Tube and train fares in London will increase by 4.6% from next March, the capital’s mayor announced.
This increase corresponds to the increase in regulated rail fares for major rail lines in England.
From March 2, Transport for London’s (TfL) daily caps will increase by 40 pence to 70 pence, depending on the areas traveled.
Labor Mayor Sadiq Khan said ministers had told him an increase was needed to secure “funding for key transport projects”.
Meanwhile, London bus and tram fares will be frozen at £1.75 for unlimited journeys within an hour.
Mr Khan said: “Londoners know from my track record that wherever possible I have made TfL fares more affordable and fairer for Londoners – whether through the introduction of the fare Hopper bus or freezing TfL fares for five years as mayor.
“Following the Government’s Budget, ministers have made it clear that to secure national funding for key transport projects in the future, tube and TfL train fares should increase in line with national rail fares.
“Vital funding from National Government will allow us to progress exciting future projects, such as Superloop 2 and other improvements to the tube network, as we continue to build a fairer, safer and greener London for all .”
Sadiq Khan said the tariff increases would help ensure the funding needed to move forward with future projects. File photo: PA
A Department for Transport (DfT) spokesperson said that during the October Budget, Chancellor Rachel Reeves announced that TfL would receive almost £500 million in additional funding.
The fare increase was not a funding condition announced in the Budget, the DfT said.
Train travel in the UK “particularly expensive”
The increase in tube and train services, in the capital and across England, comes after analysis revealed that train operators serving the UK are the most expensive in Europe.
Campaign group Transport & Environment said Great Western Railway fares are two and a half times higher than the average for European and Swiss operators for routes of similar lengths.
Additionally, Avanti West Coast passengers pay one and a half times more.
The group, which analyzed 27 European operators, said that “train travel in the UK is particularly expensive”, and that high infrastructure costs and “private monopolies” are “to blame”.
Great British Railways – a new public sector body responsible for rail infrastructure and train operations – is expected to be operational in the UK by the end of 2026.
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A DfT spokesperson said: “We are engaged in the biggest overhaul of our railways in a generation, from providing better services to simpler ticketing.
“Although some of our fare types are among the cheapest in Europe, particularly when booked in advance, we know that the maze of fares and prices can be confusing. That’s why we want to simplify fares so that it’s easier for passengers to find the right ticket. for their journey.