Tube fares increase from today as Boris Johnson denies buck-passing (From Harrow Times)

Tube fares increase from today as Boris Johnson denies buck-passing

7:30am Sunday 2nd January 2011 in News

TUBE users will pay more from today as ticket prices go up by an average of 6.8 per cent.

Boris Johnson, Mayor of London, said the fare hikes have been kept to an “absolute minimum” while making sure Transport for London has enough money to upgrade lines and invest in new services.

The increases, first announced in October last year, come into effect from this morning, with extra money from tickets helping to fund schemes like Crossrail and the upgrade of the Northern and Piccadilly Lines.

Bus journeys have gone up by 10p to £1.30, Oyster Cards will now need a £5 deposit rather than £3, and the range of one-day travelcard prices has been simplified under the new system.

Single fares have gone up by between 10p and 30p, with a peak time trip from Cockfosters/Harrow and Wealdstone/Edgware/High Barnet into central London, from zone 5, now costing £4.10 rather than £3.80.

Mr Johnson added free and concessionary travel have been protected from price hikes, and said: “Even in difficult times I am not passing the buck to the travelling public, we have stuck with the fare rise we said we would deliver last year and we continue to make efficiencies at TfL in order to make sure Londoners are getting the best value for money possible.”

A new initiative introduced from today means all evening peak-time journeys to zone one will be charged at off peak prices, to reflect an increased capacity available on those services.

Do you think the Tube fare increases are fair? Leave your comments below.