tfl travel ch tfl gov uk

• TFL TRAVEL CHARGE TFL.GOV.UK/CP

Learn about the "Tfl Travel Charge Tfl.Gov.Uk/Cp " charge and why it appears on your credit card statement.

First seen on September 3, 2016 , Last updated on February 10, 2018

What is it?

I have been charged £5.50 on 9th February (possibly for a supposed journey a little earlier in the week) I have not travelled on public transport since Monday 5th February (bus) and I have a freedom pass.

TFL TRAVEL CH £5.60: Barclaycard arranged over the phone, without hesitation, for this debit to be reversed. Sheepishly, I explained it must be an RFID conflict with my Freedom Pass in the same wallet.

I checked at my bank account charged £25.10 on July 2nd. I have freedom pass I don’t understand why they charged it

On 24th of Nov I made 1 tube journey from Bond St to Bethnal Green using my Oyster Card around 7pm and the money was deducted on my Oyster card but TFL CH charged me £6.00. On 28th Nov I made one tube journey Liverpool St to Kings Cross on my Oyster card around midday and the money was deducted from the Oyster card. TFL CH charged me £8.90. the other journeys on those days were by bus using my old age bus pass. My Oyster card was bought from a shop some time ago and I always top it up with cash and it had £18.50 on it on 23rd Nov.

I traveled by tube from Victoria station to South Kensington using my Barclays Contactless card, I used the card to log out at South Kensington but noticed the gate had stayed open and that a green light had come on, I have noticed on my statements that a transaction is still pending when this should be cleared can you clear this up. Thank you J Bottomley

Can you help? What is this charge?

Also appears on statements as.

• CHKCARDTFL TRAVEL CHARGE TFL.GOV.UK/CP
• CHECKCARD TFL TRAVEL CHARGE TFL.GOV.UK/CP
• POS Debit TFL TRAVEL CHARGE TFL.GOV.UK/CP
• POS PUR TFL TRAVEL CHARGE TFL.GOV.UK/CP
• POS PURCH TFL TRAVEL CHARGE TFL.GOV.UK/CP
• POS PURCHASE TFL TRAVEL CHARGE TFL.GOV.UK/CP
• POS REFUND TFL TRAVEL CHARGE TFL.GOV.UK/CP
• PRE-AUTH TFL TRAVEL CHARGE TFL.GOV.UK/CP
• PENDING TFL TRAVEL CHARGE TFL.GOV.UK/CP
• Visa Check Card TFL TRAVEL CHARGE TFL.GOV.UK/CP MC
• Misc. Debit TFL TRAVEL CHARGE TFL.GOV.UK/CP
• CHKCARD TFL TRAVEL CHARGE TFL.GOV.UK/CP

Similar Charges

• TFL.GOV.UK/CP HUNTINGDON
• TFL.GOV.UK/CP LONDON
• TFL TRAVEL CH
• TFL TRAVEL CHARGE TFL.GOV.UK/CPGB
• TFL TRAVEL CH TFL.GOV.UK/CP
• TFR WDL BPAY INTERNET

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What Is TfL TravelCh? (A Beginner’s Guide)

TFL Travel: Everything You Need to Know

If you’re a regular commuter in London, you’ve probably heard of TFL Travel. But what exactly is it, and how can you use it to make your journeys easier?

In this article, we’ll take a closer look at TFL Travel, including what it is, how it works, and what benefits it can offer you. We’ll also provide some tips on how to use TFL Travel to get the most out of your commute.

So whether you’re a new arrival in London or a seasoned commuter, read on to learn everything you need to know about TFL Travel!

What is TfL Travel Info?

Overview of TfL Travel Info

TfL Travel Info is a free travel information service provided by Transport for London (TfL). It offers real-time information on all aspects of travel in London, including public transport, road traffic, and walking and cycling routes. TfL Travel Info is available on the web, mobile app, and over the phone.

