Member Article

‘Fare freeze’ on London public transport following one per cent increase

The Mayor of London, Boris Johnson MP has announced a “real terms fares freeze” on Transport for London (TfL) services, as he also revealed an extension of free travel for children to National Rail services in the capital.

From 2 January, fares on TfL services are set to rise by one per cent, in line with the July Retail Price Index (RPI), however a number of fares, including single bus fares and all but two pay as you go single Tube fares, will be frozen.

It is the third year in a row that the Mayor and TfL have been able to provide a real terms fares freeze while balancing the need to modernise the network.

The revised changes to fares are expected to raise £43m a year for TfL – an increase of one per cent and a vital step as TfL increasingly looks to cover its operating costs from fares and other income.

Today, the Mayor also unveiled a deal to extend free travel for children under 11 years old on all National Rail services in the capital, and announced that Stratford and a number of its adjacent stations will move from Zone 3 to the Zones 2/3 boundary in a boost to east London.

The Mayor of London, Boris Johnson MP, said: “I’m delighted that we’re able to yet again freeze overall fares in real terms for our passengers. It’s the third year in a row that we’ve been able to offer this great deal, allowing us to keep the cost of travel down while continuing our vital programme to modernise the network.

“Hundreds of thousands of families will also benefit now that we’ve struck a deal to extend free travel for under 11s across all rail services in London. By securing this deal on National Rail services, we are taking away the fares confusion for so many and opening up wider travel in the capital for families to enjoy.”

In response to this morning’s announcement, the RMT Union’s General Secretary, Mick Cash said; “Travellers in and out of London are forking out huge sums for their rail and tube travel and they rightly expect a safe, reliable and well staffed service but that is being compromised against a background of cuts which is leaving stations and trains dangerously overcrowded.

“With the transport funding settlement this week set to unleash a further wave of cuts, passengers are rightly demanding to know where their money is going and RMT will continue to fight alongside transport user groups for safe and secure services that meet surging passenger demand. “

This was posted in Bdaily's Members' News section by Ellen Forster .