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FOI request detail

Freedom of Information request - Tram fare checks

Request ID: FOI-0147-2223
Date published: 17 May 2022

You asked

Dear Transport for London, Please provide the following: 1. The meaning of “journey” as defined by the Transport for London, including the start and the end point of a single journey. 2. Reference to relevant legislation and your internal guidelines that describe the circumstances and the manner your representatives can ask for a proof of fare a) At a tram stop before or after a journey

We answered

TfL Ref: 0147-2223

Thank you for your request received by us on 21 April 2022 asking for information about Tramlink fare checks.

Your request has been considered in accordance with the requirements of the Freedom of Information Act and our information access policy.  I can confirm that we hold the information you require. You asked for:
 
1.        The meaning of “journey” as defined by the Transport for London, including the start and the end point of a single journey.
The information you asked for is available on our website using the following link to the terms and conditions of each ticket type when travelling, as stated in Transport for London’s Conditions of Carriage via from page 27 onwards: https://content.tfl.gov.uk/tfl-conditions-of-carriage.pdf

Our website also states ‘Always touch in on a yellow card reader at the start of your journey and touch out at the end to pay the right fare. (On a bus or tram you only need to touch in)’: https://tfl.gov.uk/fares/how-to-pay-and-where-to-buy-tickets-and-oyster/pay-as-you-go/touching-in-and-out.

In accordance with section 21 of the FOI Act, we are not obliged to supply you with a copy of the requested information as it is already accessible to you elsewhere.

Additionally, byelaw 1(b) also states: “For the purposes of these byelaws a person is travelling on a tram service at any time when he is on a tram forming part of that service or is in a compulsory ticket area after alighting from a tram.”

2.         Reference to relevant legislation and your internal guidelines that describe the circumstances and the manner your representatives can ask for a proof of fare

a)         At a tram stop before or after a journey

Please refer to the following:

Byelaw 19 (1) states “No person shall enter a compulsory ticket area unless he has with him a valid ticket for his entire journey on the Tramlink System.”
 
Byelaw 19 (2) states “A person shall hand over his ticket for inspection when asked to do so by an authorised person.”
 
Byelaw 1 (a) gives the definition of “an authorised person” and this includes “A person acting in the course of his duties, who is an employee or agent of the Operator;”
 
We can advise that our Revenue Protection Inspectors (RPIs) are instructed to ask passengers travelling on the system to produce their tickets for inspection. This may be when they are on board a tram or when they have alighted from a tram onto a tramstop platform, whether or not that particular tramstop is their final intended destination. Our RPIs may also request tickets from people who are waiting on a tramstop platform to board a tram.
 
It should be noted that if a passenger fails to produce a valid ticket while on board a tram or having alighted from a tram onto a tramstop platform they then become liable to pay a penalty fare. However, if a person waiting on a platform to board a tram fails to produce a ticket for a proposed journey, an inspector can take no further action other than to advise the passenger that if they intend to travel they should ensure that they have a valid ticket before they board a tram. This is because a tramstop platform is not considered to be a compulsory ticket area unless a person arrives on a platform by alighting from a tram. A tram is always a compulsory ticket area.
 
Our inspectors are always required to act professionally and be civil and courteous when speaking with our passengers.
 
If this is not the information you are looking for, or if you are unable to access it for any reason, please do not hesitate to contact me.

Please see the attached information sheet for details of your right to appeal as well as information on copyright and what to do if you would like to re-use any of the information we have disclosed.

Yours sincerely


Jasmine Howard
FOI Case Officer
FOI Case Management Team
General Counsel
Transport for London
 
 

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