Bus and tram fare freeze before autumn rise

Single bus and tram fares across London are to be frozen at £1.75 for a further four months, Transport for London (TfL) and the mayor of London have said.

The current freeze was announced in March and had been due to end on 5 July, but has been extended until 1 November.

A "weekend hopper" fare was announced in May, meaning travellers can pay £1.75 for unlimited bus and tram journeys on Saturdays and Sundays from 25 July to the end of August.

Single bus and tram fares are expected to rise in November by 10p to £1.85, or by 5p for concession card holders, while the daily fare cap is set to rise 30p to £5.55.

This will bring bus and tram fares in line with increases to Tube fares made in March, TfL said.

London bus and tram fares have been frozen several times in recent years, meaning they have remained the same price since March 2023.

Had the fares increased in line with inflation since 2016, they would be £2.35 today, TfL said.

Mayor of London Sir Sadiq Khan said: "I'm pleased to extend the freeze on bus and tram fares for another four months, and will continue doing everything in my power to keep TfL services as affordable as possible, as I know the cost-of-living crisis is still hitting many Londoners hard."

Alex Williams, chief customer and strategy officer at TfL, said he hoped the extended fare freeze and weekend hopper scheme would encourage more public transport use across London, "boosting the economy and enabling people to make the most of the city with friends and family this summer".

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