National
Rail
operators
and
Transport
for
London


have
reached
an
agreement
which
means
Day
Travelcards
can
continue
to
be
bought
by
passengers
who
are
starting
their
journeys
from
outside
the
TfL
area.

Travelcards
were
introduced
in
the
1980s
as
a
joint
initiative
between
British
Rail’s
Network
SouthEast
and
London
Transport,
when
the
tickets
were
originally
branded
Capitalcards.
They
allow
unlimited
travel
for
one
day
on
Transport
for
London
trains,
trams
and
buses,
but
were
in
danger
of
being
abolished
as
Transport
for
London
was
struggling
to
balance
its
books
since
the
disruption
and
loss
of
revenue
caused
by
Covid.

The
agreement
follows
a
long
period
of
negotiation
by
the
Rail
Delivery
Group,
TfL
and
the
Department
for
Transport
to
find
a
compromise
which
secures
the
future
of
the
tickets
while
at
the
same
time
enabling
TfL
to
meet
its
budget
commitments.

However,
the
price
of
the
tickets
will
rise
by
an
average
of
3
per
cent
in
March,
in
addition
to
any
general
increase
in
regulated
fares.

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
complete
travel
flexibility
in
London.
There
has
been
a
huge
amount
of
work
behind
the
scenes,
with
the
industry
working
together
with
a
firm
focus
on
customers’
interests.’

TfL’s
chief
customer
and
strategy
officer
Alex
Williams
added:
‘I’m
delighted
that
after
close
collaboration
with
the
Rail
Delivery
Group
and
Department
for
Transport,
we
have
now
been
able
to
find
a
solution
which
allows
the
Day
Travelcard
to
continue
to
be
accepted
on
TfL
services,
while
still
meeting
the
terms
of
TfL’s
funding
agreement
with
Government.’

The
Mayor
of
London
Sadiq
Khan
said
he
was
’delighted’.
He
continued:
‘As
part
of
the
Covid-19
financial
deal
TfL
made
with
the
Government,
there
is
a
requirement
to
make
savings
of
£600
million.
I
refused
to
countenance
removing
weekly,
monthly
or
season
travelcards
and
today
I
am
pleased
to
confirm
the
Day
Travelcard
is
also
now
safe.

‘The
offer
now
on
the
table
saves
a
much-valued
product
for
visitors
to
London,
while
giving
TfL
a
fairer
share
of
ticket
revenue.’