Hundreds of thousands of children under eleven are to get free travel on all train services in the capital, it was announced today.
Transport for London said that from January 2 next year they will no longer have to pay to use National Rail services.
Under the current arrangements, children only get complimentary travel on TfL buses and trams, as well as on the Tube, DLR and London Overground when they travel with a fare-paying adult.
But this has been extended to trains too after TfL committed to pay £500,000 a year to the train-operating companies to cover the cost...
Top comments
WalkerboyUK
16 Nov 154#5
"Under the current arrangements, children only get complimentary travel on TfL buses and trams, as well as on the Tube, DLR and London Overground when they travel with a fare-paying adult."
Not sure why any child under 11 would be travelling around unaccompanied...
Hot but of a pita getting the a Zip photocard if they don't have a passport and your nearest manned station is 30 miles away but if you can plan ahead & order one 4 weeks in advance then you're good to go, brilliant news.
Error440 to Rich44
16 Nov 15#9
Is it? Passports are expensive I cant even bring myself to update mine as its over 100 quid for it plus the over priced photos, my kid doesn't have one with how fast they grow it would cost a fortune in updating for no reason when we dont go on holidays.
WalkerboyUK
16 Nov 154#5
"Under the current arrangements, children only get complimentary travel on TfL buses and trams, as well as on the Tube, DLR and London Overground when they travel with a fare-paying adult."
Not sure why any child under 11 would be travelling around unaccompanied...
Error440 to WalkerboyUK
16 Nov 152#7
Because they have to get to school and back, there's kids at my sons primary who bus home alone, thats modern life for you.
Rich44 to WalkerboyUK
16 Nov 15#13
To get to the cinema, bowling, seeing friends and a million other reasons not really sure what point you're trying to make but they're old enough to travel alone locally, I wasn't much older than this when I'd use my BR priv card & go on a jolly around the country by train
jdbigguy
16 Nov 15#6
Wrong section. This is a Freebie, not a deal.
premierfella to jdbigguy
16 Nov 15#8
There is an admin fee for the Zip Oyster photocard, so whilst most London children no doubt already have one, it might technically not be a freebie.
Bit annoying when you need a bus but can't get on it cos all the little darlings are riding it for 1-2 stops, not to mention the Lynx/ sweets/ pop smell they leave everywhere. Cold as ice
freccle
16 Nov 15#14
Is this just for people living in London or would it apply to those visiting too
Themadcow to freccle
16 Nov 15#15
It's an interesting one, as I'll be paying the lovely £4850 fare for my rail commute into London next year but as I'm outside zone 6 I don't even get an oyster card so have to use a crappy cardboard ticket. I'd love my kids to come into town with me occassionally so this would be ideal.
captainshamrock
16 Nov 15#16
£10 per child. Hardly free travel is it?
This was meant to be about fairness - finally giving South London families the same deal as North London families. Instead, there's a £10 South London kid tax that North Londoners won't have to pay.
Doesn't seem fair to me.
kev1986
16 Nov 15#17
Passports cost the equivilent of £7.25 PER YEAR for adults and £9.20 Per year for Children, I don't think that is too expensive TBH.
Regardless of "How much the kids grow" a baby passport (Newborn) is still valid until the child is 5 years old (The full validity of the passport) regardless of how different they look.
As well as cheap holidays - All inclusive's in Spain/Portugal for a few quid over £100 PPPW, its probably as cheap as a few trips to a theme park
K0YS
16 Nov 15#18
I'm sure oyster cards are available to everyone. How else would all the tourists get around without cash fares on the busses?
Glh74
16 Nov 15#19
I'm pretty sure you can go to the kids school and get the form stamped! You don't have to use a passport
Glh74
16 Nov 15#20
Anyone can use an Oyster card with zones 1-6 and anyone can have an Oyster card regardless if you live in or outside London.
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Opening post
Transport for London said that from January 2 next year they will no longer have to pay to use National Rail services.
Under the current arrangements, children only get complimentary travel on TfL buses and trams, as well as on the Tube, DLR and London Overground when they travel with a fare-paying adult.
But this has been extended to trains too after TfL committed to pay £500,000 a year to the train-operating companies to cover the cost...
Top comments
Not sure why any child under 11 would be travelling around unaccompanied...
All comments (22)
Not sure why any child under 11 would be travelling around unaccompanied...
http://content.tfl.gov.uk/pay-as-you-go-tarrifs-national-rail.pdf
Looking at this map it seems the change is one of the few transport ones that will mainly benefit South Londoners!
This was meant to be about fairness - finally giving South London families the same deal as North London families. Instead, there's a £10 South London kid tax that North Londoners won't have to pay.
Doesn't seem fair to me.
Regardless of "How much the kids grow" a baby passport (Newborn) is still valid until the child is 5 years old (The full validity of the passport) regardless of how different they look.
As well as cheap holidays - All inclusive's in Spain/Portugal for a few quid over £100 PPPW, its probably as cheap as a few trips to a theme park