TfL will lower fares: London Underground passengers will pay less on Fridays for 3 months
Mayor of London Sadiq Khan has announced that Transport for London (TfL) will commence testing off-peak fares all day on Fridays. This initiative will last for three months and aims to encourage more people to resume using the underground and other forms of public transportation.
Currently, peak fares are applicable on Fridays from 6:30 to 9:30 am and from 4:00 to 7:00 pm, as reported by MyLondon. As part of the trial, fares will be reduced to off-peak levels during these times.
For instance, commuters traveling from Zone 6 to Zone 1 and paying £5.60 for a tube fare will be able to pay £3.60 instead, saving £2.
Similarly, individuals traveling from Richmond (Zone 4) to Hammersmith (Zone 2) and paying £2.80 for the journey will pay £1.90, saving 90 pence.
Mayor Khan says the initiative is part of broader efforts to "reinvigorate Fridays." He also mentioned collaborating with businesses, the hotel industry, and other key stakeholders to encourage more Londoners to return to the city and "take advantage of all that London has to offer."
While ridership on the Underground during weekdays stands between 80 and 85% compared to pre-pandemic levels, Fridays have seen a decline. On this day, ridership drops to 73%.
"I am doing everything possible to support Londoners in the face of the cost of living crisis and to aid in London's economic recovery. This includes freezing TfL fares for another year to make transportation more affordable for millions of Londoners and to encourage more people to utilize our transportation network," stated the Mayor.