Features of TfL Travel Info

TfL Travel Info offers a wide range of features to help you plan your journey, including:

• Real-time information on the status of all public transport services in London
• Live traffic updates for all major roads in London
• Walking and cycling route planners
• Journey planning tools that allow you to compare different travel options
• Alerts for disruptions to your journey
• A comprehensive map of London’s transport network

How to use TfL Travel Info

TfL Travel Info is easy to use. To get started, simply visit the TfL Travel Info website or download the mobile app. You can then use the following features to plan your journey:

• Journey Planner: The Journey Planner allows you to enter your start and end points, and it will generate a list of possible routes. You can then select the route that best suits your needs.
• Real-time Updates: The Real-time Updates feature provides up-to-the-minute information on the status of all public transport services in London. This information can help you avoid delays and disruptions.
• Traffic Updates: The Traffic Updates feature provides live traffic updates for all major roads in London. This information can help you plan your journey and avoid traffic congestion.
• Walking and Cycling Route Planners: The Walking and Cycling Route Planners allow you to plan walking and cycling routes around London. These routes can be customized to your fitness level and preferences.
• Alerts: The Alerts feature allows you to receive notifications about disruptions to your journey. This information can help you make alternative arrangements.

How to Get TfL Travel Info

Sources of TfL Travel Info

There are a number of ways to get TfL Travel Info, including:

• Web: The TfL Travel Info website is the most comprehensive source of travel information. It offers real-time information on all aspects of travel in London, including public transport, road traffic, and walking and cycling routes.
• Mobile app: The TfL Travel Info mobile app is a convenient way to access travel information on the go. The app offers all of the same features as the website, plus it includes some additional features, such as push notifications and offline maps.
• Over the phone: You can also get TfL Travel Info over the phone by calling 0343 222 1234. The phone line is open 24 hours a day, 7 days a week.

How to access TfL Travel Info

To access TfL Travel Info, simply visit the TfL Travel Info website or download the mobile app. You can then use the following features to plan your journey:

What Is TfL Travel Info?

TfL Travel Info is a free service that provides real-time travel information for London’s public transport network. It is run by Transport for London (TfL), the body responsible for managing the capital’s transport system.

TfL Travel Info offers a range of features, including:

• Journey planning tools
• Real-time travel information
• Disruption alerts
• Service updates

You can access TfL Travel Info online, on mobile devices, and via text message.

Using TfL Travel Info

TfL Travel Info can be used to plan your journeys, get real-time travel information, and receive alerts about disruptions.

To plan your journey, you can use the TfL Journey Planner. This tool allows you to enter your starting point and destination, and it will generate a route with the best options for your journey. The Journey Planner also provides information on the expected journey time, the cost of your fare, and any disruptions that may affect your journey.

You can get real-time travel information by using the TfL Live Departure Boards. These boards are located at major transport hubs across London, and they display the expected arrival and departure times for all services. You can also get real-time travel information by using the TfL website or app.

TfL Travel Info also provides alerts about disruptions. These alerts are sent to your mobile device or email address, and they provide information on any changes to services that may affect your journey.

Benefits of Using TfL Travel Info

There are a number of benefits to using TfL Travel Info, including:

• Save time: TfL Travel Info can help you save time by providing you with the best options for your journey and by alerting you to any disruptions that may affect your journey.
• Avoid delays: TfL Travel Info can help you avoid delays by providing you with real-time travel information and alerts about disruptions.
• Plan your journey more efficiently: TfL Travel Info can help you plan your journey more efficiently by providing you with the best options for your journey and by alerting you to any disruptions that may affect your journey.

If you are planning to travel in London, TfL Travel Info is a valuable tool that can help you save time, avoid delays, and plan your journey more efficiently.

• Avoid delays
• Plan your journey more efficiently

TfL Travel Info is a mobile app and website that provides real-time travel information for London. It includes information on bus, tube, train, and tram services, as well as road closures and traffic delays.

How can I use TfL Travel Info?

