Transport for London (TfL) is facing renewed scrutiny over the future of its popular 60+ Oyster card, as new figures reveal the scheme has cost the authority a staggering £206 million in the past three years. The discounted photocard, introduced back in 2012, offers Londoners over 60 free travel on most public transport services across the city—except during weekday peak hours between 4:30 am and 9 am. But with the cost to TfL’s budget climbing year-on-year, and new pressures on public finances, the debate over who should benefit from subsidized travel in the capital is heating up.
According to data disclosed through a Freedom of Information request and reported by MyLondon, TfL estimates that in the 2023/24 financial year alone, £84 million was lost in foregone revenue due to the 60+ Oyster card. That’s a sharp jump from the £71 million and £51 million lost in the two previous years, highlighting the growing strain the scheme places on TfL’s finances. To put that in perspective, the current shortfall is well above the £23 million gap TfL revealed just this February.
As of 2024/25, there are 382,737 active 60+ Oyster photocard holders, with nearly a third—119,735—registering in the current year. The card remains a bridge for many Londoners between the age of 60 and 66, before they become eligible for the national Older Person Freedom Pass. But as the city’s population ages and the number of cardholders grows, so too does the financial burden.
In a bid to offset some of these costs, TfL announced last month that the price of obtaining a 60+ Oyster card would nearly double, rising from £20 to £35. The annual eligibility check fee is also set to increase, from £10 to £18. These changes, which took effect in July 2025, come at a time when London’s Underground fares have already climbed by 4.6%—making the city’s public transport among the most expensive globally, according to research cited by MyLondon.
Complicating matters further, the Mayor of London has reportedly been instructed by the Transport Secretary to implement above-inflation fare rises until 2030. That means Londoners, young and old alike, can expect the cost of getting around the city to keep rising for years to come.
For some, the decision to continue offering blanket travel discounts to everyone over 60—regardless of income—no longer adds up. Liz Emerson, CEO of the Intergenerational Foundation, told the Local Democracy Reporting Service (LDRS): “On intergenerational fairness grounds, the Mayor of London must stop this free travel bung to workers below state pension age. Why should struggling younger workers facing unprecedented living costs continue to subsidise this freebie?”
That sentiment is echoed by Reem Ibrahim of the Institute for Economic Affairs, who argued to the LDRS: “It's absurd that Transport for London continues to give blanket travel discounts to everyone over 60, regardless of income, at a cost of £84million last year. This is not targeted support to those that are most in need. It disproportionately benefits the wealthiest demographic. Over-60s hold £2.89trillion of mortgage-free property, and 25% of all pensioners are millionaires. When TfL is facing a funding gap, and taxpayers are footing the bill, it is entirely unjustifiable to subsidise free travel for those who can readily afford to pay.”
Yet, for many older Londoners, the 60+ Oyster card is far more than a perk—it’s a necessity. Dennis Reed, Director of Silver Voices, a group advocating for seniors, told the LDRS: “Free Oyster Card travel for older people is a lifeline for many to prevent social isolation and loneliness. It more than pays for itself by improved mental and physical health, and enables activities such as unpaid caring of grandchildren so that parents can work and voluntary work worth billions to society. What sort of society are we becoming where essential benefits like this are being questioned?”
TfL itself remains non-committal about the scheme’s future, but acknowledges the need for regular review. A spokesperson said: “Both the Mayor and TfL are committed to making public transport in London as accessible, convenient, and affordable as possible. The 60+ Oyster Photocard was introduced in 2012 and provides free travel on TfL and most National Rail services across the city for Londoners when they reach 60 years old. We regularly review our range of concessions to ensure that they continue to benefit Londoners, while also remaining affordable for TfL to operate.”
The authority also estimates that if a charge were imposed for trips made using the 60+ Oyster card, one-third of these trips simply wouldn’t happen. That’s a sobering thought, given the ongoing concerns about social isolation among older adults and the broader push to keep London’s streets and public spaces vibrant and well-used.
Meanwhile, the conversation about public transport and passenger safety has taken a technological turn elsewhere in the UK. On August 18, 2025, the travel app Trainline unveiled a new in-app safety feature called SafeSpot, allowing users to “tap to report” incidents on UK trains directly to the British Transport Police (BTP). This innovation aims to streamline the reporting process, making it easier and faster for passengers to alert authorities without the need for back-and-forth text exchanges.
According to research by Strand Partners, nearly one in three UK adults—29%—currently wouldn’t know how to report an incident on a train, a figure that rises to 37% among those aged 65 and older. Despite the near-constant “see it, say it, sorted” announcements on Britain’s railways, many passengers remain unsure about what to do if they witness something concerning.
SafeSpot leverages Trainline’s technology to instantly identify which train a customer is on and automatically sends this live information to the BTP, potentially reducing response times and eliminating confusion. Steve Gooder, VP Product at Trainline, explained: “Leveraging our existing tech capability to locate the exact train a customer is travelling on, SafeSpot will help save time and reduce friction for both rail passengers and British Transport Police in resolving incidents as they occur on board trains. We want to ensure passengers feel supported in their choice to travel by train and help towards the Government’s commitment to making the UK a safer place – including on the rail network.”
The launch of SafeSpot comes at a time when the BTP itself faces a funding shortfall and potential staff cuts, as reported by RailTech.com. The innovation, developed with the help of a moderated hackathon, could offer some relief by streamlining incident reporting and reducing the workload on stretched police resources.
Transport Select Committee Chair Ruth Cadbury MP welcomed the move, saying: “Passenger safety must be at the heart of our railway if we are to encourage more people to travel by train. It’s welcome to see everyone who contributes to the railway, including companies like Trainline, working to make it easier for people to report safety concerns directly. We need more smart, practical steps that empower passengers and help keep our rail network safer for everyone.”
As London and the wider UK grapple with the twin challenges of funding public transport and keeping passengers safe, the debates over who should pay and how best to protect riders are unlikely to fade away. What is clear is that both innovation and tough choices will be needed to keep the nation moving—without leaving anyone behind.