Rail users from Hertfordshire will still be able to buy Day Travelcards into London after plans to scrap them were withdrawn.
The U-turn has been welcomed by Hertfordshire County Council.
At a meeting of HCC's full council on Monday, October 17, a motion was moved to call for the Mayor of London, Sadiq Khan, and Transport for London (TfL) to scrap their proposals.
It also requested that some Hertfordshire railway stations be placed into Zone 6, allowing for cheaper travel into the capital.
This motion had cross-party agreement at county level.
Last Tuesday (October 24), Sadiq Khan confirmed the U-turn.
Posting on X, formerly Twitter, he wrote: "NEW: Delighted to announce we've managed to save the Day Travelcard. This saves a much-valued ticket option for visitors to London, while giving TfL a fairer share of ticket revenue."
NEW: Delighted to announce we've managed to save the Day Travelcard.
— Sadiq Khan (@SadiqKhan) October 24, 2023
This saves a much-valued ticket option for visitors to London, while giving TfL a fairer share of ticket revenue. https://t.co/kqDbWLCo4h
Each year over two million daily travelcards are sold from Hertfordshire railway stations, allowing travellers into London to switch to the national rail network, the London Underground or buses within the capital using just one ticket.
The proposal to withdraw the card would have required travellers using public transport to use a train ticket and then either their debit/credit cards or contactless Oyster to continue their journey, increasing costs by an estimated seven per cent.
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Councillor Richard Roberts, the leader of Hertfordshire County Council, welcomes the decision.
He said: “The news that daily travelcards will no longer be scrapped is welcome and I’m pleased that our representations on behalf of our residents, along with others across the county and beyond, have been listened to.
This will come as a relief to the many Hertfordshire commuters who travel into the capital for work and leisure. Had these plans progressed, residents would have seen increased costs at a time when family finances are already being squeezed."
Cllr Roberts added: “Now that the daily travelcard is safe we will continue to lobby the Mayor of London and Transport for London on behalf of residents for stations in Hertfordshire to be rezoned into London’s Zone 6, recognising our proximity to the capital and hopefully leading to a much-needed reduction in fares.”
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