Earlier this year, Mayor Sadiq Khan introduced a trail of scrapping peak-time fares on Fridays for the Tube and trains, giving Londoners discounted travel and encouraging people to utilise London’s unbeatable transportation network.
Since early March, the city has been enjoying off-peak fares all day every Friday, with journies from Zone 6 to Zone 1 costing £3.60 instead of £5.60. This Friday (May 31) marks the end of this three-month-long trail, with fares set to rise by £2 once the month is over.
This money-saving trail was introduced due to a decrease in use, with fewer people using tube and rail services following the pandemic.
Speaking about the trial, Mayor Sadiq Khan said: “Encouraging more people back into the city on Fridays could give a much-needed boost to the hospitality, business and leisure sectors. I’m making a call to all Londoners: to help London keep roaring back.”
Currently, off-peak fares apply when you’re travelling outside the morning’s peak hours (6.30am to 9.30am) and the evening’s peak hours (4pm to 7pm), with this thoughtful initiative diminishing this on Fridays, giving you cheaper travel to kick-start your weekend.
It’s your last chance to make the most of this discounted rate. So, whether you’re overdue a visit to the office, or fancy treating yourself to something fun this weekend, be sure to use the tube or train this Friday (May 31).
TfL pay-as-you-go single fares on Tube, DLR, London Overground, Elizabeth line, as well as some rail routes across London and parts of the southeast were available for off-peak travel. With its conclusion intimate and only one Friday remaining, the trail hasn’t produced a drastic change in travel habits, but there are further initiatives in place to keep London’s transportation network one of the best in the world.
At the beginning of the year, London Mayor Sadiq Khan announced a freeze to all single pay-as-you-go fares on the Tube and buses until March 2025. This means that the price for anyone tapping in and out with their contactless card or Oyster Card on a one-way journey will not see a hike in prices until next year.
Also, if you have a railcard and have no idea how that can save you money on your Tube fare, click here to find out this London life hack that could save you hundreds of pounds on your commute.