Sadiq Khan says the rise was forced on him by the government

Fares across TfL services will increase by 2.6 per cent in line with the national increase in rail fares this Monday (1 March).

The increase was first announced in December by Mayor of London Sadiq Khan who said the Government had “forced” him to accept it as part of an emergency funding deal for TfL.
At the time, Mr Khan said, “This is the first fares rise since I have been Mayor and I have ensured it is one of the lowest fares increases in London over the past 20 years. I had no choice other than to agree to this Government condition if London’s tubes and buses were to keep running.”

While the cost of single bus and tram journeys will increase to £1.55 and the daily cap to £4.65, passengers will still be able to make unlimited free journeys within the first hour thanks to the Hopper fare.

The majority of pay as you go fares across the Tube, DLR and Overground will rise by up to 20p with paper single tickets rising by up to 60p.

Emma Gibson, director of London TravelWatch, today said: “Londoners are not going to be happy about these fare rises, especially those suffering financially as a result of the pandemic. But we are pleased to see that bus fares have been kept relatively low, as buses are most used by lower income Londoners including the many key workers who have been keeping the capital going.”

Those travelling the greatest distances will see the biggest increase in cost, with the annual cost of using a weekly travel card to get into central London from Zone 6 rising to £3,114 compared to an annual cost of £1,702 from Zone 2.

Sian Berry, the Green Party candidate running to be London Mayor, has unveiled plans to “flatten fares” by eventually scrapping the Zone system if she wins May’s election.

Ms Berry said: “My policy as Mayor would be to flatten the fare structure over time, bringing down outer London fares. When we get down to one zone, all tube and rail fares will cost the same, regardless of which zones you travel between. This has been the case on London buses since 2004.”

She added: “More and more people are being pushed to the edges of London because of housing costs, only to be punished by higher transport costs when they move.

“This isn’t fair. Two workers in the same central London hospital should pay the same fare to get to work no matter where they live.”

Joe Talora - Local Democracy Reporter

March 1, 2021