MP: https://members.parliament.uk/members/commons

Update 23-05-2023

I've found a few documents on the Parliament and government website in regards to social and financial exclusion.


TFL have still yet to publish an Equality Impact Assessment on their proposal.

The Equality Act 2010 states:

Section 1

Public sector duty regarding socio-economic inequalities
(1) An authority to which this section applies must, when making decisions of a strategic nature about how to exercise its functions, have due regard to the desirability of exercising them in a way that is designed to reduce the inequalities of outcome which result from socio-economic disadvantage.

(2) In deciding how to fulfil a duty to which it is subject under subsection (1), an authority must take into account any guidance issued in accordance with subsection (2A).

(3) The authorities to which this section applies are—
(d) the Greater London Authority;

https://www.legislation.gov.uk/ukpga/2010/15/part/1

Explanatory Notes
Commentary on Section 1

23. This section requires specified public bodies, when making strategic decisions such as deciding priorities and setting objectives, to consider how their decisions might help to reduce the inequalities associated with socio-economic disadvantage. Such inequalities could include inequalities in education, health, housing, crime rates, or other matters associated with socio-economic disadvantage. It is for public bodies subject to the duty to determine which socio-economic inequalities they are in a position to influence.

https://www.legislation.gov.uk/ukpga/2010/15/notes/division/3/1/1

Although TFL is not mentioned in this legislation, they are under control of the GLA.

And to recap the Mayor's statutory transport duties in the GLA Act 1999:

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

Everyone must take note of these legislations, they don't have to be an expert in law, if TFL and the Mayor decides to proceed with the proposal to make travel in London much harder, then organisations (especially disability groups as they have Railcard discounts for themselves and their companions) should challenge this against TFL and the Mayor in courts.

Quick update, TFL has extended the deadline for the engagement by two weeks (6th June) which gives us enough time.

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

I've taken a read of Rail Future's articles calling on TFL to retain the Day Travelcards.
 
https://railfuture.org.uk/article1903-Keep-the-London-Travelcard
https://railfuture.org.uk/Press-release-11th-May-2023-B
 
Would you be able to share the email (including the one below) to Neil Middleton, as he missed out on various points made by my friend. I've been seeing more people raising concerns on social media about how the loss of the Day Travelcards will make it harder for them to travel in situations where their Oyster or Freedom pass and contactless card get lost or stolen. Unfortunately, London is a high crime area, and many people lost their belongings to pickpockets and robberies. TFL's proposal will make travel to and within London much harder and will create barriers, especially among vulnerable and the disabled people.
 
Also, people who are waiting for their replacement Oyster card or Freedom pass (including 60+ Oyster) and their contactless card to arrive at their address won't be able to travel because the cost of a new Oyster card is £7, which is very expensive! That means they won't be able to travel to work or attend their appointments.
 
Neil has also missed out that London's buses haven't taken cash fares since 2014, TFL's proposal will definitely make it hard for people to travel on London's buses without the Day Travelcards.
 
This is why the in boundary part of the Day Travelcard must be retained because it will affect victims of crime and other vulnerable people!
A YouTuber with over 25k subscribers has also raised concerns about TFL's proposal and raised similar points. I suggest that the video be shared with Neil, and some of the commenters raised their concerns as wll.
https://youtu.be/IbSu5ylZonY
 
A disability organisation named Inclusion London and Inclusion Barnet has raised their concerns about TFL's proposal on Twitter.
 
https://twitter.com/InclusionLondon/status/1653750938769711105
 
More transport organisations and the Reading Council has also raised their concerns.
 
https://newsroom.londontravelwatch.org.uk/news/scrapping-day-travelcards-transport-watchdog-responds
https://twitter.com/TransportFocus/status/1653331958749962244
https://bettertransport.org.uk/media/withdrawing-day-travelcards-will-be-a-step-backwards-says-transport-charity/
https://media.reading.gov.uk/news/council-objects-to-proposed-removal-of-one-day-travelcard-to-london
 
Also in the email below, Neil should quote the Mayor of London's statutory transport duty from the GLA Act. I'm not a lawyer, but this piece of legislation must be raised to know that the Mayor may breach his statutory transport duty by allowing TFL to proceed with the proposal, along with the Equality Act 2010, as TFL's proposal will affect various protected groups. If the Mayor presses ahead with TFL's proposal, someone (including an organisation) should be taking legal action against the Mayor and test the GLA Act statutory transport powers and the Equality Act 2010 in courts.
 
