Ticketing and Concessionary Travel on Public Transport - United ...

Ev 102 Transport Committee: Evidence
4. Recommendations
— Adopt a policy that will allow for the future potential of an income stream to be generated from
the activation of the e-purse on ITSO cards provided that this does not in any way interfere with,
or delay, the required delivery of ENCTS.
— Ensure that the card technology platform chosen for the implementation of ENCTS is suYciently
secure to adequately protect the funds of the cardholder.
— Seek to achieve a long term position whereby the ITSO transit technology platform becomes selffunding
to some degree.
— Undertake a Requirements Study to evaluate <strong>and</strong> document the issues <strong>and</strong> preliminary economics
of an implementation of the ITSO e-purse. This study must be structured to ensure no impact upon
ENCTS delivery.
7 March 2007
Memor<strong>and</strong>um from <strong>Travel</strong>Watch SouthWest (TPT 15)
The South West Public Transport Users’ Forum (SWPTUF) was established in 2001 to promote the
interests of public transport users in the South West of Engl<strong>and</strong> government region (comprising the counties
of Cornwall, Devon, Dorset, Gloucestershire, Somerset <strong>and</strong> Wiltshire <strong>and</strong> the unitary authorities of Bath
<strong>and</strong> North East Somerset, Bournemouth, Bristol, North Somerset, Plymouth, Poole, South
Gloucestershire, Swindon <strong>and</strong> Torbay)—the Forum became a Community Interest Company, limited by
guarantee, in August 2005. SWPTUF, which is a social enterprise company, acts as an advocate for
passengers to lobby for the improvement of public transport in the region <strong>and</strong> works closely with the South
West Regional Assembly—with the dissolution of the former Rail Passengers Committee for Western
Engl<strong>and</strong> in July 2005, SWPTUF is now the sole representative body for public transport users throughout
the South West Engl<strong>and</strong> region. SWPTUF adopted <strong>Travel</strong>Watch SouthWest as its trading name in June
2006.
Scope of Memor<strong>and</strong>um <strong>and</strong> Recommended Action
1. Only the concession fares aspect of the inquiry are addressed. Only points 10 & 11 in the Terms of
Reference/Call for Evidence are considered.
2. Point 10. Is the <strong>Concessionary</strong> Bus <strong>Travel</strong> Bill adequate? Only if Clause 8 in the Bill, that allows Orders
to extend to modes other than bus <strong>and</strong> Clause 10 that has Orders that could create an UK wide scheme,
have those Orders activated quickly. Government is to be congratulated for setting up the framework that
could create an “adequate” concession fares scheme.
3. Point 11. Are schemes suYciently integrated across modes <strong>and</strong> geographic areas? No, the same
solution as above is needed.
4. Clause 8 Orders should be used to deliver extension to all local tracked modes but in the interim should
be used quickly to create a pilot on the 50 Community Railways; cost estimate £3 to £7.2 million.
5. The “practicalities of mutual recognition, including funding” (Explanatory Notes to the Bill—Note
27) should be addressed positively <strong>and</strong> urgently to allow Clause 10 Orders to be activated.
Executive Summary
6. Current <strong>and</strong> post-2008 concession fare schemes are largely UK exchequer funded (Paragraphs 11 to
14). A largely UK funded scheme should oVer broadly similar benefits to residents of <strong>and</strong> visitors to all four
“areas” of the UK. From April 2007 UK residents in Northern Irel<strong>and</strong> will have UK Exchequer funded
“out of area” concession travel in the Republic of Irel<strong>and</strong>. Other UK citizens will not be allowed concession
travel in all parts of UK (15 to 19). An UK wide scheme is needed.
7. In many areas local rail oVers the better or only public transport option (20 to 26). Whilst concessions
on local rail are allowed for 46% of the population, examples are given of a full fare 36 minute return rail
journey with many options of stay length at the destination but where the free bus alternative is 225 minutes
return trip for a 36 minute stay. The local authority concerned makes a 50% “profit” on the concession fares
element of its RSG but refuse to spend 4% of that on including local rail. Local tracked modes (27 <strong>and</strong> 28)
are part of concession schemes in some areas but the post-2008 situation will still deny their use to visiting
pass holders. An UK wide mode integrated scheme is needed.
8. Clause 10 of the Bill could allow an UK wide scheme but resolution of the “practicalities of mutual
recognition, including funding” will be exacerbated by the inclusion/exclusion of diVerent modes in diVerent
localities (29 to 34). Clause 8 should be activated to avoid this exacerbation.