• Skip to primary navigation
  • Skip to main content
  • Skip to primary sidebar

MayorWatch

London News and Comment

  • NEWS

London fares cap welcomed

November 29, 2011 by Martin Hoscik

Fares will now rise by less than originally announced
Chancellor George Osborne’s announcement of a cap on fares increases has been welcomed by London politicians.

Fares on London’s transport services were due to increase by 7.2% in January under Boris Johnson’s rolling formula of RPI + 2%.

The Mayor has previously defended his increases, insisting they war necessary for investment in services.

However on Monday a Comres poll found a majority of voters would prefer lower fares to continued investment. In April a City Hall surgery showed the rising costs of transport was a major concern for Londoners.

Making his Autumn Statement, the Chancellor told MPs that he was capping fares increases, including in London, at 6.2%. To achieve the cap, the coalition is providing Transport for London an additional £130m in funding.

City Hall said the Mayor would “immediately” develop a new fares package to comply with the cap.

Caroline Pidgeon, Liberal Democrat leader at City Hall said: “Any decision to overrule Boris Johnson’s excessive fare package is welcome, and will be particularly well received by those on the lowest incomes.”

“In some respects Boris Johnson has been saved from himself.   The decision exposes just how out of touch he is with Londoners.  But what really matters is that Londoners will not be hit so hard in the New Year.”
 
Ken Livingstone, Labour’s 2012 Mayoral candidate, said “What Londoners need is a fares cut, and a commitment to hold down the fares – not George Osborne and Boris Johnson confirming yet another big fare increase.”.

Sharon Grant, Chair of passenger watchdog London TravelWatch, said: “at a time of increasing pressure on household budgets, it’s very good news that expected fare increases are to be curbed.

“Passengers tell us though that they still feel that the fares they pay are not good value for money. So even with this smaller increase, we still look to operators to improve their service offerings”.

The freeze on fares increases also applies to surface rail services.

  • Click to share on X (Opens in new window) X
  • Click to share on Facebook (Opens in new window) Facebook
  • Click to share on Tumblr (Opens in new window) Tumblr
  • Click to share on Pinterest (Opens in new window) Pinterest
  • Click to share on LinkedIn (Opens in new window) LinkedIn
  • Click to share on Reddit (Opens in new window) Reddit
  • Click to print (Opens in new window) Print
  • Click to email a link to a friend (Opens in new window) Email

Filed Under: News Tagged With: Fares

RECENT UPDATES

Tube and rail users to benefit from Oyster weekly fares cap

Mayor and TfL call on ministers to help plug funding gap

Tube to get full mobile phone coverage from 2024

TfL says Direct Vision Standard is already making HGVs safer for London road users




POPULAR

City Hall to move to Docklands as Mayor seeks to raise £55m for frontline services

‘Concern’ over TfL’s ability to deliver major projects in wake of Crossrail cost overruns

City Hall halts London Overground ticket office closures but many will still see opening hours reduced

Transport for London confirms bus cuts will go ahead despite passenger opposition

Copyright © 2025 · Terms of Use · Privacy Policy