Ticketing and Concessionary Travel on Public Transport

Ticketing and concessionary travel on public transport, is the 5th report from the Transport Committee in 2007-08 session (HCP 84, ISBN 9780215514493). It examines the the aim of producing an integrated ticketing system across England, with the introduction of smartcard concessionary travel passes.The report inquires into the extent to which integrated ticketing on public transport has been achieved for all users; the issues regarding smartcards; arrangements for revenue protection (stopping fare-evasion) which will be affected by new forms of ticket; the impact of concessionary travel in England which is costing £1 billion per annum. The Committee has set out a number of recommendations, including: the Committee believes that the Government in terms of promoting integrated bus ticketing has achieved too little of practical value; it recommends that Traffic Commissioners be given powers to arbitrate where bus companies and local transport authorities disagree; that coach travel should be given greater consideration in future statements of public transport policy; it is imperative that the full range of tickets, including multi-modal options be available at all main outlets so that the Government's aim of fare simplification can be better acheived (see The Future of Rail, Cm. 6233, ISBN 9780101623322); that the Government needs to ensure suitable guidelines on differential pricing is included in decisions on rail fares and rail franchises with particular reference to smartcards; that the Government needs to articulate a clearer strategy for the development of integrated ticketing in general and smartcards in particular; that the Government should move towards a unified system of public transport revenue protection; that the Department of Transport should commission an evaluation of the benefits of the national scheme for free local bus travel and that national concessionary travel is properly funded. For a related title see, How Fair are the Fairs (HCP 700-I, session 2005-06, ISBN 9780215028853).