To use TfL Travel Info, you can either download the app to your mobile device or visit the website. Once you’re logged in, you can enter your starting point and destination, and the app will provide you with the best route options. You can also view real-time travel updates, including delays and cancellations.

What are the benefits of using TfL Travel Info?

TfL Travel Info can help you save time and money by providing you with the most up-to-date travel information. It can also help you avoid delays and cancellations, and make better decisions about how to get around London.

How can I get help with TfL Travel Info?

If you need help with TfL Travel Info, you can contact the TfL customer service team by phone or email. You can also find help on the TfL website.

Is TfL Travel Info free to use?

Yes, TfL Travel Info is free to use.

TfL Travel is a comprehensive travel planning tool that can help you find the best way to get around London. It offers a variety of features, including real-time travel information, route planning, and journey planning. Whether you’re a visitor or a local, TfL Travel can help you make the most of your time in London.

Here are some key takeaways:

• TfL Travel is free to use and available on the web, iOS, and Android.
• It provides real-time travel information, including delays, closures, and disruptions.
• You can use it to plan routes by public transport, walking, cycling, or driving.
• You can also use it to find the nearest station, stop, or parking space.

TfL Travel is a valuable tool for anyone who travels in London. It can help you save time, money, and stress. So next time you’re in London, be sure to download TfL Travel and make the most of your trip.

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How will Transport for London (TfL) travel charges be shown on my card statements?

Your monthly statements will always refer to TfL as either 'TfL.gov.uk/CP' or 'TfL Travel', followed by the type of transaction, 'Charge' or 'Refund'.

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Contactless Mobile

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General Information

Do I have a daily limit for contactless payments? 

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I carry both my contactless debit/credit card and my Barclaycard in my wallet, which one will be debited if I tap my wallet on a reader?

TFL Network

What should I do if I think I've been charged the wrong amount or if I accidentally touch my contactless Barclays debit card or Barclaycard on a card reader?

What should I do if my Barclays Debit card or Barclaycard is lost or stolen?

Reimbursements

How to Get a Receipt for Contactless TfL Travel

The London transport system is regarded as one of the best urban transport systems in the world. It may not be perfect, but Londoners have it pretty good all things considered. It’s possible to traverse the city with nothing more than a contactless card, which is just about the easiest way to pay as a passenger. Unfortunately, this can make things a little tricky when it comes to getting a valid digital receipt for travel expenses. Luckily it’s possible to get a TfL receipt sent directly to your TfL account.

In this guide, we’ll explain how to get expense receipts for your contactless journeys around London. We’ll also explain some of the other services TfL offers to make your life easier when it comes to managing travel payments.

Using contactless payment for London travel

Whether you’re using underground trains, overground trains or buses, you can pay quickly and easily anywhere in London using contactless payment. When contactless payment was first introduced, customers were limited to Oyster cards. Oyster cards were a game changer which allowed commuters to travel around the city on the TfL network with minimal hassle. But they have one main drawback in the sense that they can’t be used anywhere else.

Since 2014, public transport passengers in London have been able to use their contactless bank cards, as well as cards stored in digital wallets, alongside the standard Oyster card. In fact, the number of passengers using contactless debit or credit cards now outnumbers those using oyster cards.

Reimbursements with Moss: More freedom for your team

Tax rules for employer-provided Oyster cards

HMRC treats Oyster cards that are provided to employees by their employers in effectively the same way as individual travel tickets for business trips. This is because Oyster cards use a top-up system, and are usually the most cost effective and flexible way for individuals to travel on the TfL network.

If the amount of money provided by the employer is not enough to cover necessary business trip costs, the employee can claim a tax deduction on the additional costs they’ve paid out of pocket. You can find more information about the tax rules surrounding Oyster cards on the gov.uk website .

How to get a receipt for contactless TfL travel

Contactless payment for TfL is no doubt hugely popular with passengers. It makes it easier and more convenient to travel around the capital, particularly if you’re in a rush. But there’s one common area of confusion—obtaining a valid receipt for individual TfL journeys.

