Paris, New York, Berlin, Rome and Miami ALL have cheaper single fare than Oyster Card

MPs warn London commuters are being stung by high fares
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London commuters are being stung by the highest fares in the world, MPs warned today.

They stressed that an annual zone one-to-six travel card has soared by an eyewatering £400 in just five years.

While the cost of a single bus journey had spiralled by 56 per cent, they added, since 2008 when Boris Johnson became Mayor.

At least 24 Labour MPs have launched a campaign in Parliament to stop fares racing further ahead than modest wage increases that many Londoners are getting.

They are urging Mr Johnson to raise fares in line with inflation rather than by one per cent above it in January 2014.

“London commuter fares have become the most expensive in the world and are an ever increasing pressure on Londoners’ household budgets, while real wages are falling and bills are rising,” they said in a Commons motion tabled by Eltham MP Clive Efford.

They accused Transport for London of hoarding surpluses and of under-anticipating its level of fare income, while overestimating spending.

Shadow London minister Sadiq Khan stressed a Zone 1-6 single journey with an Oyster Card, or it’s equivalent, was £5 in London, £1.46 in Paris, £1.60 in New York, £2.66 in Berlin, £1.29 in Rome and £1.28 in Miami.

The Tooting MP, who is writing to Conservative and Liberal Democrat MPs urging them to support the campaign, added: “I will work with anyone who will help me persuade Boris Johnson to do the right thing on fares.”

However, Labour risks accusations of hypocrisy as fares also rose sharply when Ken Livingstone was Mayor.

Commuter fares on many rail routes into London are already due to rise on average by 4.1 per cent in January, while some could go up by as much as nine per cent.

The overall increase for a basket of regulated fares is set under a Government formula at one per cent above the retail price index inflation level in July, which was 3.1 per cent.

The Mayor of London is expected to use the same basis for Transport for London ticket price rises but is yet to make a final decision.

Mr Johnson’s aides stressed he had kept fares in the capital lower than “anywhere else” in the country, while protecting free and concessionary travel for older people, students, veterans and disabled Londoners.

A Mayoral spokeswoman added: “Every penny from fares is invested in improving transport for Londoners, resulting in one of the biggest and most reliable transport systems in the world.

“He will make a decision on fares for 2014 later this year but has publicly stated that he is determined to bear down on them as much as possible.”

TfL sources said it did not have a surplus.

MPs who have signed the Commons motion on London fares include Dame Tessa Jowell, Frank Dobson, Dame Joan Ruddock, Seema Malhotra, Andy Slaughter, Gareth Thomas, Jeremy Corbyn, Kate Hoey, Virendra Sharma, Glenda Jackson, Jim Dowd, John Cryer, John McDonnell, David Lammy, Siobhain McDonagh, Diane Abbott, Stephen Timms, Barry Gardiner, Andrew Love, Teresa Pearce, Karen Buck, Stephen Pound and Jon Cruddas.

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