By Ben Kerrigan-
The Mayor of London is set to cut London day travelcards under new plans to help save money in the TfL
The plans are said to mean that travelcards will no longer be sold or accepted on any Transport for London (TfL) services.
It means that any travellers from outside London using any rail and bus services would have to use only an Oyster card or contactless.
The change comes after a rapid drop in sales of travelcards, with 2022 seeing 12 million sold while pre-covid numbers average 27 million.
The One Day Travelcard was launched in 1984 and on weekdays was only sold for travel after 09.30
A Travelcard entitles the holder to unlimited travel in Greater London on London Buses, London Trams, London Underground, London Overground, Docklands Light Railway, Elizabeth line and National Rail services and provides travel within up to six numbered concentric zones, with Zone 1 which includes the central areas of The City and the West End at the middle and zones 6, including London Heathrow Airport and outlying suburbs such as Uxbridge and Upminster.
On the London Underground, London Overground, DLR and National Rail, the Travelcard is only valid within the zones indicated on the ticket.
Although day travelcards are set to come to an end, weekly and annual travelcards will still be available. The travelcards are a simple way for visitors to the capital to use unlimited services across the region.
However, in the consultation document, it suggests that paper travelcards could be gone forever, according to the BBC.
As it states: “We anticipate that, if TfL ceases to accept day travelcards, rail operators will also stop selling Zone 1-6 travelcards.”
Plus, child day travelcards are also set to disappear, seeing anyone from outside of London need to apply for a Zipcard to gain free and discounted travel for those under 18.
The TfL has shared that the changes are part of the government’s funding settlements following the Covid pandemic.
As a TfL spokesperson shared: “As required by conditions of the government’s funding settlements, we are considering proposals to generate additional income.
“One of these proposals is withdrawal from elements of the Travelcard Agreement, such as TfL’s acceptance of day travelcards, but we are not proposing to make any changes to the daily pay-as-you-go caps on contactless or Oyster.”