I see that recently you introduced a new "Visitor Pass" ticket which gives travel within the Z1-Z6 area. It comes in both a £25.40 version for two days and a £38.10 version for 3 days. Here is the link to the ticket that i am referring to: https://tfl.gov.uk/travel-information/visiting-london/getting-around-london/best-ways-for-visitors-to-pay/visitor-pass And there is also information on this link here: https://tfl.gov.uk/travel-information/visiting-london/getting-around-london/best-ways-for-visitors-to-pay It is the same exact price as 2x Ordinary Z1-Z6 Day Travelcards (£12.70+£12.70=£25.40) or as 3x Ordinary Z1-Z6 Day Travelcards (£12.70+£12.70+£12.70=£38.10). However the "Visitor Pass" is not valid on National Rail services (other than London Overground and TFL Rail) but the Ordinary Z1-Z6 Day Travelcard tickets are valid on all National Rail services. Therefore whilst the "Visitor Pass is the same price as buying an Ordinary Z1-Z6 Day Travelcard every day it gives much less validity as you can not use National Rail. This is a huge reduction in validity as National Rail services make up the majority of the public transport in London (the NR network within Z1-Z6 being much larger than the LU network). Also it does not give discounted fares on Cable Cars or Ferries unlike Travelcards which do. It is therefore clear that the aim appears to be to rip off and scam unaware tourists who do not realise that they can just buy Travelcards for the same exact price but get much more validity as they also include National Rail services. Anyone who is aware would simply purchase Travelcards for the same exact price to get better value. This seems very dodgy and dishonest of you to do. So i would like to ask a few questions under the FOI Act: 1. What is the point of this ticket and why was it introduced? 2. How many have so far been sold since its introduction (please break it down in to "2 Day Adult" / "3 Day Adult" / "2 Day Child" / "3 Day Child" versions). 3. Why is it not valid on National Rail services (other than London Overground and TFL Rail)? 4. Why does it not give discounted fares on Cable Cars and Ferries? 5. When your staff sell these tickets or advise passengers about these tickets are they trained to warn them that it is not valid on all National Rail services and that it does not give discounts on the Cable Cars and Ferries? 6. When your staff sell these tickets or advise passengers about these tickets are they trained to tell them that they can get a better validity ticket that is also valid on all National Rail services and gives discounts on Cable Cars and Ferries by purchasing Travelcards each day for the same exact price? 7. When you created and planned this ticket were you aware that it was the same price as buying a Travelcard each day but had less validity (as it is not valid on National Rail nor does it give discounts on Cable Cars and Ferries) and if so why did you still go ahead with creating it? 8. How many complaints have you received about this ticket and please provide details of each and every complaint? Finally right here you are hugely misleading passengers in regards to validity on National Rail services: Firstly here you say this: "Your Visitor Pass isn't valid for travel, or to buy discounted fares on National Rail, Emirates Air Line or River Bus services." Secondly then you say this: "Our new 2 Day or 3 Day Visitor Pass gives you the freedom to travel off-peak as much as you want on bus, Tube, tram, DLR, London Overground and TfL Rail. You don't need to pre-order or top up and the pass is available for adults and children." London Overground and TFL Rail are both National Rail services. I know you don't like admitting it and are trying to make them in to LU style services but it is well known that the fact is London Overground and TFL Rail are still National Rail services. So what you really meant to say is that the Visitor Pass is not valid on National Rail services except London Overground and TFL Rail services. So please also let me know the following under the FOI Act: 9. Was this simply an error or are you trying to make passengers think that London Overground and TFL Rail are not National Rail services? 10. Will you edit your website (both of the two links above) and publicity to clarify that it is valid on some National Rail services (London Overground and TFL Rail) but not on other National Rail services? Also i recommend that you immediately start accepting these on all National Rail services within Z1-Z6 (just like Travelcards) and start giving discounts on Cable Cars and Ferries or if you are not willing to do this then you withdraw these tickets immediately. Perhaps you should just create two day and three day versions of your Travelcards instead. I have reported this to both Advertising Standards and to Trading Standards as it is clearly a rip off and a scam to trick tourists in to buying something that has less validity than another product that costs the same price. And that's before i mention the misleading publicity on your website where you don't include London Overground and TFL Rail as National Rail services. This whole ticket is a joke and simply a tourist trap.

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TfL Ref: 0866-1819

Thank you for your emails received by us on 28 June and 3 July 2018 asking for information about the Visitor Pass.

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 some of the information you require. You asked:

1. What is the point of this ticket and why was it introduced?

The Visitor Pass is available in two or three day variants, which widens the choice available for those who wish to use a printed ticket, rather than an Oyster or contactless card on Transport for London (TfL) services for a short period of time, such as during a weekend break for example.

