Four-year TfL fares freeze 'will save passengers £200'

Commuters are set to save up to £200 per household after London Mayor Sadiq Khan announced that fares on Transport for London's services will be frozen for the next four years from January.

This means pay-as-you-go fares on the Tube, on buses, the DLR, the Emirates Air Line cable car, Santander cycles and the vast majority of trams will remain the same until the end of 2020.

However, Mr Khan does not have control over the price of suburban pay-as-you-go fares or a small number of trams operated by independent rail companies so cannot make the same promise on travelcards.

The mayor is "demanding" the Government follows his lead and freezes fares on rail routes, including services run by troubled Southern Railway.

In a statement, Mr Khan said: "After years of huge fare increases for London passengers, I'm delighted to be formally announcing our plans to freeze TfL fares across London's transport network.

"Before taking office I was determined to ensure we took significant action to make public transport more affordable and we've already taken major steps through the introduction of the Hopper ticket that in just two months has saved Londoners money on over 10 million bus journeys.

"Our TfL fares freeze will save an average household £200 over the next four years, putting money back into people's pockets and playing an important role encouraging more Londoners on to public transport.

"I'm now demanding that the Government follows my lead and freezes fares on London's suburban rail routes, where passengers have been hit by unacceptable delays, cancellations and overcrowding.

"It's simply not right that London's rail passengers face another fares hikes caused by the Government next year - the onus is on the Government to ensure every passenger in London gets the fares freeze they deserve."