Posted 8th June 2023 | 1 Comment

Watchdog opposes Travelcards scrapping plan

Travelcards ++ Consumer watchdog London TravelWatch is opposing suggestions that TfL should scrap Day Travelcards in a bid to boost revenue. LTW said scrapping the cards during a cost-of-living squeeze ‘will make things more challenging and expensive’ for many passengers.

First results ++ FirstGroup has reported adjusted operating profit of £154.4 million for the last financial year, as compared with £226.8 million a year earlier. First has launched open access operator Lumo, and has gained a new National Rail contract for Great Western Railway until June 2025, with an option for the DfT to extend it to June 2028. The South Western Railway contract, in which First has an interest of 70 per cent, has also been extended, to May 2025. However, First has now lost TransPennine Express, which was renationalised on 28 May this year, while the future of Avanti West Coast remains uncertain.

Commissioner confirmed ++ Transport for London has confirmed that Andy Lord has been appointed as transport commissioner, after a period as interim commissioner, following the departure of Andy Byford last October. Andy Lord joined TfL in November 2019 as managing director of London Underground and became chief operating officer for all TfL operations last year.

Reader Comments:

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  • James Miller, London

    If TfL want to make a bit of money, they could develop the Freedom Pass, so it was linked to a bank card.

    Then if say, you were going somewhere like Gatwick Airport or anywhere else in the Oyster contactless zone, it would automatically charge the extra to your bank and you wouldn't have all the hassle of buying an extension ticket.

    Removing the hassle might encourage more passengers.

    With all the problem of the ULEZ in outer London, there could even be a scope for an outer-London Freedom Pass, that gives local benefits.

    But London's Mayor is not an innovator!