Supplementary memorandum from London TravelWatch
(TPT 09a)
INTEGRATED TRANSPORT
1. Is ticketing sufficiently integrated across
different modes of transport and different geographical areas?
In our earlier written statement we said that
"London TravelWatch has recently expressed concern about
the length of queues at Underground ticket offices at major National
Rail termini in London (Kings Cross, Euston, Paddington, Victoria,
Liverpool Street). Much of this problem stems from rail passengers
arriving without tickets that would take them onward via the Underground.
In many cases this is because they have not been made aware of
the availability at their stations of origin of tickets which
include a Travelcard. In the case of some journeys from places
outside the former Network SouthEast area, no such through ticket
exists. For visitors to London staying for more than one day,
it would be helpful if the longer distance train operators (Virgin,
Midland Main Line, One, GNER, First Great Western) followed the
example of Gatwick Express and sold pre-paid Oyster Pay-As-You-Go
(PAYG) cards on their trains and at booking offices. It will be
particularly important to resolve this matter before the 2012
Olympics". We would advise the Select Committee that whilst
some efforts have been made to resolve this situation, at Kings
Cross St Pancras the problem has got substantially worse since
the Eurostar and transfer to St. Pancras International, particularly
at London Underground's western ticket hall.
2. Does the Government have an adequate strategy
for developing the integration of ticketing systems?
Since we submitted our evidence to the committee
much of what we said is likely to have been or will be overtaken
by events. Firstly, that the government has made mention of ticketing
systems within the High Level Output Statement and in the Local
Transport Bill there is also a commitment to review a number of
competition law applications in relation to the bus network.
THE USE
OF SMARTCARD
TECHNOLOGIES
3. Is the industry taking up modern smartcard
technologies adequately and appropriately?
Transport for London are now trialling adding
Oystercard to mobile phone applications.
4. Does the ITSO system cater for the needs
of all passengers and travel providers?
No further comment.
5. What can be learned from the experiences
of areas such as London and Scotland where smartcard technology
is already in place?
The high take-up rate of Oyster in London has
been boosted by the substantial fares savings offered to passengers
willing and able to switch to electronic payment technology. But
currently these savings are only available to users travelling
on services provided by Transport for London, and they could be
withdrawn at any time. Currently, there seems little prospect
of their being extended to National Rail passengers when Oyster
Pay-As-You-Go becomes more generally available to them too. There
have been a number of extensions to Pay-As-You-Go on the National
Rail network in recent months. However, Train Operators continue
to maintain the position that when Pay-As-You-Go is extended throughout
London that they will not offer any discounts over the cash fare.
This is likely to lead to confusion and dissatisfaction amongst
passengers, especially when some Train Operating Companies are
already offering discounts over cash fares on some of their services.
In addition, we still have concerns about the
impact of the Governments' requirement in Train Operators' franchises
to the ITSO smartcard such that within London, operators such
as South West Trains, although they are committed to accepting
Oyster, are refusing to contemplate selling Oyster at their stations.
Again this is likely to lead to confusion and dissatisfaction
amongst passengers.
REVENUE PROTECTION
AND THE
POWERS OF
TICKET INSPECTORS
6. Is the legal framework within which ticket
inspectors appropriate?
7. What appeal mechanisms exist for passengers
and are they adequate?
8. Are the rights of passengers and the powers
of ticket inspectors well balanced?
We continue to press the Department for Transport
to review the Penalty Fares appeals criteria and hope for their
agreement to do this shortly
9. Do operators of public transport take
adequate measures to protect fares revenue?
No further comments to add.
CONCESSIONARY FARES—THE
RIGHT STRATEGY?
10. Is the Government's concessionary fares
strategy, including the proposed scheme for concessionary bus
travel, adequate?
We continue to have concerns about the Government's
concessionary fares strategy, particularly their reluctance to
include other modes of transport such as Trams and Community Transport
which provide services equivalent to local bus services.
11. Are concessionary fares schemes sufficiently
integrated across different modes of transport and different geographical
areas?
No further comments to add.
December 2007
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