Also, you're welcome to pass the information on to your local MP.
 
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!

 

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IbSu5ylZonY&authuser=0

Note the author wishes to remain anon. ERTA passes this information on in good faith. For the medium term, join ERTA and give us your help and support: https://ertarail.co.uk/

 

 

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Location: London, UK

Monday, 15 May 2023

Freight by rail: example for copy and paste across the regions?

21-08-23

All laudable stuff, but I doubt you'll achieve 50% modal shift back to rail without re-railing stratgic missing links and gaps in the rail network and that means a rolling programme of reopenings and select rebuilds/new-builds. Two examples are S#horeham-#Horsham-#Guildford for South Coast-West London extra capacity and #Reading and beyond likewise using same new tracks. Another is #Northampton-Market Harborough (Northampton has a new rail-based depot) and this link would enable #Oxford-Milton Keynes-Northampton (a principal sized town) and onwards to Leicester and the wider East Midlands but also Felixstowe via Peterborough. No east-west rail for 100 miles north of London, thanks to the closures and East-West Rail east of Bedford goes the wrong way, some don't even think it caters for freight, has no west-north curve capacility for Midland Main Line access from the east and does not include an arm to Northampton for Northampton, DIRFT and West Midlands. You route all via North London and existing over-stretched orbitals and cacpacity remains the great unknown. HS2 is not a panacea, we need local line reopenings alongside, filling gaps and catering for local access to/from the international rail network.






19-08-2023

For ERTA's purposes, getting tracks back makes a load of sense. Brackmills needs re-railing like it or not as part of the Bedford Link. I attach a picture of a typical rush hour scene on the A45-Brackmills road: 
See: https://www.bis-hendersonspace.com/is-the-golden-triangle-still-the-centre-of-uk-logistics/#:~:text=The%20Golden%20Triangle%20refers%20to%20an%20area%20of,being%20home%20to%20the%20biggest%20names%20in%20retail.
Northampton is part of this, yet apart from over-used WCML, no east-west rails or links direct with East Midlands. So A14/A45/A43 gets a lion's share of juggernauts and other traffic, meeting M1 in an urban area, makes bad air! https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/health-matters-air-pollution/health-matters-air-pollution
Bedford is not far behind gridlock and bad air! Protect the old rail route adjacent to Delapre Abbey on the one hand, but if a new route arcingly north of Turvey were to go in, as old route via Olney is lost, how does new houses at Turvey aid that before a route is viable established as a working presumption?
It is ERTA's view Bedford-Cambridge East-West Rail should enter Bedford from the east via St John's enabling west-north movements through Bedford Midland to a new link to the west to Northampton. If Northern Route is chosen, it makes no facilitation for arcing direct across to Northampton or west to north for Midland Main Line north of Bedford = a missed opportunity of long term consequences.

We need it bringing together as a 'Y' on its side: Oxford/Northampton-Cambridge/East Anglia and vice versa. It makes more of a case for the Northampton-Market Harborough Line to bring Southampton/Bristol/Oxford to Milton Keynes Central, Northampton, Market Harborough, Leicester and East Midlands 'The North' 'not via Birmingham, which frees a load of capacity off main lines. To explore further, please email richard.erta@gmail.com 



19-06-23

This report is well worth a read. East-West Rail is cross-referenced at varying stages: https://www.networkrail.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2021/07/Solent-to-the-Midlands-Multimodal-Freight-Strategy-Phase-1-June-2021.pdf Question is, how can you bring-in the ECML if no physical rail connections?



Surely these types of initiatives should have government plans and backing to roll out across the regions to clean up our environment more? Surely we need initiatives like this to be government led, nationwide and cleaning up our environment a top priority with tracks and trains to inform enablement more? https://www.chesterstandard.co.uk/news/23514766.glass-container-manufacturer-trials-delivering-bottles-rail/

