LTW calls on operators to reward season ticket loyalty

London TravelWatch (LTW) claims many season ticket holders feel unrewarded for their loyalty, with most being unaware of the full range of tickets available to them and some paying more than they need to for their daily commute.

LTW’s research, published on October 25, suggests that many season ticket holders renew their tickets while being unaware that they could be paying less, and that there is little information or help available to ensure passengers don’t pay more than they need to.

LTW is calling on train operators to afford a better service to annual season ticket holders by better explaining the benefits of season tickets, helping customers to decide whether season tickets are the best option, offering more travel perks such as extended discounted travel, and providing ‘adequate’ plastic season tickets instead of ‘poor quality’ paper ones.

LTW chairman Arthur Leathley said: “It is clear from our research that commuters feel like they are being taken for granted by operators, despite paying thousands of pounds to travel to and from work. Sometimes the cost of annual tickets can make up a quarter of take-home pay.

“In a lot of cases commuters could get better value for money if they were made aware of extras included with their season tickets, such as a Gold Card. We hope that operators will realise that many of our recommendations could be quick wins for them, and we look forward to working with them to improve options for passengers.”