Bus and Tube fares to rise 4.8% - pushing up cost of returning to the office

Tube and bus fares are to rise, pushing up the cost of travelling into central London by an average of 4.8%.

The increases come into effect in two weeks – March 1 – and coincide with a government push for people to work from the office, rather than from home.

• A seven day Travelcard between Clapham stations - zone 2 - and zone 1 will rise to £38.85.

The increases, announced by the London Mayor, Sadiq Khan, and Transport for London (TfL), are the biggest in 10 years and are designed – partially – to help TfL rebuild its finances following a collapse in passenger numbers due to the pandemic, lockdowns and a switch to working from home.

The mayor blamed the Government for the scale of the increase, saying ministers have failed to provide a long-term funding package that properly reflects the impact of the pandemic.

He warned that a continued failure to provide a sustainable funding deal means there is a real threat of the need to introduce a 'managed decline' of the capital's public transport system.

Mr Khan said: "Since TfL's finances were decimated by the pandemic, the Government has set strict conditions as part of the emergency funding deals to keep essential transport services running in London.

"We have been forced into this position by the Government and the way it continues to refuse to properly fund TfL, but I have done everything in my power to keep fares as affordable as possible."

In other changes:

• A one day any time Travelcard valid across zones 1-4 goes up 50p to £14.40.

• A one day any time Travelcard valid across zones 1-6 goes up 70p to £20.30.

• Bus and tram 'Hopper' fare - allowing unlimited journeys within an hour - will increase by 10p to £1.65.

• The flat child fare will rise 5p to 90p.

• Tube fares solely within Zone 1 will increase for the first time in six years by 10p to £2.50.

The TfL Director of Strategy, Shashi Verma, said: "This fares package aims to keep fares as affordable as possible while still ensuring TfL can continue to run clean, green and safe services and support London's continued economic recovery.

"Through daily and weekly capping, as well as the Hopper fare and our wide range of concessions, passengers can continue to get the best value fare by using pay as you go with contactless and Oyster."