Croydon MP hails protection of day travel card

By Harrison Galliven, Local Democracy Reporter

Croydon South MP Chris Philp has welcomed Tuesday’s announcement that paper travel cards would be saved as “good news” for South Croydon

Philp, the MP in London’s most southerly borough, said: “This is something which I campaigned for because constituents feel very strongly about it and I’m glad Sadiq Kahn has been forced into a U-turn on this.”

“My constituents rely heavily on the Brighton mainline connection so I think this will be very well received as good news. It is just a shame that Sadiq Khan caused worry and anxiety by proposing it in the first place.”

In July this year, TfL announced their proposal to scrap the popular one day travel card as part of its settlement with the government over Covid funding. The scrapping of this card, which allows passengers to ride on all affiliated TfL transport for a flat rate, was reckoned to make savings of £40million per year.

This ticket is particularly popular with passengers on the outer fringes of the borough, like those in Croydon, and is used more than 14 million times a year by those visiting the city. 27 million travel cards were sold at their peak in 2018, before that figure dropped to 12 million during the pandemic.

Sadiq Khan’s initial proposal meant that after a six-month period, the paper travel card would no longer be sold or accepted on TfL, tube, bus, rail, tram and London Overground services. However, in the wake of heavy opposition from public campaigns across the capital, TfL announced that it has negotiated with rail firms to save the ticket, thus ensuring it’s circulation for the near future.

London Mayor Sadiq Khan said: “Delighted to announce we’ve managed to save the day travel card. This saves a much-valued ticket option for visitors to London, while giving TfL a fairer share of ticket revenue.”

Rail Delivery Group commercial director, Paul Bowden, 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.”

Norman Baker from Campaign for Better Transport said those who use the cards to travel into the capital will “breathe a sigh of relief today. This is a great decision for sustainable transport and the people who use it, and a happy day for our capital and its businesses.”

Pictured top: One day travel card (Picture: Pikist)