Firstly, it can be hard to distinguish individual work-related journeys if you have a monthly or yearly subscription. To claim a tax rebate for business travel, you need to be able to supply detailed records of each and every item you’re claiming.

When you mix business travel and personal travel on the same card or payment method, it can be difficult to isolate specific journeys. You can find out more about the rules and regulations surrounding travel expenses in our travel expenses guide .

Secondly, many employers will not accept transaction statements from banking apps as valid proof of a journey when claiming expenses. This is because transactions on banking apps lack most of the additional data that employers need to verify a payment was made for a specific journey.

Instead you’ll need to get a TfL payment receipt, which you can obtain online with a TfL contactless and Oyster account. We’ll explain how to do this below.

Getting a TfL contactless and Oyster account

Having a TfL contactless and Oyster account allows you to perform various actions online, like viewing your purchase history or obtaining refunds for unused credit.

Unless you buy an Oyster card in person at a London underground or overground station, you’ll be asked to set up a TfL contactless and Oyster account when you purchase your Oyster card. Once you’ve opened an account, you’ll be able to add credit to your Oyster card whenever you need.

Alternatively, you can create a TfL contactless and Oyster account without buying an Oyster card. Instead you can simply add a normal contactless debit or credit card to your account and access your transaction records this way.

How to get receipts from your contactless and Oyster account

Go to the TfL website at tfl.gov.uk , and then tap ‘Top up Oyster’ to log in. Tap ‘Sign in’ and enter your details. This will take you to the account overview page where you can select your contactless payment cards or Oyster cards.

If you’ve been using a contactless payment card, select the card you want to view on the left hand side of the screen. (This applies to cards you’ve used physically, as well as cards you’ve used through a digital wallet like Apple Wallet ). 

Select ‘Journey & payment history’ and you’ll be able to filter and view all of TfL your journeys and payments. You can then download a PDF or CSV file of the receipts for journeys you made during the period you’ve selected. You can also view your transactions if you have an Oyster card linked to your account by selecting ‘Oyster cards’ under the ‘My Account’ menu on the right hand side of your account home screen.

Getting receipts and payment history on the Oyster app

Instead of logging in to your contactless and Oyster account in your browser, you can access all the essential account functionality in the TfL Oyster and contactless app. The app displays all of the contactless payment cards you’ve added to your account.

You can select which card you want to use, and then simply tap on the contactless card reader with your phone whenever you want to pass through a barrier at the station. Your can access your payment and journey history for each card directly from the app, and there’s a handy map of the TfL network in case you get lost in the depths of the tube.

How to update your first generation Oyster card

Unfortunately you won’t be able to access any of the functionality of the Oyster app if you have a first generation Oyster card. First generation Oyster cards are not compatible with the app. However, because they were phased out in 2010, this shouldn’t be an issue for the vast majority of users.

If you’re unsure whether you have a first or a second generation oyster card, simply check the back of the card and look for a ‘D’ in the bottom left hand corner. If your card doesn’t have a ‘D’, it’s a first generation Oyster card. You’ll need to exchange it for a new second generation card to use the app.

Don’t worry about losing any credit you had remaining on your old Oyster card. When you buy a new one and register it on your contactless and Oyster account, you’ll be able to transfer the remaining balance. You’ll also get your deposit back as credit on your account.

Paying for TfL travel with cash

Since 2012 London buses have been contactless payment only. But you can still buy overground and underground tickets with cash at ticket offices and certain ticket machines. While this makes it easier to get a receipt (you’ll receive a paper receipt as normal when you pay), you actually end up paying more for your fare than you would if you used contactless payment.

Getting TfL receipts as a London road user

Using public transport isn’t the only time you pay when travelling around London. If you’re a road user, you’ll be familiar with the Congestion Charge and Ultra Low Emissions Zone (ULEZ) charge. These charges were introduced to ease traffic congestion and emissions in the centre of the city, and they’re unavoidable if you have to drive within a certain area.

