The prices – they just keep going up! Everywhere you look, the sting of inflation can be felt in the cost of, well, everything. But at least the daily commutes and travels of many Londoners will remain unscathed. That’s because the Mayor of London, Sadiq Khan, recently announced that bus and tram fares would be frozen for the seventh year in a row. Phew!
It’s been a bit of a ride lately for Londoners as we’ve attempted to navigate a steady stream of announcements regarding public transport prices. Last month, the government announced a ‘rail freeze’ for the first time in 30 years. (Yippee!) But, unfortunately, this was followed by the news that Underground fares would rise significantly next year… But the pendulum is swinging back to good news with the announcement that bus and tram fares will be frozen until July of 2026.
Freezing bus and tram fares
The bus and tram fares have been frozen, using City Hall funding, as “an emergency cost-of-living measure to protect Londoners on the lowest incomes”. This is the seventh time that the fares have been frozen, saving commuters 16% on their travel. As a result, only Tube and TfL rail fares will rise next year.
The fare freeze also allows Londoners to continue to take advantage of the Hopper Fare. This lets Londoners make unlimited journeys within one hour on London buses for just £1.75. If fares hadn’t been frozen seven times and had increased every year in line with inflation, the same fare would cost £2.35 today.
Said The Mayor of London, Sadiq Khan:
“When the Government awarded TfL £2.2bn in vital investment – the biggest ever multi-year funding deal for London in more than a decade – it made clear it expects TfL fares to rise by inflation plus one percent. However, I remain committed to doing everything in my power to keep TfL fares as affordable as possible because I know how the cost-of-living crisis is still hitting many Londoners hard.”
So, if you’re not already taking advantage of your local buses, it might be time to start!
Read more about the Mayor’s plan for TfL and public transport fares in London here.