Londoners will face a 4.6 per cent hike in Tube and rail fares from next March, Mayor Sadiq Khan announced, aligning the capital’s increase with the rise in regulated train fares for England’s mainline railway.
According to Sky News on Friday, Transport for London’s (TfL) daily caps will increase by 40p to 70p depending on the zones traveled.
Meanwhile, bus and tram fares will remain frozen at £1.75 for unlimited journeys within an hour, a measure Khan says is aimed at easing the burden on commuters.
Sources corroborating the report reveals that the Mayor also made an official announcement on his official social media page.
“I’m freezing bus fares in London for another year to support Londoners with the cost of living as much as possible,” Khan shared on X (formerly Twitter) Friday, referencing a video interview with BBC London.
The Labour mayor explained that the fare increase is crucial for securing funding for essential transport projects.
“Following the government’s budget, ministers made clear that to secure national funding for key transport projects in the future, TfL Tube and rail fares would need to increase in line with national rail fares,” Khan stated.
However, he reiterated his commitment to affordability: “Londoners know from my record that wherever possible I’ve made TfL fares more affordable and fairer – whether through the introduction of the Hopper bus fare or freezing TfL fares for five years as mayor.
“Vital national government funding will allow us to progress exciting future projects, such as Superloop 2 and more upgrades to the Tube network, as we continue building a fairer, safer, and greener London for everyone.”
Mixed Reactions
A spokesperson for the Department for Transport (DfT) clarified that the fare hike was not a stipulation of the £500m funding announced in October’s budget by Chancellor Rachel Reeves.
The DfT underscored that the funding would provide a significant boost to London’s transport network.
The fare hike comes amidst rising criticism of UK rail costs. A study by campaign group Transport & Environment found that train fares in the UK are the highest in Europe.
Great Western Railway fares were reported to be two-and-a-half times higher than the EU and Swiss average for similar routes, while Avanti West Coast fares are 1.5 times more expensive.
The group attributed the high costs to “private monopolies” and expensive infrastructure, emphasizing the need for a more affordable system.
A public-sector body, Great British Railways, is set to take over rail operations and infrastructure by 2026, potentially reshaping the cost structure.
As London braces for these changes, the balance between funding transformative projects and maintaining affordability for commuters remains a focal point of debate, with the comment section to his X post locked, sources reports.
