Lib Dems Press Mayor To Introduce Free Train Travel For Schools

12.00.00am BST (GMT +0100) Thu 17th Oct 2002

The Mayor has agreed with London Assembly Liberal Democrat Graham Tope that children are being 'geographically' discriminated against because many schools are not on the tube network and so cannot take advantage of his free tube travel scheme.

Graham Tope, Leader of the Lib Dem group and former Sutton council leader, has been campaigning for train companies to join Transport for London (TfL)’s School Party Travel Scheme that gives schoolchildren free travel to educational venues in London.

In answer to questions from Graham Tope at Wednesday’s London Assembly meeting, where the Mayor was appearing as Chair of TfL, Ken Livingstone agreed that it was unfair that children are missing out on the benefits of the scheme and said he was keen to see the scheme extended to the trains.

Graham Tope called on the Mayor to speed up the negotiations with the train companies and agree a suitable ‘compensation package’.

"Children are being denied the benefits of the School Party Travel Scheme as it does not cover train travel. School parties from Sutton, for example, really have no option but to use rail for journeys to (for example) London Zoo, Kew Gardens, Parliament or the Wetland Centre. It is ‘geographical' discrimination."

"I recently wrote to the Association of Train Operating Companies (which includes Thameslink Rail. South Central and South West Trains as members) asking them to take part in the scheme. Although they would welcome the opportunity, ATOC said the Mayor should offer a compensation package similar to that provided to tube and bus companies participating in the scheme."

"I am concerned that this issue is not being resolved as quickly as it could. Many children are missing out because it is not practicable for them to reach most educational venues by bus or Tube."