Mayor of London Boris Johnson announced on Tuesday that Transport for London will increase travelcards above inflation next year. Since Boris was elected as Mayor in 2008 he has increased fares above inflation every year, with single bus fares rising as much as 55 per cent. 

Residents living in Zone 6 and travelling to Zone 1 will see an increase of 4.32 per cent as their yearly travelcard rises from £2,224.00 to £2,320.00 and residents living in zone 4 and travelling to Zone 1 will see an increase of 4.13 per cent as their yearly travel card rises from £1,744.00 to £1,816.00 

Londonwide Assembly Member Murad Qureshi AM said:

“Boris is using smoke and mirrors to mask his fare rises, all this from a Mayor who stated last year that he will bear down on fares. We have had five years of inflation busting fare rises under Boris, with bus fares up 55% and Tube fares up 30%. It’s disappointing that he hasn’t rolled out this real term freeze across all pay as you go and travel card fares, as residents living in Zone 6 and 4 will see an increase of 4.32 and 4.13 per cent respectively in their yearly travelcard . 

“Most travel cards will go up above inflation which means over half of Londoners will see an above inflation fare rise. The Mayor is on shaky ground to claim that he is freezing fares in real terms. Boris is hitting many Londoners with an effective tax on work. He must abandon TfL’s plan to raise fares above inflation for the next ten years.