London mayor announces transport fare freeze until 2025 amidst Cost-of-Living concerns
In a move aimed at alleviating cost-of-living pressures and providing relief to millions of Londoners, Mayor Sadiq Khan has declared a freeze on most public transport fares in the city until at least March 2025. This decision comes as households across London and Britain grapple with the ongoing cost-of-living crisis that has impacted various aspects of daily expenses.
The fare freeze encompasses pay-as-you-go fares, which constitute approximately 80% of Tube journeys and 74% of bus journeys, and will remain unchanged until March next year. Initially expected to rise in tandem with national rail fares, which the government has slated for a 4.9% increase in March, this freeze means that Londoners will not see an uptick in the cost of single tube and bus journeys during the specified period.
To counterbalance the freeze on single fares, the cost of Travelcards – enabling unlimited travel within specified areas – is set to rise between 4.6% and 5.1%, contingent on the selected zones. However, Mayor Khan emphasized that the freeze on pay-as-you-go fares aims to make public transport more affordable for the majority of Londoners.
This intervention comes just months before the upcoming mayoral election in May. “I am setting aside £123 million to freeze transport fares until March 2025,” said Mayor Khan, underscoring his commitment to supporting passengers struggling with the cost of living and contributing to the city’s recovery from the pandemic. “This move not only puts money back in people’s pockets but also encourages them back onto our public transport network, thereby boosting London’s culture, retail, and hospitality sectors.”
The fare freeze applies to pay-as-you-go fares on London’s buses, Tube, Docklands Light Railway, trams, and most routes within the city on London Overground and the Elizabeth line, with some exceptions affected by the national rail fare increase.
While critics, particularly from the Conservative party, accuse Khan of attempting to buy votes, the mayor remains steadfast in his commitment to making public transport more affordable and appealing, emphasizing the significant real-term savings achieved by repeated freezes.
As London continues to grapple with the cost-of-living crisis, this fare freeze represents a significant step towards addressing the financial concerns of residents and bolstering the city’s economic recovery.