In most cases, these charges are not tax-deductible because they don’t meet HMRC’s requirements for employee expenses. However, many employers will reimburse you for additional charges you incur on business trips and other work-related travel. If this is the case, your employer will ask you to provide proof of payment of the charge before they reimburse the expense.

Reimburse with Moss: Give freedom to your team

To get your receipts, payment history and other information, you’ll need to log in to your London road user charging account. The process is very similar to the contactless and Oyster account as mentioned above.

Go to the TfL website at tfl.gov.uk , and then tap ‘Congestion Charge’ and ‘Sign in’. Unlike paying with an Oyster card, you have to set up a London road user charging account to pay the congestion charge or ULEZ charge.

Once you’ve logged in, go to ‘My account’ on the top right of the page. Scroll down and click on ‘Payment history’ on the left side of the screen. Here you’ll be able to search your past payments and download a summary of your receipts on a month-by-month basis as a PDF or CSV file.

Receipts and travel expenses with Moss

Moss’s spend management platform simplifies the employee expense and reimbursement process with a range of different tools for employers and employees. When it comes to managing and storing receipts, travel-related or not, Moss can save you time and effort. Employees can scan their expenses receipts directly into the Moss app, and managers can review and approve expenses on the go. There’s no need to deal with paper receipts or invoices because Moss digitises the entire process.

Employers can provide each employee or department with their own Moss corporate credit card . This can be specifically for travel, general expenses, or any other business related spend. Moss virtual credit cards can be set with custom cash limits, and controlled directly from the Moss app for full visibility over every pound that’s spent. Team members can store their Moss cards in Apple Wallet and spend directly from their phone using Apple Pay.

Then there’s Moss insights , which displays a range of detailed cashflow data. With aggregated data from across all of your linked accounts, you can ensure you’re always on top of outgoing costs and aware of potential expense cost savings.

Yes, you can get receipts for contactless journeys on TfL using a contactless card or an Oyster card. To do so you need to set up a contactless and Oyster account. This allows you view all of your past journeys and payments that you’ve made to TfL.

To set up a contactless and Oyster account, visit the tfl.gov.uk website, click ‘Top up Oyster’ and follow the instructions on screen.

An Oyster card is a contactless card that passengers can use on the TfL transport network. Users can top up their Oyster card at ticket machines around London, or link it to a bank card using a contactless and Oyster account.

Yes. To do so you’ll need to set up a London road user charging account, which you can do on the TfL website .

Yes. Contactless payment is cheaper than buying individual tickets with cash because contactless travel has a fixed cap per day.

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Unknown charge for using contactless card on the Tube? - London Forum

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Unknown charge for using contactless card on the Tube?

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(Note: I'm not from the UK, just a tourist)

1. LUL TICKET MACHINE PADDINGTON (CGB AMT:GBP4.90

2. TFL TRAVEL CH http://TFL.GOV.UK/CPGB AMT:GBP2.40

I'm just curious, what is the second item and why is it £2.40?

PS: In retrospect, I should have got an Oyster card since I'm not sure whether I'll go to London again!

The second item is simply your second trip, where are you touched in and out with your bankcard at the barriers.

The first item is buying a paper ticket at a ticket machine which costs more than using a contactless card at the barriers.

The £4.90 was for the paper ticket you got from the ticket machine. Then the £2.40 is the fare that you paid the following day with your contactless card.

Was there a reason why you bought a paper ticket rather than using your card as the contactless payment at the gates?

1 is the cash fare as you bought a ticket (why?)

see http://www.tfl.gov.uk

You don't buy a ticket, you just use it to travel.

Touch the contactless card on the yellow pads as you go in and touch the card on the pad as you go out. That records one journey.

If a pick pocket takes your Oyster card they only have access to what is pre paid and for travel so unlikely they'd want it. If they see where you put your bank card and take it they have access to your bank account. So it may be worth the hassle.

https://www.theguardian.com/money/2014/sep/16/london-tube-contactless-payments-underground-oyster

Seems like the OP's bank is charging a fee for each use ... without a fee free debit/credit card it simply isn't worth using it for public transport.

