TfL's 'Scrooge-like' £1 ticket for short-cut criticised

The passageway provides direct access to the Tube station

Transport for London (TfL) has been called "stingy" and "Scrooge-like" for imposing a £1 charge on rail passengers using a short-cut through a station.

Southeastern passengers using single or return tickets to Waterloo East have to buy a £1 ticket to use a passageway to exit through Southwark Tube station.

TfL said the £1 ticket was to "prevent potential fare evasion".

But Labour's London Assembly member Val Shawcross wants a rethink, as Oyster and travelcard users are not charged.

We know TfL have a funding issue but this is ridiculous Val Shawcross, London Assembly Member

She said TfL was "stingy" to penalise some passengers for using a passageway that saved them from a "circuitous walk" to reach the Blackfriars Road side of Southwark station.

"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 on to 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," she added.

'Prevent fare evasion'

A TfL spokeswoman said the passageway provided direct access to the Tube station from the mainline station.

She said: "It is also used as a short-cut by people walking from Waterloo East to Southwark.

"To reduce the potential for fare evasion, a valid Tube ticket has been required since the beginning of January to access the passageway.

"Members of the public who just wish to use the passageway as a short-cut to Southwark and do not have a valid ticket for the Tube will be required to purchase a £1 platform ticket available from ticket machines."