Sadiq Khan hails start of off-peak Friday fares scheme across Tube and bus networks
By Noah Vickers, Local Democracy Reporter
Sadiq Khan hailed the start of his off-peak Friday fares scheme across London’s Tube and bus network today.
The mayor is trialling off-peak fares all day on Fridays across the next 12 weeks in a bid to see whether it encourages workers back into the office.
Mr Khan said: “The great news is we reached a deal with the Rail Delivery Group, with the Department for Transport, and so the three-month trial begins today. I’ve saved 70p this morning, so I’m happy.
“I suspect today won’t be the numbers we’d like to see, but as word spreads, I think more and more Londoners will be coming into London on Friday.”
Peak pay as you go fares apply between 6.30am and 9.30am and between 4pm and 7pm on both TfL and National Rail services.
Mr Khan said: “What we’ll be analysing and assessing is those Zone 1 and Zone 2 stations on a Friday now versus before the trial.
“But also other days of the week, pan-London as well. For example, does it lead to people’s journey patterns changing on other days of the week?”
Video showing Sadiq Khan on his off-peak Friday fares trial, as the scheme launched across London this morning (Picture: Noah Vickers/Local Democracy Reporting Service)
Several discount offers on London restaurants and attractions have been created as part of the scheme, as an additional attempt at enticing Londoners back into the city centre at the end of the week.
TfL statistics show midweek ridership on the Tube is at 85 per cent of pre-pandemic levels, but the figure for Fridays is just 73 per cent.
Mr Khan said that even in the years before the pandemic, fewer people were using the transport network on a Friday.
Tory mayoral candidate Susan Hall previously dismissed the trial as a pre-election “gimmick”.
“The ‘trial period’ ends just days after the election. He doesn’t even have the decency to slap some lipstick on the pig, and pretend it is anything but an election stunt,” she wrote in the Daily Express last month.
She previously told the BBC that commuters “might change their habits slightly” but has argued that the saving will not be enough to make a major difference.
Pictured top: London Mayor Sadiq Khan (Picture: Noah Vickers/Local Democracy Reporting Service)
Everyone at the South London Press thanks you for your continued support.
Former Housing Secretary Robert Jenrick has encouraged everyone in the country who can afford to do so to buy a newspaper, and told the Downing Street press briefing:
“A FREE COUNTRY NEEDS A FREE PRESS, AND THE NEWSPAPERS OF OUR COUNTRY ARE UNDER SIGNIFICANT FINANCIAL PRESSURE”
If you can afford to do so, we would be so grateful if you can make a donation which will allow us to continue to bring stories to you, both in print and online. Or please make cheques payable to “MSI Media Limited” and send by post to South London Press, Unit 112, 160 Bromley Road, Catford, London SE6 2NZ