No there's no fee here. The OP has misunderstood how contactless works and bought a paper ticket at a machine - then used the debit card and not the paper ticket to travel.

Many banks charge fees for every single foreign purchase, a $1 train fare could have a fee of 5 bucks depending on her bank.

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• Business and industry
• Business regulation

Decision for TFL Transport & Warehousing Limited

• Traffic Commissioners for Great Britain

Published 12 April 2024

© Crown copyright 2024

This publication is licensed under the terms of the Open Government Licence v3.0 except where otherwise stated. To view this licence, visit nationalarchives.gov.uk/doc/open-government-licence/version/3 or write to the Information Policy Team, The National Archives, Kew, London TW9 4DU, or email: [email protected] .

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This publication is available at https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/decision-for-tfl-transport-warehousing-limited/decision-for-tfl-transport-warehousing-limited

0.1 IN THE WEST MIDLANDS TRAFFIC AREA

1. written confirmation of oral decision given at a public inquiry on 27 february 2024, 2. tfl transport & warehousing limited – od1127683 and, 3. transport manager mitchell lester, 4. background.

TFL Transport and Warehousing Limited holds a standard national goods operator’s licence (OD1127683) authorising twelve vehicles and six trailers. The licence was granted on 30 April 2014.  There are two directors of the operating company – Mitchell Lester, who is also the nominated transport manager, and Danial Zafar.

The Driver and Vehicle Standards Agency (“DVSA”) conducted an investigation into the operator’s systems for complying with maintenance requirements.  The DVSA report dated 22 June 2022 is included in the Public Inquiry Brief (pages B1-B18) and highlights failings in the operator’s maintenance systems. It highlighted shortcomings in a number of areas including the following:

Legal entity incorrect due to directors having resigned and a new director showing at Companies House, but not listed on the licence;

Safety inspection records not properly completed with no method of brake performance test recorded and instances of driver reportable defects picked up at inspection but not recorded by drivers and instances of extended safety inspection intervals;

Driver defect report sheets inadequate with no section for signature, date and endorsement of rectification of defects;

No system in place to monitor adblue usage;

Ineffective load security arrangements; and

Prohibitions issued at fleet inspection which should have been picked up by the driver.

Assurances were given by the operator and transport manager in response to the failings identified by the DVSA vehicle examiner.  In view of those assurances, the DVSA examiner recommended that there should be a further investigation to assess compliance in six months’ time when he anticipated that the operator would be able to show “a vast improvement” from the “unsatisfactory” outcome of his investigation. In October 2023 there was a follow up Desk Based Assessment (“DBA”) conducted by the DVSA to examine the areas that were found unsatisfactory in June 2022.  That was also found to be “unsatisfactory” with the same failures found then that were found during the previous maintenance investigation (inspection sheets not conforming to best practice guidance, as advised on the previous visit; brake test performance not recorded at inspections; inspection intervals not managed, with some late inspections; driver reportable defects found at inspections, driver defect report sheets not completed correctly and defects found with no evidence of rectification).

5. Public Inquiry

The operator and transport manager were called to a public inquiry in Birmingham on 27 February 2024 to explore these apparent shortcomings and to consider whether the transport manger, Mitchell Lester, was continuing to exercise continuous and effective management of the company’s transport activities.  The call up letter to the operator explained that the traffic commissioner was also concerned that the company may not be of the appropriate financial standing to hold an operator’s licence for the number of vehicles authorised.  The company was directed to produce evidence of its financial standing showing access to the required amount for the twelve vehicles authorised (£57,500) over the previous three months.  The financial evidence submitted in advance of the inquiry hearing demonstrated that the operator fell very far short of that required amount – by around £REDACTED. In addition to financial evidence, the company and the transport manager were asked to send updated maintenance documentation to the DVSA in advance of the public inquiry hearing.  Vehicle Examiner Ridge, who had conducted the DBA in October 2023, assessed the updated documents provided to him and produced a supplementary report for the public inquiry dated 14 February 2024, which was served on the parties to the inquiry on 16 February 2024.

