Warning to Londoners as TfL fare increase comes into effect today

Londoners will have to shell out more for their Tube ride from today, following a fare price increase of 4.6%.

Mayor Sadiq Khan announced the new higher prices on the Underground, Overground, Elizabeth line and DLR will kick in on Sunday, while bus and tram fares are unaffected.

And it is not just the Underground prices passengers have to worry about as National Rail train fares have also gone up today.

The hike has caused uproar, with campaigners warning that the increase will hit those on low incomes.

Here is a roundup of the Tube fare increase.

How much are Tube prices increasing?

The cost of an adult peak journey in Zone 1 will increase by 10p from £2.80 to £2.90 from today. Bus and tram fares continue to be frozen at £1.75.

Adult off-peak pay as you go fares will rise by 10p from £2.70 to £2.80 in Zone I.

Tube travel in Zones 1-4 will increase by 20p to £4.60 during peak times and to £3.40 off peak.

Child fares on the TfL network are normally around half of the adult fare.

Are London bus fares going up?

No, bus and tram fares will remain frozen at £1.75 per journey, including hopper fare.

The daily cap will be frozen at £5.25 while longer ticket period caps such as 7 Day and Weekly caps will also be frozen, TfL said.

Why are fares increasing?

The government has ordered train companies and TfL to increase prices as part of a national policy.

However, this time the increase is 1% above the retail price index of 3.6%, which has traditionally been the markup for increases.

The government required TfL to increase its fares to ‘secure future national funding for London,’ TfL said.

The government has defended the hike on train tickets, saying that it is the lowest in three years and remains below average earnings growth.

What is the reaction to Tube fares increasing?

The fare increase has not received a warm welcome as many continue to struggle with the cost of living and prices in the capital.

The fare hike will hit people on low income the hardest, a travel watchdog warned.

Michael Roberts, the chief executive of London TravelWatch, said: ‘With many Londoners continuing to feel the pinch of the ongoing cost of living crisis, and some of the most expensive public transport fares in Europe, rising tube and train fares is the last thing they want to hear.

‘At least the freeze in bus fares offers some respite for the millions who rely on London buses to get around the capital, particularly older people, those with mobility issues and people on lower incomes.’

Metro spoke with London Mayor Sadiq Khan about the fare increases ahead of the price hike.

He said he is ‘proud to have been the only mayor who’s frozen bus and tram fares for six years’.

Khan said that Tube and Overground fares ‘aren’t going up more than National Rail.’

‘The fares only going up by the National Rail increase, and we’re freezing them for buses and trams, but also increasing bus provision in outer London,’ he explained.

Fare Free London campaigners called for a ‘zero-fares system’ that would be paid for by different taxes at city level instead of relying on fare income that puts ‘the burden on low-income households.’

‘London has the highest poverty level of any UK region – at 25%,’ said Fare Free London’s Pearl Ahrens, adding that transport is the ‘second largest cost’ after living costs.

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