As our website states:’ You don't need to pre-order, you can buy your Visitor Pass at a number of Tube stations and Visitor Centres across London, or you can buy it one week in advance from Visitor Centres’ : https://tfl.gov.uk/travel-information/visiting-london/getting-around-london/best-ways-for-visitors-to-pay/visitor-pass

Research also shows that visitors choose convenience over price. Only five per cent of visitors pre-plan and buy their tickets in advance. We are piloting the Visitor Pass multiple days ticket to test the market and see whether these will be popular with tourists.

2. How many have so far been sold since its introduction (please break it down in to "2 Day Adult" / "3 Day Adult" / "2 Day Child" / "3 Day Child" versions).

As the Visitor Pass was recently launched on 24 June 2018, analytics for the Visitor Pass are not currently available since decisions on when and how to report upon the sales of the Pass and measuring whether the trial has been successful have yet to be concluded.

3. Why is it not valid on National Rail services (other than London Overground and TFL Rail)?

4. Why does it not give discounted fares on Cable Cars and Ferries?

The Visitor Pass is a TfL product. Whilst London Overground and TfL Rail are TfL services, National Rail services are not managed by us. As mentioned previously, the Visitor Pass was launched on 24 June 2018 and is valid solely on all TfL services. It is only available for purchase during the trial period of six months. If the trial is successful, negotiations with other services will be made in regards to validity or discounts.

5. When your staff sell these tickets or advise passengers about these tickets are they trained to warn them that it is not valid on all National Rail services and that it does not give discounts on the Cable Cars and Ferries?

6. When your staff sell these tickets or advise passengers about these tickets are they trained to tell them that they can get a better validity ticket that is also valid on all National Rail services and gives discounts on Cable Cars and Ferries by purchasing Travelcards each day for the same exact price?

Whilst Visitor Passes are not Travelcards, our staff are trained to tell customers what is best option for them. Many customers want the convenience of buying a ticket valid for their stay of two or three days in one transaction, without having to top up or use a contactless card for instance.

7. When you created and planned this ticket were you aware that it was the same price as buying a Travelcard each day but had less validity (as it is not valid on National Rail nor does it give discounts on Cable Cars and Ferries) and if so why did you still go ahead with creating it?

We were aware, which is why we are only trialling this ticket that is only available from selected London Underground stations in central London, as well as our Visitor Centres. They are also available at Heathrow Terminals 2, 3 and 4, whereby Visitor Pass holders can travel from the airport via the tube or by using TfL Rail to Paddington Station.

8. How many complaints have you received about this ticket and please provide details of each and every complaint? I would like details going back to the day that this ticket was introduced. I do not know the exact date it was introduced but i know it was very recent (if you could let me know the exact date it was introduced that would be helpful). Please let me how many complaints you have received between the day the ticket was introduced and now. And please provide details of each and every complaint.

The ‘Visitor Pass’ was launched on 24 June 2018. We have no record of any complaints received from its launch date to the time of your request.

Finally right here you are hugely misleading passengers in regards to validity on National Rail services:

Firstly here you say this: "Your Visitor Pass isn't valid for travel, or to buy discounted fares on National Rail, Emirates Air Line or River Bus services."

Secondly then you say this: "Our new 2 Day or 3 Day Visitor Pass gives you the freedom to travel off-peak as much as you want on bus, Tube, tram, DLR, London Overground and TfL Rail. You don't need to pre-order or top up and the pass is available for adults and children."

London Overground and TFL Rail are both National Rail services. I know you don't like admitting it and are trying to make them in to LU style services but it is well known that the fact is London Overground and TFL Rail are still National Rail services. So what you really meant to say is that the Visitor Pass is not valid on National Rail services except London Overground and TFL Rail services.

So please also let me know the following under the FOI Act:

9. Was this simply an error or are you trying to make passengers think that London Overground and TFL Rail are not National Rail services?

10. Will you edit your website (both of the two links above) and publicity to clarify that it is valid on some National Rail services (London Overground and TFL Rail) but not on other National Rail services?

Neither. As mentioned previously, London Overground and TfL Rail are TfL services. The remainder of mainline services are managed, owned and operated by a variety of other train operating companies, which do not come under TfL’s remit; TfL does not set nor has any power over fares for these rail services.

We will not be editing our website since it clearly explains the Visitor Pass’ validity.

Also i recommend that you immediately start accepting these on all National Rail services within Z1-Z6 (just like Travelcards) and start giving discounts on Cable Cars and Ferries or if you are not willing to do this then you withdraw these tickets immediately. Perhaps you should just create two day and three day versions of your Travelcards instead. I have reported this to both Advertising Standards and to Trading Standards as it is clearly a rip off and a scam to trick tourists in to buying something that has less validity than another product that costs the same price. And that's before i mention the misleading publicity on your website where you don't include London Overground and TFL Rail as National Rail services. This whole ticket is a joke and simply a tourist trap.

The Visitor Pass has been introduced under a six month trial. Our staff are aware the ticket is not valid on National Rail and will advise customers accordingly. If tickets are purchased in error, refunds will be given.

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
Information Governance
Transport For London

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