On 22 February 2024, the operator’s solicitors wrote to the OTC office in Birmingham to advise that it was accepted that the operator did not meet the financial standing requirement and that it wished to surrender its licence. That request was referred to me and I refused it under section 16(4) of the Act in view of these regulatory proceedings which involved consideration of a direction in respect of the licence under section 26 or 27 of the Act, as set out in the call up letter.  The public inquiry hearing called on 27 February 2024.  The operating company was represented by one of the directors, Mitchell Lester, who also appeared in his capacity as transport manager, represented by Charlotte Fowler of Backhouse Jones solicitors. I heard evidence from Mitchell Lester and representations on behalf of the parties from Charlotte Fowler.

6. Findings

I made the following findings based on the evidence before me and on the balance of probabilities:

The operator breached a condition of its licence by failing to notify an additional director (section 26(1)(b) of the Act refers);

The operator’s vehicles have been issued with prohibition notices by the DVSA in the past five years (section 26(1)(c)(iii) of the Act refers);

The operator made statements when applying for the licence which were false or have not been fulfilled (section 26(1)(e) of the Act refers);

The operator has failed to fulfil the undertakings signed up to when the licence was applied for (section 26(1)(f) of the Act refers);

Mitchell Lester was not exercising continuous and effective management of the company’s transport activities, as required by the legislation.  He no longer satisfies the requirements of section 13A(3) of the Act to be of good repute in accordance with Schedule 3 to the Act.

The operator no longer meets the requirements of section 13A(2) as to financial standing. In view of my findings and decision in respect of Mitchell Lester as transport manager, the operator no longer meets the requirement of section 13A(3) of the Act as to professional competence.

7. Reasoning and decisions

It was suggested by Ms Fowler that I could not make any finding as to financial standing because the operator had requested that the licence be surrendered. She referred me to the case of Britannia Hotels Limited & Alexander Langsam T/A Britannia Airport Hotel (2004/362 & 2004/72) in support of that argument. The surrender request was made a matter of days before the public inquiry hearing, and I had refused to accept it because I was considering making findings under sections 26 and 27 of the Act.  I considered the Britannia Hotels decision but was satisfied that it could quite clearly be distinguished on the facts. I had made adverse findings as to the way in which this operator had operated its vehicles.  Late safety inspections, lack of adequate brake testing and defects found on vehicles at inspection which should have been picked up before inspection were compliance failings which could well be due to a lack of finances.  The shortfall of finances in the Britannia Hotels case was a relatively small amount, but this operator was failing to meet the required level by a very large margin of nearly £REDACTED. There was evidence during the inquiry that the company was in financial difficulties, the decision had been taken that it couldn’t carry on for that reason and the business was winding down with a view to stopping operations later this month. I considered that it was entirely appropriate for me to consider whether the operator continued to meet the continuing and mandatory requirements of section 13A(2)(c) of the Act.  I concluded that it did not and, consequently, directed that the licence must be revoked as required by section 27(1)(a).

The question of financial standing aside, I considered this to be a serious case where there had been persistent operator licence failings with an inadequate response from the operator.  The failures identified in the DVSA report in June 2022 were still present at the time of the DBA in October 2023 and again at the time of this public inquiry, with the Vehicle Examiner commenting in his statement of 14 February 2024 “There is no evidence of improvement following the …DBA, the operator has not addressed any of the shortcomings previously identified.” There was ineffective management control and insufficient procedures in place to prevent operator licence compliance failings.  There was ineffective or insufficient driver training with insufficient or ineffective monitoring procedures in place, particularly regarding driver walkaround checking and defect reporting. Insufficient changes had been made to ensure compliance, despite the operator having been given an opportunity to get things right, not once but twice before these shortcomings were referred to OTC.  The operator also had a high prohibition rate, with a mechanical prohibition rate of 33.33%, which was significantly higher than the national average of 21.7%.

