Transport for London’s bus fare freeze is the sixth time under Sadiq Khan’s mayoralty that prices haven’t gone up

Tube and rail fares in London will rise by 4.6% in March 2025, London mayor Sadiq Khan has announced, but bus prices will stay frozen.

The hike to tube fares matches the rise in ticket prices being introduced across the whole national rail network and comes as no surprise since Khan only pledged in his election manifesto this year that fares would stay the same “until 2025”.

The freeze to bus prices, however, means that fares have remained the same for two years, and keeps them at a level that is one of the lowest in the whole if the UK.

However, bus reliability and performance has struggled in recent years and the amount of miles covered by the network has also shrunk. In a more positive development, Transport for London (TfL) last year launched its new Superloop network of fast services linking outer London boroughs, helping to reverse the decline in passenger numbers.

Buses remain the most used form of public transport in the capital. The fare freeze means tickets remain only 25p higher than 2016, when Khan was first elected as mayor, and 23% lower than if they had risen in line with inflation over that period.

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.

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.’

For more information on TfL fares:
Visit tfl.gov.uk/fares

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