Folders Sidings maybe? Northampton as well? What about near where you live? Brent Cross and Leicester too? It needs a nationwide vision! The list can go on but local or regional, the Government should be leading the way surely more and ensuring incentives to do so 'carrot and stick'?
ERTA understands there's about to be a planning application to build houses over the old St John's Station site in Bedford and the new Mayor combined with NOC Council and North East Beds MP Richard Fuller, want to oppose Northern Route E. In short, there's no Plan B? We will oppose the housing and insist there is!
Please stand by for updates as news comes in and we will orchestrate to the best of our ability. Tom Wootton Conservative (farmer and land owner based in Ravensden is now Elected Mayor). 
Meanwhile, England's Economic Heartlands has sent us this link: https://www.englandseconomicheartland.com/our-work/connectivity-studies/ Although we wish they would get behind and support our rail reopening calls, they instead plum for a. existing east-west rail Oxbridge corridor and b. Northampton-Peterborough which although re-railing in an ideal world would be a boost for freight by rail and taking on A14 to the South Midlands more, is as far gone as the original Bedford-Sandy-Cambridge Rail Corridor. Besides, 2050 is too late, longevity is fine if predicates now are soundly based. Alas, they are 'business as usual' in a Climate Emergency amidst resource diminutives whereby natural resources are depleted, recycling toyed with at best and basis of transport operations more roads and aviation than sound as a pound 'greener' rail-based solutions even with diesels, as one locomotive can haul about 16 juggernaut lorries per train... tonnages off local roads, with savings in such wakes. As ever a trade off, some just don't see the trees from the proverbial woods!
Please join ERTA and help us with these and other tasks to promote better public transport, local rail reopenings and growing association representation and efficient administration: https://ertarail.co.uk/

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Location: England, UK

Monday, 8 May 2023

ERTA Sheffield Forum: Agenda for Saturday 20 May - Sheffield. - Benjamin Huntsman, 12-18 Cambridge Street, Sheffield, South Yorks. S1 4UD

 https://www.modernrailways.com/article/woodhead-reborn

Agenda for Saturday 20 May - Sheffield. - Benjamin Huntsman,
12-18 Cambridge Street, Sheffield, South Yorks. S1 4UD https://www.jdwetherspoon.com/pubs/all-pubs/england/south-yorkshire/the-benjamin-huntsman-sheffield. T. 0114-263-9500. 1pm Lunch; 2-4pm business.
1.     Appointment of a chair for the meeting (not Simon)
2.     Apologies for absence
3.     Don Valley: News and update.
4.     Woodhead: news and update/scope/business cases
5.     MEMRAP progress
6.     Leeds-Northallerton via Ripon et al/A61 corridor
7.     Any Other item or business/growing a team/membership recruitment and delegation.
8.     Day, Date, Time, and Place of Next Forum
Notes:
1.     Please arrive early at said venue and butt two tables together to make 8 chairs.
2.     Only invite 8 people as representatives
3.     More meetings can be arranged if demand and resources allow
4.     Take an attendance list
5.     Invite to join ERTA as a base-note of good intent.

Disclaimer: ERTA is doing a ‘get out more’ Summer Wetherspoons-based Forum style get together to reach out to parts of the country we do not usually visit. If you wish to join us, please notify 

Mr Simon Barber T. 0208 940 4399 E. simon4barber@gmail.com 

All welcome, an agenda will be issued.


 


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Location: Sheffield, UK

Friday, 5 May 2023

Annual General Meeting (AGM) followed by Ampthill-Flitwick Transport Forum: Saturday 15th July Notice - Open to all/all welcome!

Annual General Meeting (AGM) followed by Ampthill-Flitwick Transport Forum: Saturday 15th July 1pm food, 2-3pm AGM, 3-4 Discussion at The Swan Pub, 1 Dunstable Road, Bedford MK45 1HP T: 01525 754777 E: enquiries@theswanflitwick.co.uk

This will be followed by a discussion around Ampthill Railway Station Reopening Prospects and associated wider area matters. It does not matter if you live near or far, this is your association, meeting, and opportunity. Both the association needs a growing and pro-active membership as well as a local area rep for Ampthill-Flitwick. Come along and join-in.

The venue is opposite the Thameslink served local railway station as well as having ample parking and bus links nearby. Both hold the executive to account, but consider how you can help and offer to serve as well please. If you wish to stand or serve in any capacity, please let us know via richard.erta@gmail.com



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Location: Bedfordshire, UK

Wednesday, 19 April 2023

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!


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.


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.


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

 

 

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Location: London, UK

Thursday, 6 April 2023

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

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Location: England, UK
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