Request ID: FOI-1092-2122 Date published: 13 September 2021
You asked
Dear TfL FoI,
How much has been saved by TfL by limiting the use of Freedom Passes to OAPs since the change took place?
I am assuming the answer will be very little because most older people will travel later rather than pay.
I also note the reduction in tube and bus use especially at rush hour following the pandemic, meaning older people travelling at these times are not adding to an over-burdened system.
Older Londoners are now subject to the same restrictions as most older people in other parts of the UK who can only travel for free after 9.30am. This appears to be a clear case of levelling down.
I look forward to hearing the figure,
We answered
TfL Ref: 1092-2122
Thank you for your request received by Transport for London (TfL) on 25 August 2021 asking for information about how much has been saved by TfL by limiting the use of Freedom Passes since the change to the rules took place.
Your request has been considered in accordance with the requirements of the Freedom of Information Act and our information access policy.
Unfortunately we do not hold any data on the revenue that TfL has received from 60+ Pass and Older Persons Freedom Pass holders paying to travel before 9am on weekdays as it is not possible to identify these journeys separately from other adult fare payers travelling at that time of day. Since the start of the pandemic, journey numbers on TfL services, including by 60+ and Freedom Pass users, have been significantly down on normal levels.
Free travel for 60+ Pass and Older Persons Freedom Pass users was suspended during the weekday morning peak from June 2020. This was necessary in order to meet a condition of the Extraordinary Funding and Financing Agreement agreed with the government in May 2020 that these concessions should be removed during the peak to optimise the use of available safe transport capacity.
The London scheme remains more generous than those in the rest of England as:
The concession is valid from 09.00, Monday to Friday, as well as all day on weekends and Bank Holidays. Elsewhere in England concessionary travel starts at 09.30
The concession elsewhere in England does not include rail services, which are included for Freedom Pass holders in London.
Please see the attached information sheet for details of your right to appeal.
Yours sincerely
Sara Thomas FOI Case Management Team General Counsel Transport for London
