Acceptance of Essex Saver bus tickets on TFL buses.

The request was successful.

Dear Transport for London,

I have often had trouble with these Essex Saver tickets on TFL buses. Some drivers accept them and others dont seem to even know what they are and others completely refuse them. So i have decided to make an FOI request to clarify some information.

The Essex Saver is a paper ticket for £10 giving unlimited travel for one day on almost all bus routes within the county of Essex (including the unitary areas of Thurrock and Southend) as well as on routes to and from neighbouring counties that start or finish in Essex. It is sold and accepted on about 20 different bus companies. They come in all shapes and sizes due to different operators using different ticket machines.

The Essex County Council website states that they can be used on all TFL bus routes that enter the county the Essex (and can also be used to and from Greater London as long as that bus route enters the county of Essex). I contacted Essex County Council customer services to confirm and they told me that this is indeed all correct and that they are fully valid for travel (but not sold on) on TFL bus routes numbers 20 / 150 / 167 / 215 / 275 / 347 / 362 / 370 / 372 / 375 / 397 / 462 / 498 / 549 / 608 / 667 as these all enter Essex.

At the same time i contacted TFL customer services and was told that these Essex Saver bus tickets are not valid for travel anywhere on any TFL bus route.

So i would therefore like to clarify and ask under the FOI act who is correct? Are these tickets valid on your TFL bus routes that serve Essex? Or are they not?

If the answer is yes and these Essex Saver tickets are indeed valid then can you please attach some document or anything official that states that these tickets are indeed valid.

Also could you also please attach (regardless of whether the answer to my Essex Saver question is yes or no) a document showing a full list of all tickets that are accepted on TFL bus routes.

Many thanks in advance for any help with this.

Yours faithfully,

Barry Smith

Customerservice, Transport for London

1 Attachment

[1]Transport for London
Transport
for London
Ref: 11953684

4 June 2018

Dear Mr Smith

Thank you for your email of 1 June about the Essex Saver bus tickets on
London buses.

I’m sorry you’ve had difficulties using our services with the Essex Saver
bus ticket. I understand how frustrating this was for you, especially as
some drivers accept and others don’t.

I’ve looked into this for you and can confirm that the Essex Saver bus
ticket is valid on all our buses that serve the county. This includes
routes: 20, 150, 167, 215, 275, 347, 362, 370, 372, 375, 397, 462, 498,
549, 608 and 667. However, you can’t buy them directly from the driver but
you can use them for a single journey starting or finishing in Essex.

I have attached a document for your review. This also includes a list of
tickets that can be used on our services.

Thanks again for contacting us. If there is anything else we can help you
with, please reply to this email. Alternatively, you can call us on 0343
222 1234 and we'll be happy to help you.

Kind regards

Rachel Nwandei
Customer Service Adviser
Transport for London Customer Services

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[2]Mayor of London - Every Journey Matters
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References

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2. http://www.tfl.gov.uk/
3. http://www.tfl.gov.uk/corporate/about-tfl/