Sadiq Khan: Government must match fares freeze after 'scandalous' hike

Fares pledge: Sadiq Khan at Waterloo Station
Jeremy Selwyn
Pippa Crerar3 January 2017

Sadiq Khan today called on Government to match his fares freeze as rail commuters were hit by a “scandalous” ticket price increase of up to five per cent.

He said many Londoners felt “enough was enough” as he urged ministers to use the next Budget to freeze fares on suburban routes.

The Mayor claimed the only viable long-term solution was for the Government to hand control of commuter trains to Transport for London so he could apply a similar freeze.

Heralding his move, Mr Khan said: “Londoners will rightly be furious that on the same day they go back to work, the Government have allowed the private train companies to increase their fares. Given the train companies’ woeful record of delays, cancellations and overcrowding, it’s scandalous that the Government are letting the train companies off the hook again.”

Up to four million journeys a day will benefit from the freeze but many working Londoners who use travelcards, daily caps on Oyster cards and contactless fares will not.

The Mayor has no power over the decision to increase national rail fares by an average of 2.3 per cent — with some rising by as much as five per cent — so only single fares will be frozen. TfL claims the move will put about £40 million back into the pockets of Londoners this year and save an average household £200 over four years.

Tory leader on the London Assembly Gareth Bacon criticised Mr Khan for breaking his flagship election pledge that Londoners would not pay a penny more on travel.

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