Illustration by John Sadler www.johnsadlerillustration.com 

• I AGREE with John Scott-Morgan’s concerns about lack of access to ticketing for public transport, and the withdrawal of the travelcard, (Fight to stop ticket office closures and changes to travelcards, May 18).

However I think it is worth considering other solutions to the ticketing problem, as other approaches may achieve a better outcome for the passenger.

As a guiding set of principles when discussing transport we should reference Jarrett Walker’s seven requirements for good public transit (in his Human Transit, Island Press, 2011).

Why does the passenger need to go to a specific place to get advice and buy a ticket?

Can these tasks be done in places other than a station?

I think they could and it would be beneficial. The change would not be that difficult, and would create other local benefits, providing extra trade for local retailers, especially sub-post office counters.

Transport for London already allows local shops to top up Oyster cards. Issuing rail tickets does not require special equipment any more, just a laptop and a printer. Coach tickets also could be sold.

Ideally, the Rail Delivery Group and other operators need to offer a “commercial agency” model and website to allow the shop to purchase tickets “on account” so the selling location does not need to handle a customer’s payment card to complete the sale of a ticket for a specific journey or weekly or monthly pass.

Why do passengers need to buy tickets for specific journeys, versus having a regional pass on a weekly or monthly basis, means-tested if needed?

Germany is moving to a monthly regional pass model (passes which work on buses and regional trains across the whole country) and it sounds like it will be a great success in improving access and affordability of transport; and modal shift away from cars.

Regional passes would be a fixed price and would be easy to sell in shops, and could also replace the one-day travelcard. Quarterly and annual passes could also be sold by post, initially nudged as part of issue of a Freedom Pass, perhaps automatically renewed by direct debit.

Specific tickets would still have a place for longer distance express travel – rail and coach – but need to be easier to buy and the best price.

Domestic air travel could also be sold in shops, providing a “one-stop” service (trains and buses to and from airports and flights).

Finally, support groups need to work with TfL to better explain what can be done with a Freedom Pass, encouraging uptake, and also work with Rail Delivery Group to explain railcards.

You can go further than most people think on a Freedom Pass for no fare, and it is possible to combine the Freedom Pass with other tickets to reduce the cost of longer journeys, at least on rail.

It would also be helpful if the Rail Delivery Group could work with local councils to make it easier to buy suitable railcards, with long validity, at the same time as a Freedom Pass is issued, that is, age-related railcards and disabled railcard.

MILES THOMAS
Address supplied