Possible withdrawal of London Travelcards

Do you use London Travelcards from Market Harborough?  And, if so, are you aware that there is a possibility that they may be withdrawn?  This arises as part of the Government’s Transport for London (TfL) Funding Settlement, dated 25th February 2022, which requires TfL to move towards financial sustainability post-pandemic.  One of the requirements is “consideration of potential new sources of income”, and among these is “New revenue streams”.  So far, so good, but one element of this is that:
“TfL will provide to DfT an impact assessment on different passenger groups of the withdrawal from the travelcard agreement prior to commencing with the withdrawal”
The impact assessment is to be completed by 29th April, and the Mayor of London is required to commence a public consultation by 27th May.
We in Harborough Rail Users have written to Neil O’Brien, MP for Harborough, expressing concern about the possible withdrawal of London Travelcards.  Concerns include:

• Detriment to occasional day-trippers, for whom the Travelcard is a straightforward means of getting into and around London with one ticket;
• Detriment to commuters, for whom a season ticket is just not viable in a post-Covid world of part-time and flexible working;
• Loss of the Travelcard advantage of there being no evening peak time restrictions on the journey home;
• Possible loss of revenue to EMR if Travelcards are withdrawn and there is no equally attractive replacement.  That could then have implications for our train service here at Market Harborough. 

If you share these concerns, you may like to write to your MP, and keep an eye out for the public consultation if and when that commences.

Gateway to London.  EMR Meridian units line up at St Pancras on 12th May 2021.  By coincidence, 12th May is Saint Pancras' Day!   The parish of St Pancras was named after Saint Pancras, a 14-year-old boy who had converted to Christianity and would not renounce his faith.  As a result, he was beheaded by Emperor Diocletian in Rome in 304AD.  He is the patron saint of children.   Pancras is a Greek name meaning 'the one that holds everything'.   With its mix of tubes plus local, regional, intercity, domestic high-speed and international high-speed rail services, and a freight terminal just outside, it is a good name for our London terminus! 
Photo: Steve Jones