Issue - meetings

A presentation was given by Nick Baker, Head of Stakeholder Relations, London Trams.

He explained that the objective of this initiative was to phase out the ticket vending machines at tram stops, which were getting old and not being used frequently. Panel members heard that only 0.3% of passengers used ticket vending machines. One key reason why passengers were moving away from this form of payment was cost: a single ticket costs £2.60 whereas paying with an Oyster card or contactless card costs £1.50.

TfL have used the lessons learnt from the process of transferring to cashless payments on buses to prepare for cashless payments on trams. For instance, staff will be in attendance at ticket machines to raise awareness of the forthcoming change and alternative methods of payment. In addition, there will be information panels providing information on alternative methods of payment, and a help point to assist passengers with additional queries (including questions on how to deal with being unable to pay).

As those most likely to experience problems will probably be from outside the borough or the country, officers will be working with hotels to raise awareness of these changes.

Panel members were informed that local bye-laws regarding non-payment of fares would have to be changed prior to the transition to cashless payments. A very flexible approach would be adopted during the early days of cashless payments to ensure that no passengers would be stranded and unable to reach their destination. 

Implementation will start in April 2018 if bye laws have been changed by the Department for Transport. This will be a phased process, and all ticket machines are due to be removed by September 2018.

Panel members highlighted the use of one day bus and tram passes which could be purchased from railway booking offices and ticket machines, as well as ticket shops, was an option for people without contactless cards or Oyster cards. They added that over a million of these had been purchased last year despite the low publicity on these passes, and urged TfL to promote their use on trams when they go cashless.

Panel members also asked for trams to enable negative balances on Oyster cards for one single journey, to be covered when the card was recharged. This provision was originally made as part of the transition to cashless buses. They were advised that this might not be possible, although a panel member stated that it could be done in his experience as long as the Oyster card had a minimum of £1 on the card. Nick Baker undertook to investigate further.
                                       

Action: Nick Baker to provide an update

The Panel also discussed the use of national concessionary passes on tram journeys, which would need to be authorised by the Mayor.

         
New tram time-table proposals

The Head of Stakeholder Relations apologised for the late engagement carried out on new tram time-table proposals for the New Addington to Wimbledon service. He explained the rationale behind the proposals for a new tram time-table  ...  view the full minutes text for item 30