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

8. Are the rights of passengers <strong>and</strong> the powers of ticket inspectors well-balanced?
We do not feel able to comment.
9. Do operators of public transport take adequate measures to protect fares revenue?
Transport Committee: Evidence Ev 137
No! There is widespread evidence of fares evasion, especially on the rail network. Sometimes this is
deliberate but at other times unavoidable. On occasion I have travelled half-way across the country having
boarded a train at an unstaVed station <strong>and</strong> not had my fare collected. On short journeys, loss of revenue
must be huge. See for example survey results at www.dronfieldstation.org.uk All major stations <strong>and</strong> all
stations on busy routes should be protected by automatic ticket gates backed up by station staV both to
assist passengers <strong>and</strong> to protect revenue. One problem in this regard is the diVering priorities of those
responsible for station management <strong>and</strong> the needs of all the operators. For example, a station managed by
a long-distance operator may not see a need for ticket gates but they could be crucial for a local operator
sharing facilities.
<strong>Concessionary</strong> Fares—the Right Strategy?
10. Is the Government’s concessionary fares strategy, including the proposed scheme for concessionary bus
travel, adequate?
Existing arrangements suVer from the same cross-boundary problems as highlighted above: diVerent
rules, diVerent times, artificial boundaries. Extension of the 60! fares scheme for buses nationally next year
should go some way towards reducing anomalies but examples of diVerent validity times also need to be
addressed. Extension to local train services should also be considered, especially in rural areas where rail
may be the only practicable mode of public transport.
11. Are concessionary fares schemes suYciently integrated across diVerent modes of transport <strong>and</strong> diVerent
geographical areas?
This issue is covered in the comments above. Again, the simple answer is “No”.
Additional Comments
1. We very much welcome the Transport Committee’s intention to address the issue of <strong>Ticketing</strong> which
raises many day-to-day practical problems for our respective organisations <strong>and</strong> for those wishing to benefit
from our services. Outside London, public transport usage, especially of buses has declined consistently in
the last 20 years <strong>and</strong> has been matched by a general decline in services <strong>and</strong> travel opportunities. The overall
result has been the huge rise in private car usage leading to the familiar problems of congestion, urban
pollution <strong>and</strong> delay. Inflexibility of ticketing is an important contributory factor.
2. We believe that much more could be done within organisations to promote <strong>and</strong> facilitate public
transport use, for example, taking advantage of salary sacrifice schemes <strong>and</strong> the discounts sometimes oVered
by operators for in-house ticket sales. The Government should be both setting an example <strong>and</strong> increasing
incentives for both employers <strong>and</strong> employees to participate in such schemes. However, as commented above,
flexibility is at present a crucial missing element, especially for part-timers. With many employers also
considering the opportunities for flexi-time, home-working or tele-working, this is likely to be much more
important in the future.
3. Thank you for the opportunity to submit evidence to the Committee. We would be happy to exp<strong>and</strong>
on any of the points above if more information were required.
March 2007
Introduction <strong>and</strong> Summary
Summary
Memor<strong>and</strong>um from Help the Aged (TPT 22)
— Free national bus travel for older people will help us take an important step forward in making
public transport accessible to older people.
— Whilst we have welcomed the plans for free national bus provision, Help the Aged believes that
there is a need for flexibility in provision of concessionary fares by local authorities.
— Help the Aged want local authorities to oVer alternative concessions (eg tokens for taxis) for those
who cannot use, or do not have access to, bus services.