London extends bus and tram fare freeze as TfL confirms autumn price rise

Passengers travelling on London's buses and trams will continue paying the current £1.75 single fare until November after Transport for London (TfL) confirmed a four-month extension to its fare freeze.

The freeze, which had been scheduled to end in early July, will now remain in place until 1 November, delaying planned fare increases while providing additional support for passengers during the summer months.

Alongside the extension, TfL is also introducing a new Weekend Hopper initiative, allowing unlimited bus and tram travel every Saturday and Sunday for a single £1.75 fare. The promotion will run from 25 July until the end of August, encouraging more people to use public transport during the school holidays and summer events.

From November, however, fares are expected to increase.

The standard single bus and tram fare will rise by 10p to £1.85, while concessionary card holders are expected to see a smaller 5p increase. The daily bus and tram fare cap is also set to increase by 30p, taking it to £5.55.

According to TfL, the changes are intended to bring bus and tram fares into line with Tube fare increases introduced earlier this year.

Despite the planned autumn increase, London's bus and tram fares have remained unchanged since March 2023, following a series of fare freezes introduced over recent years.

TfL estimates that if fares had increased annually in line with inflation since 2016, a single journey would now cost around £2.35, significantly higher than the current charge.

Mayor of London Sir Sadiq Khan said extending the freeze reflected the continued financial pressures facing many households.

"I'm pleased to extend the freeze on bus and tram fares for another four months and will continue doing everything in my power to keep TfL services as affordable as possible, as I know the cost-of-living crisis is still hitting many Londoners hard."

Alex Williams, TfL's Chief Customer and Strategy Officer, said the extension, together with the Weekend Hopper offer, was designed to encourage greater use of London's public transport network during the summer.

He said the measures would help more people enjoy the capital while also supporting businesses and the wider economy by making travel more affordable.

The announcement forms part of TfL's ongoing approach to balancing affordability for passengers with the financial sustainability of London's transport network, with modest fare increases scheduled for later this year after more than three years without changes to bus and tram ticket prices.