Tube and rail fares to rise for Londoners but bus and tram fees frozen next year
Customers will still be able to take unlimited bus and tram journeys within an hour for just £1.75.
Tube and rail fares to rise by 4.6 per cent in line with national rail fare increases from March 2025
Bus and tram fares for the sixth time since 2016, keeping them one of the lowest in the UK, and helping to boost ridership
In a letter to the Mayor, Government ministers made it clear they expected TfL Tube and rail fares to rise in order to secure future national funding for London
Customers will still be able to take unlimited bus and tram journeys within an hour for just £1.75 using the Mayor’s Hopper Fare
In line with national rises
The Mayor of London's confirmed that Tube and rail fares across London will rise by 4.6 per cent from 2 March 2025. That is in line with national rail fare increases across the country. This comes after the Government wrote to the Mayor following the October Budget to say it expected TfL Tube and rail fares to rise in line with national fares in order for London to be able to secure funding for major transport infrastructure projects in the future.
Bus and tram fares are being frozen across London for an historic sixth time next year, meaning Londoners continue to pay the same fares as since March 2023, keeping them one of the lowest in the UK, and helping to boost ridership on the bus network.
The freeze on bus and tram fares will support lower-income and disabled Londoners, who are more likely to use bus and tram services, the most accessible way to get around London.
Bus most popular method of transport
The bus remains the most used form of public transport in the capital. Across London, bus ridership continues to grow, with more than 1 billion bus journeys made already this financial year. More than 95 per cent of Londoners live within 400 metres of a bus stop and the Mayor has worked hard to ensure buses remain the most accessible, affordable and sustainable form of transport. The Mayor’s Hopper fare, which provides unlimited bus and tram journeys within an hour of your first journey for just £1.75, remains in place – helping Londoners travel across London more affordably.
Londoners continue to benefit from the Mayor’s previous fares freezes over five years, with fares in March 2025 set to be nine per cent lower than if fares had risen in line with National Rail fares since 2016 and 16 per cent lower than if they had risen in line with inflation throughout this period. The proposed bus and tram fare freeze means bus and tram fares in London remain only 25p higher than 2016, when Sadiq was first elected as Mayor, and 23 per cent lower than if they had risen in line with inflation since 2016.
Concessions unchanged
All concessions, including Zip photocards, the 18+ student photocard, the 18-25 Carer leavers pass and the 60+ London photocard will remain unchanged, providing free or discounted transport for millions of Londoners.
The Mayor of London, Sadiq Khan, said: “Londoners know from my record that wherever possible I've made TfL fares more affordable and fairer for Londoners - whether through the introduction of the Hopper bus fare or freezing TfL fares for five years as Mayor.
“I’m really pleased to announce that I’ll be freezing bus and tram fares yet again next year, making it the sixth time since 2016. More Londoners use the bus than any other form of public transport, and it will particularly benefit those on the lowest incomes.
“Following the Government’s budget, ministers made clear that to secure national funding for key transport projects in the future, TfL Tube and rail fares would need to increase in line with national rail fares. Vital national government funding will allow us to progress exciting future projects, such as Superloop 2 and more upgrades to the Tube network, as we continue building a fairer, safer and greener London for everyone.’
Alex Williams, Chief Customer and Strategy Officer at TfL, said: “This fares package aims to keep fares as affordable as possible while supporting London’s continued economic growth. Through daily and weekly capping, as well as the Hopper fare and our wide range of concessions, people using our services can continue to get the best value fare by using pay as you go with contactless and Oyster.”
Despite the rail fare increase, TfL’s fares remain an affordable way to travel in the capital. A pay as you go Tube fare from Zone 1 to Zone 5 (for example: Victoria to Dagenham East on the District line) will rise by only 10p in both peak and off-peak, an increase of between 2-3 per cent. Pay as you go fares in Zone 1 will also only increase by 10p. These measures will support central London’s growing economy, and also support Londoners commuting from outer London. Daily caps will increase by between 40p and 70p in proportion to the increases in Travelcard season ticket prices, which are increasing overall by 4.6 per cent. This means the daily cap for someone travelling just in Zones 1-2 will be £8.90. Customers travelling just in Zones 1-3 will pay no more than £10.50 daily.