London Mayor calls on the government to match his fares freeze

Sadiq Khan has called on the government and train operating companies to freeze fares for London’s rail passengers, as new analysis shows that some fares could increase by as much as five per cent this January.

Unlike TfL pay as you go fares, which the Mayor has frozen for the next four years, rail fares across the UK are expected to increase by 1.9 per cent in January 2017, which was the RPI figure for July 2016, and will almost certainly rise every year up to 2020 and beyond.

However, a government loop-hole means that train operating companies can also decide to increase fares by 10p each journey, rather than by RPI, meaning some pay as you go fares could increase by as much as five per cent this January.

Last year, all train operating companies operating in London chose to increase pay as you go fares in London by 10p, rather than RPI.

Many of the increases in rail fares this January are expected to be on Southeastern services within London, the first franchise that could come under TfL control in 2018 under the Mayor’s plans for rail devolution.

The Mayor has today called on the Government to follow his lead and freeze fares across London’s suburban rail services.

He also reiterated his commitment that if TfL were to take control of London’s suburban rail services in the future, his fares freeze would apply to these journeys.