Pre 9am suspension - Age UK London statement

Age UK London: Response to devastating TfL decision to permanently cancel the use of the Older Persons Freedom Pass and the 60+ Oyster card before 9am on weekdays.

Older Londoners on low incomes will be hit hard by cuts to travel concessions

Age UK London, the charity that campaigns on behalf of older Londoners, has expressed its strong disappointment at TfL’s decision to permanently remove pre-9am concessionary travel for older Londoners on weekdays. This will affect holders of both the Older Persons Freedom Pass and the 60+ Oyster Card.

The charity has led the campaign against the cuts, rallying 70,000 older Londoners to take action to oppose the move after free travel before 9am was first suspended in June 2020. In November last year a group of older campaigners presented a petition at City Hall calling on the Mayor to restore travel concessions before 9am.

Just yesterday, Age UK London’s CEO Abigail Wood appeared at the London Assembly Transport Committee to speak about the need to reinstate the ‘suspension’.

Abigail Wood, CEO of Age UK London said:

“We are devastated that the voices of older Londoners have been ignored. Affordable transport is a lifeline not a luxury and this cut penalises them with no choice about when and how they travel.

 “Age UK London is deeply concerned this comes at the worst possible time as the cost-of-living crisis worsens and more and more older Londoners are plunged into poverty. One in four older Londoners live in poverty – the highest level in the country – and London has some of the highest living costs in the world. This is the wrong decision at the worst possible time.”

Research by Age UK London shows:

• Over a quarter, (27%), of 60+ Oyster card or Freedom Pass holders that travelled before 9am on weekdays say they have had to cut costs elsewhere to afford the travel fares now the concession has stopped.
• Two in three of the Londoners aged sixty or over that travel before 9am on weekdays do so either to attend a health appointment (31%), for work (28%) or due to caring responsibilities (8%)

On the future of the 60+Oyster Card Abigail Wood said:

“We are pleased to see the plans to phase out the 60+Oyster Card have been shelved. This is something we have been campaigning against for over a year. Our supporters have been clear that this is a vital concession and it’s good news that their voices have been listened to.”

Ends

For further press information and to arrange interviews contact:

Dee Byrne, Communications Officer, Age UK London, dbyrne@ageuklondon.org.uk, call 07986 378358.

Editors notes:

The Older Persons Freedom Pass, is available to London borough residents over state pension age (66). The Older Persons Freedom Pass scheme is operated by the London boroughs collectively (London Councils) under an agreement with TfL.

The 60+ London Oyster photocard, which is funded by TfL and is available to London borough residents over the age of 60.

The two separate passes award the same rights to free travel on the TfL network.