Great Western Coffee Shop

They haven't taken cash on buses for years, AFAIK, so this seems a logical step. I don't think the concerns raised of fare evasion are realistic; it's getting through the barriers without paying that constitutes fare evasion, not the handing over of cash. Oyster and contactless mean most people won't have a physical ticket anyway (if they still exist?) so nothing changes there.

The concern about the unbanked, of which school children probably constitute the largest section, is more realistic IMO. But as the article says, cash will still be taken for Oyster at shops. This is the way many public transport systems have operated for decades, since before card payment was common and contactless payments were even invented, so it's not really a problem. And those same kids have somehow been travelling by cashless bus all this time.

They haven't taken cash on buses for years, AFAIK, so this seems a logical step. I don't think the concerns raised of fare evasion are realistic; it's getting through the barriers without paying that constitutes fare evasion, not the handing over of cash. Oyster and contactless mean most people won't have a physical ticket anyway (if they still exist?) so nothing changes there.

London is a special case with Oyster, and also a few other local areas have some form of Smart card. But that's not true of many areas, where the driver will take cash (possibly some Covid changes but cash still accepted).

How many systems have no option to put cash in a machine? I can see why TfL want to do this, as servicing and securing machines costs money. But while it may be inevitable, I think it is precisely the wrong time to do it. For the few people that do still need to use cash, the safest place to do it is in a machine. And with such small amounts involved, machines don't need to recycle change. So the partial withdrawal earlier this year was misguided; best to put it off until next year (or whenever).

Makes sense to me. My only grumble is the near impossibility to get my Senior Railcard linked to Oyster, meaning I have to pay a significant supplement on any London area train/tube travel.

Covid is driving us more cashless every day, I cannot remember the last time in the past 5 months when I've actually made an over the counter cash transaction; its all been by card

Transport for London is considering a change that could make travelling in the capital difficult for a lot of people.

During the pandemic, most Tube stations stopped taking cash for ticket payments or Oyster card top-ups due to the possibility of spreading the virus.

Now TfL wants to make this change permanent in all stations on the network.

London catching up with Yorkshire.

I shall try to pay my Clifton Suspension Bridge toll in mangel wurzels!

Will they fit in the coin slot?

Yes, I fry them and make them into mangel wurzel chips.



(but actually there is no coin clot on the CSB)

TfL to keep accepting cash payments for London travel tickets
Posted on 20th January 2021 Posted in Transport News

A temporary reprieve for cash, as TfL has put on hold plans to stop accepting cash as payment for travel tickets.

During the pandemic, TfL stopped accepting cash payments at many tube stations as a temporary measure, and had been planning to make that change permenant, and later to expand it. Around 70% of tube stations stopped accepting cash during the pandemic, along with all DLR stations. Apart from reducing handling of cash, they also found that it reduce queues at ticket offices, a useful effect during social distancing.

TfL?s argument being that few people now pay with cash anyway ? and that local retailers can also sell tickets if people needed to pay with cash.

However, an investigation by London TravelWatch?s found that some stations don?t have a Ticket Stop, usually a newsagent or convenience store, nearby, meaning that it would have been harder to top up an Oyster card with cash.

TfL has now partially stepped back from the plans, saying that it will review the decision and wont be proceeding ?at this time?.

Caroline Pidgeon, Liberal Democrat London Assembly Member, commenting on TfL dropping its plans to stop taking cash across all of London Underground, DLR and London Overground stations said:

?This is a welcome decision and a real victory for the 260,000 adults in London without a bank account. Children and tourists will also benefit from this decision.?

?As Travelwatch powerfully demonstrated there are many stations which do not have a newsagent or convenience store nearby, so TfL?s plans would have posed ongoing difficulties for people topping up Oyster cards.?

However, TfL noted that it will be keeping payment options under review.
...

Transport for London has abandoned plans to make the London Underground cash-free.

A total of 200 of the 262 Tube stations stopped taking cash in May last year amid concerns that the sharing of notes and coins could spread Covid, and to prevent queues at ticket machines.

But City Hall on Monday announced the “vast majority” of Underground and DLR stations would now have one machine able to accept cash payments to buy tickets or upload credit onto Oyster cards.