London TravelWatch has today urged people to check that they are getting the best deal on their tickets, and to try to renew their season tickets before Friday 2 January to avoid this year’s price rises.

Sharon Grant, Chair, London TravelWatch, said: “Fare rises are never welcomed by passengers, particularly in the current climate, so we urge commuters to try to renew their annual tickets before Friday 2 January before the new fares are introduced. We also strongly advise all passengers to claim any discounts they are entitled to, and to check that the ticket they buy currently is the best value for them: things are unusually complicated this year.”

As a daytime off-peak fare is being introduced on Transport for London services, London TravelWatch advises passengers who use a Travelcard to travel in the morning peak (0630 to 0930), and return before 1600 or after 1900 regularly on the tube, DLR or London Overground should switch to Oyster Pay As You Go (PAYG). Passengers in similar situations who use national rail within the London zonal and buy a Travelcard or point-to-point season ticket should buy a Travelcard only up to September 2009 (providing PAYG is provided by the train company in September 2009), and then switch to Oyster PAYG. Passengers who buy Travelcards which do not include zone 1 should check whether their journey would be cheaper using Oyster PAYG.

Sharon Grant said: “We also recommend that any passengers using point-to-point season tickets in the London zonal area should either purchase them before the fares go up on 2 January or check whether, when combined with occasional journeys on other rail services or buses, trams, DLR or tube, it would actually be cheaper to buy an annual Travelcard. The Gold Card discount will still apply, and if it is purchased on Oyster, will qualify for reduced Oyster PAYG fares outside the zones normally used. The Gold Card discount applies on many national rail journeys, and includes discounts for up to four people travelling together. This could mean a considerable saving.

“Fares will go up on Friday 2 January, and if passengers renew their annual tickets before then they will, at least, hold off this year’s above-inflation rises for a year. It really is worth researching the way you travel to ensure you are getting the best possible deal.”


*The new off-peak time on London Underground, DLR and London Overground will be from 0930 to 1600 and after 1900.

*Information on the fare rises on all services can be found at the Transport for London website, the Association of Train Operating Companies or from your regular train company.


For more information, please contact Jo deBank in the London TravelWatch press office on 020 7726 9953 or out of hours on 07734 055494

The voice of London's transport users
12 December 2008