Val slams ‘stingy’ TfL over Southwark Station £1 charge

Labour London Assembly Member Val Shawcross has criticised Transport for London over their ‘stingy’ refusal to allow holders of Southeastern rail tickets to Waterloo East to exit via Southwark underground station without purchasing a £1 ‘platform ticket’.

While travelcard and Southeastern season ticket holders, along with Pay-as-you-Go Oyster users, can breeze through the barriers unhindered, anyone with a single or return ticket to Waterloo East has to pay up or go on a circuitous walk, should they wish to visit the Blackfriars Road side of the station.  Conflicting information from station staff has not helped the situation, according to Val who explains:

‘This is really Scrooge-like behaviour from Transport for London’, anyone with an appropriate travelcard or season ticket can get off the train at Waterloo East, walk through to Southwark and exit onto Blackfriars Road. But anyone with just a single or return ticket has to pay extra. We know TfL have a funding issue but this is ridiculous – and certainly gives a bad impression of London and Southwark to visitors.  The walk through the station is clean, bright and safe and I do think this move is rather petty.’  Val has called on Transport for London to rethink the scheme and provide clearer information to customers on the validity of various tickets.