Tube fares to go up 25%

Dig deep: getting through the barriers will cost you 25% more from January. all the new fares

Tube fares in central London are to rise by a massive 25 per cent, Ken Livingstone announced today. Bus fares in outer London will also face an enormous increase, rising almost 43 per cent from 70p to £1.

But children under 11 will travel for free on all London buses from next year, while Tube passengers will be able to continue paying 2003 fares if they use the new Oyster "smartcard" travelcard.

The Mayor said today it was "the most extensive package of changes to London Transport fares since the Fares Fair policy 20 years ago".

Key changes, which will start in January, include:

  • A Zone 1 single ticket will rise from £1.60 to £2.
  • A single from Zone 2 to Zone 1 goes up from £2 to £2.20.
  • A Zones 1-4 weekly travelcard goes up from £28.40 to £29.30.

Speaking to the Evening Standard, Mr Livingstone admitted that the Tube did not provide passengers with value for money.

He said: "If I had complete freedom over my finances I would be looking at fares reductions of about a third on the Underground. But unless the Government gives me that money, I can't do it.

"It's the most expensive system in the western world and I suspect the service is well below most of our rivals."

But the Mayor's critics claimed today that the rises were caused by his "reckless" overspending on bus services. As a result, Transport for London now faces a budget deficit of £563million by 2005.

This had been worsened by falling revenue from congestion charging, slashing anticipated income from £130 million to £65million.

The Tories claim there are now too many buses on the roads as a result of the Mayor's policies and that many of them were "almost empty".

Tory Assembly transport spokeswoman Angie Bray said: "The only place Mr Livingstone could make a difference was on the buses and he threw money at them.

"It has now got to the point where we are getting bus congestion on the streets. Now Ken is raising fares to cover this expense at the very same time as encouraging people out of their cars and on to public transport."

However, deputy mayor Jenny Jones said Tube fare rises would tempt more commuters onto buses which were still a cheaper means of travelling around London. This was a "sensible strategy", she said.

John Biggs, Labour group spokesman on transport, said the fare package was "plausible".

London's commuters, however, took a different view. Travellers reacted with a mixture of dismay and resignation.

Many felt that passengers were being hit to pay for a frequently poor service.

"I am not impressed," said Andy Everett, 37, a salesman. "I was hoping that when Livingstone got hold of the Tube it would not be so bad. It is not good value."

Pat Norman, a secretary, said: "I do not really want to pay out any more, but it is better to take money from people who use the Tube than to take any more from taxpayers."

Jennifer Smith, 27, a lecturer, said: "It is already an expensive way to travel, and these prices will make it worse."

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