In what will no doubt be attacked as a pre-election giveaway, the Mayor of London has announced that Tube and train fares will be cut to off-peak prices all day on Friday.
Photo by Steph Gray on Unsplash
The Mayor commissioned this trial to help TfL and rail operators better understand how Friday off-peak fares can help increase passenger numbers and drive London’s wider economic recovery. . However, this is presumptive as GLA and TfL acknowledge that wider rail industry support is needed and are still in early consultation on how the changes will be implemented. It seems like a great announcement.
The decision to scrap Friday peak fares also marks a reversal of the position it took a year ago, when rumors of Friday fare changes first surfaced and were strongly denied at the time.
On both TfL and National Rail services in London, peak fares will apply between 6.30am and 9.30am* and 4pm and 7pm, and, assuming negotiations with rail companies are successful, on Fridays. The trial to offer all-day off-peak rates is expected to begin in March and last for three months.
For example, someone commuting from zone 6 to zone 1 currently pays £5.60 for a tube journey. For this test, this fare will be reduced to £3.60, a saving of £2. Those commuting from Richmond (Zone 4) to Hammersmith (Zone 2) will currently pay £2.80 to travel. This fare has been reduced to £1.90, a saving of 90p.
The mayor says the move will boost London’s culture and nightlife businesses, which have been much quieter on Fridays since the pandemic, but the court heard saving a pound or two on a trip could mean a beer You’ll need to show that paying £6 for a cup is enough of an incentive. .
The move to hybrid working means people are often working from home on Fridays and Mondays, and pubs and bars have seen Thursday become a new day in terms of busyness, as Thursday is the last day of the week for many people. I think it’s going to be a nice Friday. office.
Weekday ridership on London Underground is now up to 85% compared to pre-pandemic levels and continues to rise, although Friday ridership remains low at around 73%. As part of the plan to increase ridership, the trial will need to determine whether the additional revenue from increased ridership can offset the loss of peak fare revenue from the three-quarters of passengers already commuting on Fridays.
The changes are not expected to affect buses or trams, nor are fares at Heathrow Airport, which recently switched to all-day peak fares.
Even if there is no impact on London’s cultural institutions, the trial will result in modest fare reductions for people who need to commute by train on Fridays (assuming they don’t use a Travelcard). Many people working in service industries at the lower end of the pay ladder cannot work from home on Fridays.
Sadiq Khan, Mayor of London, said: “London is the greatest city in the world. From a bustling office district to a wealth of bars, restaurants, galleries and theaters, we’ve made sure everyone can make the most of his week in London. I am thinking of doing so.
“I am committed to supporting Londoners facing a cost of living crisis and supporting London’s economic recovery. This includes making transport more affordable for millions of Londoners. , including freezing TfL fares for a further year to encourage more people to use London’s transport network. But I’d like to see more than that. London is struggling with the pandemic We have really bounced back since then, but the clear exception is that there are no commuters returning on Fridays, which has had a huge knock-on effect on shops, cafes and cultural venues. It has asked Londoners to trial the fare and is encouraging Londoners to get involved.
“Whether experimentation is an effective way to increase passenger numbers and give business a welcome boost as we continue to build a better, fairer and more prosperous London for everyone. It will help you check.”
*Due to train schedules at some stations, the wait time for the first off-peak train after 9:30 AM will be longer and the 9:30 AM Off-Peak start time will be several minutes earlier. There may be cases.