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Transport for London

Mayor confirms 2011 fares at level signalled last year and protects all free and concessionary travel

20 October 2010

Government's spending review means tough choices, but fare rises kept to absolute minimum to protect transport investment and frontline services. Average RPI plus two per cent fare rise from January 2011, as signalled in 2009.

All free and concessionary fares will remain in their entirety

Mayor of London Boris Johnson

All free and concessionary fares protected in full.

The Mayor of London, Boris Johnson, today confirmed that, from January 2011, fares on London's Tubes, buses, London Overground, Docklands Light Railway and trams will rise only by the level signalled last year, the minimum to secure investment in London's transport network and protect frontline services. 

All free and concessionary travel for older people, the young, the poorest and disabled Londoners has also been protected in full.

From 2 January, 2011, fares on Transport for London's (TfL's) services will rise by an average of RPI plus two per cent, the assumption outlined by the Mayor when TfL published its most recent Business Plan in October 2009. 

Based on July's RPI figures of 4.8 per cent, this represents an average 6.8 per cent fare increase across TfL services and Oyster pay as you go.

The Mayor's decision on fares comes following tough negotiations over TfL's future finances as part of the Government's Comprehensive Spending Review, which saw TfL's overall grant funding from the Department for Transport (DfT) reduced by £2.17bn in total over four years, or 21 per cent in real terms in 2014/15, when compared to the base year of 2010/11. 

However, as DfT funding is around one third of TfL's total funding, this represents less than eight per cent of TfL's planned expenditure on capital investment (excluding Crossrail) and frontline services.

Transport priorities

Despite this reduction in funding, the Mayor also confirmed today that TfL's funding settlement means he will continue to deliver his top transport priorities, including:

Mayor of London, Boris Johnson said: 'Last year, I made it clear that when setting fares my priority is to protect the elderly, the young, the poorest and disabled Londoners and this fares package will continue to do so, particularly at a time when many need that protection. 

'All free and concessionary fares will remain in their entirety.

'I'm also pleased that I am able to confirm an average fares increase at the level we declared it would be last year, the absolute minimum required to secure vital investment in London's transport network and protect frontline services.

'Throughout the tough negotiations over London's transport funding, I have also been determined to ensure that fares in London continue to deliver excellent value for money and that has been achieved. 

'On the buses, the average fare per journey, including concessions, will be just 60p, compared to an average typical bus fare of around £1 in other UK cities.'

Concessionary fares protected

One new initiative to be introduced in January is that during the evening peak, all Tube journeys into Zone 1 will be charged at the off-peak rates, as opposed to the peak fare currently charged. 

This 'contra flow' system reflects available capacity on these Tube journeys at this time.

On London's buses, the Oyster pay as you go fare will only go up by 10p to £1.30. 

All free and concessionary fares have been protected, which means that 40 per cent of bus passengers will continue to travel free or at a substantial concessionary rate. 

On the Tube, Oyster pay as you go fares typically increase between 10p and 30p, with some off-peak fares frozen.

The Tube cash fare in Zone 1 is frozen but other cash fares increase, ensuring that Oyster pay as you go continues to be the cheapest way to travel around the Capital.

Further details of the new fares are set out in the tables below, but the main elements of the January 2011 fares package are:


Notes to editors:

2011 TfL Fares - Media Briefing:

The 2011 fares package will come in to effect from 2 January across all TfL services. 

The full TfL and Oyster pay as you go fares tables are set out below, but the main elements of the January 2011 fares package are:

2011 Travelcards:

London Travelcard season ticket prices will generally increase by around RPI plus two per cent.

The One Day Travelcard range will be simplified and slow selling tickets withdrawn.

The new range will comprise all-day and off-peak tickets valid in Zones 1-2, 1-4 and 1-6.

One Day pay as you go caps will mirror the new ticket range and prices.

Off-peak One Day Travelcard prices increase by up to £1, for example a Zone 1-2 off-peak Travelcard will increase from £5.60 to £6.60.

Based on the new Zone 1 pay as you go fare of £1.90, this means that the fourth Tube journey of the day will be charged at only 90p and any subsequent trips will be free.

Table 1: TfL Rail services - London Underground, DLR, Oyster and London Overground pay as you go, cash and Travelcard prices

   Current 2010    2011  
   Price    Price  
   Peak  Off-peak  Peak  Off-peak
 Pay as you go - single journey fares (£)        
 Including Zone 1        
 1 Zone  1.80  1.80  1.90  1.90
 2 Zones  2.30  1.80  2.50  1.90
 3 Zones  2.70  2.40  2.90  2.50
 4 Zones  3.10  2.40  3.40  2.50
 5 Zones  3.80  2.40  4.10  2.70
 6 Zones  4.20  2.40  4.50  2.70
 Excluding Zone 1        
 2 Zones  1.30  1.30  1.40  1.30
 3 Zones  2.20  1.30  2.20  1.40
 4 Zones  2.20  1.30  2.50  1.40
 5 Zones  2.20  1.30  2.50  1.40
 Cash - single journey fares (£)        
 Including Zone 1        
 3 Zones  4.00  4.00  4.00  4.00
 4 Zones  4.00  4.00  5.00  5.00
 6 Zones  4.50  4.50  5.00  5.00
 Excluding Zone 1        
 5 Zones  3.50  3.50  5.00  5.00
 Seven-day Travelcard prices (£)        
 Including Zone 1        
 2 Zones  25.80  25.80  27.60  27.60
 3 Zones  30.20  30.20  32.20  32.20
 4 Zones  36.80  36.80  39.40  39.40
 5 Zones  44.00  44.00  47.00  47.00
 6 Zones  47.60  47.60  50.40  50.40
 Excluding Zone 1        
 2 Zones  19.00 19.00  20.80  20.80
 3 Zones  21.40  21.40  22.80  22.80
 4 Zones  25.60  25.60  27.40  27.40
 5 Zones  32.40  32.40  34.40  34.40

Cash fares on TfL Rail services - London Underground, DLR and London Overground:

Bus and Tram fares:

The bus cash fare, which is now bought by less than two per cent of bus users, will increase from £2 to £2.20 in order to maintain off-bus sales.

Cash sales on the bus slow down boarding and increase the time buses spend at stops, increasing operating costs and affecting general traffic congestion.

Table two: Bus and tram ticket prices

   Current 2010  2011
   Price (£)  Price (£)
 Pay as you go - single journey  1.20  1.30
 Pay as you go - daily cap  3.90  4.00
 Cash single  2.00  2.20
 Seven-day Bus & Tram Pass  16.60  17.80

Concession fares:

Oyster pay as you go - under-16s fares on TfL rail services

Under-11s accompanied by an adult will continue to travel free at all times on all TfL rail services.

For older children, the off-peak pay as you go fare is frozen.

The child peak single pay as you go fare for under-16s increases from 65p to 70p - half the minimum adult fare of £1.40.

The off-peak daily cap for under-16s rises from £1.00 to £1.30.

Child off-peak Travelcard

The child off-peak paper Travelcard increases from £2 to £3.

This will be the first increase to this fare for over 10 years. Using Oyster pay as you go remains cheaper.

Railcard holders

Holders of 16-25, Senior, Disabled and Forces Railcards will continue to be entitled to a 34 per cent discount on the off peak rail caps.

New Oyster card deposit

The £3 deposit on new Oyster cards has been unchanged since the launch of Oyster pay as you go.

In the 2011 fares package some single Oyster fares will cost over £6, and the deposit is designed to provide an effective deterrent to the disposal of cards with negative pay as you go balances.

From January 2011, the Oyster deposit will increase to £5 and will continue to be refundable on the return of any cards.

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