Don't Cut the Card!

The Travelcard, which has been helping tourists and locals to travel around London with ease for decades, is due for withdrawal next year as part of Transport for London’s (TfL) drive to save money despite 14 million being sold in 2022.

But analysis by Campaign for Better Transport, which has launched a ‘Don’t Cut the Card’ campaign, revealed passengers face bureaucratic hurdles and significant cost increases to travel around the capital once the Travelcard is withdrawn.

Currently, people travelling into London can add a Travelcard onto their national rail ticket for use on the capital’s transport network, meaning they buy one ticket for their entire journey. But from next year, people will need to buy their national rail ticket and then either use contactless or buy an oyster card to travel within the capital, making it more difficult to access child and other discounted fares, removing the ability to access seamless, integrated ticketing and adding significantly to the cost of travelling around London.

Former Lib Dem Transport Minister Norman Baker, now with Campaign for Better Transport, said: “The sheer number and breadth of organisations which have signed this letter shows that this decision is not only unpopular, but also potentially disastrous for the capital’s economy. Transport for London must rethink its plans as a matter of urgency and work together with the Department for Transport and the train operating companies to find a way to save the Day Travelcard before it’s too late.”

Councillor Paul Fishwick, Wokingham Borough Council Executive Member for Active Travel, Transport and Highways, said: "While the Day Travelcard may have become less relevant for residents of London as TfL has introduced contactless and Oyster payment capping across the city, contactless is not an option for many people across Wokingham Borough who continue to rely on Travelcards.

"Our quick and easy rail links to London are a huge asset for us in the Borough and one reason so many want to live here, but by scrapping the card Sadiq Khan is engaging in Levelling Down everywhere outside the capital.

"I'm proud to have the support of a great Lib Dem team running Wokingham Borough Council, who have supported me in signing this letter from Norman Baker on behalf of everyone in our Borough."

Lib Dem Parliamentary Candidate for Wokingham, Clive Jones, said: "The scrapping of the Day Travelcard is just the latest example of Britain going backwards under the Conservatives. Persistent underfunding of vital services has led to depressing decisions like this across the country, as well as sewage in our waterways and hospitals overflowing with patients. The best medicine for Britain is getting rid of this rotten government."