The Mayor of London has announced fare rise in 2010. Millions of commuters in London face above-inflation rises in Tube and bus fares next year to help pay for investment in the network and compensate for a fall in passenger numbers.
Tube fares will rise by an overall 3.9 percent and bus fares by 12.7 percent from 2 January 2010. That compares to an inflation rate that fell to 1.1 percent in September 2009, its lowest in five years.
The congestion charge for drivers entering central London during weekdays is also set to rise.
Boris Johnson the London Mayor said Transport for London faced "huge financial pressures" caused by the collapse of the Tube maintenance firm Metronet, a recession-linked fall in passengers and the fares policy of former London Mayor Ken Livingstone.
"Nobody wants to make an announcement like this, especially when Londoners are feeling the effects of the recession," Johnson said in a statement. "It is not a decision that I have taken lightly."
- A single bus journey paid in cash will be 1.20 pounds (now one pound)
- A single, all-zone cash Tube journey will be 4.50 (now 4 pounds)
- A seven-day bus pass will be to 16.60 (now 13.80 pounds)
- Passengers using pre-paid Oyster cards face a 20 pence rise on single-zone central London journeys to 1.80 pounds and a 40p rise on all-zone journeys to 4.20 pounds.
- The congestion charge zone will rise from 8 to 10 pounds, or 9 pounds for those who register to pay using a new automated account system.
John Biggs, Labour's deputy leader on the London Assembly, said the fare rises would hit passengers hard.
"This is a massive kick in the teeth for hard-pressed Londoners at a time when many are struggling with the recession," he added.
-Agencies