On the positive side of the balance, this was the operator’s first appearance at a public inquiry, it co-operated with the enforcement investigations, it has an above average MOT pass rate and there had been no “S” marked prohibitions.   

Weighing the negative and positive features in the balance, I considered this to be a “serious” case having regard to the Senior Traffic Commissioner’s Statutory Document 10.  Revocation was inevitable given my finding that the operator no longer met the statutory financial standing requirements.  Pursuant to sections 26(1)(b), (c)(iii), (e), (f) and 27(1) I directed that the licence be revoked with effect from 23:45 hours on 29 March 2024, to allow for an orderly run down.

8. Good repute of transport manager

I was satisfied on the evidence and on the balance of probabilities that Mitchell Lester failed to exercise continuous and effective control of the operator’s transport operations. His response to the DVSA findings was completely inadequate, even when he was given an opportunity to get things right.  The “vast improvement” that he had promised, and that the DVSA anticipated, did not materialise by the time of the DBA and the same compliance failings were still present as at the date of the public inquiry.  Some of those were serious, particularly as regards brake testing not being carried out at each inspection. Concerningly, Mr Lester admitted in his evidence before me that he had not realised that it was a requirement that a brake test be carried out at each safety inspection. He fully accepted in evidence that his understanding of his duties as a transport manager was inadequate, and that he had not been performing that role as he should have been.  He had qualified as a transport manager some 10-12 years ago and had never completed any refresher training.  When asked why he had not implemented the necessary changes identified by the DVSA, his response was that he had been too busy in his role as director managing other aspects of the business.  However, the role of transport manager is a key one which he failed to perform effectively and continuously resulting in the compliance failures found.  Those failures presented a clear risk to road safety. 

In considering the good repute of Mitchell Lester as transport manager I performed the same balancing act as set out above with reference to the negative findings and features outlined.  I considered whether there were any positive features to be weighed in the balance.  Mr Lester was candid in his evidence before me and he recognised the need to improve his knowledge and skills.  He does intend to go on a transport manager refresher training course, however, as at the date of the inquiry he had not done so.  That is because of all that had been going on with the business and its winding down.  He did not know what he would do next in terms of business or employment, but it was likely to be in the transport industry, which is the only one he knows. 

In considering whether his good repute was lost, rather than merely tarnished, I had regard to relevant Upper Tribunal case law, including Angus Smales trading as Angus Smales Eventing (2014/058) when the Upper Tribunal confirmed that being a transport manager is far more than just holding the qualification.  I found that Mitchell Lester had not demonstrated the ability to meet the statutory duty and that continued to be the case. In the circumstances, and as was confirmed in Matthew Reynolds (2015/049), I was therefore obliged to find that he had lost his repute as transport manager and no longer satisfied the requirements of paragraph 14A of Schedule 3 to the Act.  I considered whether such a finding would be a disproportionate response but determined that it was entirely proportionate on the evidence before me.

Having concluded that Mitchell Lester’s good repute was lost I was also obliged to disqualify him under paragraph 16(2) of Schedule 3 to the Act from acting as a transport manager on an operator’s licence.  I directed that he be disqualified from acting as a transport manager on an operator’s licence with effect from 23:45 hours on 29 March 2024.  Although Mr Lester is at liberty to seek to vary that direction, I was obliged to disqualify him for the minimum period of 12 months by virtue of paragraph 17(1A) of Schedule 3 to the Act.  I indicated that he would be well advised to complete refresher training and work with an experienced CPC holding transport manager if he is to seek to persuade a traffic commissioner that he is capable of meeting the statutory requirements in the future.

Victoria Davies

Traffic Commissioner for Wales

Sitting as a Deputy Traffic Commissioner in the West Midlands Traffic Area

1 March 2024

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