Sadiq Khan urged to be open with Londoners about looming Tube fares hike

Sadiq Khan has been told to beryllium “open and transparent” with Londoners astir whether they look an inflation-busting fares hike adjacent year.

Mr Khan introduced a partial fares frost successful March 2024 and said astatine the clip that helium could not warrant holding immoderate fares astatine existent rates beyond March adjacent year.

His 2024 predetermination manifesto said that the fares frost would proceed "as agelong arsenic economical conditions allow”.

Now the London Assembly has called connected the politician to “be clear” successful his projected 2025-26 fund arsenic to whether determination volition beryllium an summation successful TfL fares.

Neil Garratt, Tory president of the assembly’s fund committee, said: “The politician has a important fund of implicit £21 billion, truthful it is indispensable that helium is unfastened and transparent with Londoners connected however that wealth is being spent.

“Londoners request to cognize whether to expect a fares increase, which has been hinted astatine successful the Government’s caller TfL backing settlement.

“Financial uncertainty remains, and it is important the politician takes connected committee our recommendations up of his upcoming budget.”

This means TfL is successful enactment for £264.5m of other superior backing successful the adjacent fiscal year.

In a missive to Mr Khan mounting retired the backing deal, Ms Haigh said that the Government’s “assessment of TfL backing needs successful Phase 2 of the Spending Review volition beryllium conducted against a baseline script wherever TfL obstruction fares emergence successful enactment with nationalist obstruction fares this year”.

Separately, TfL has warned that its fares gross is falling down people due to the fact that the fig of commuters heading backmost to the bureau appears to person flatlined.

The assembly said the nonaccomplishment to code “worsening travel times” would deter passengers and trim fares income.

It besides raised concerns astir immoderate “logistical challenges” to TfL converting each 9,000 London buses to zero-emission, specified a difficulties converting autobus depots to being capable to complaint a fleet of electrical buses.

Mr Khan is owed to people his draught fund by the extremity of the twelvemonth – though this is improbable to see details astir immoderate fares increases.

His last fund is owed to beryllium published connected February 12 adjacent year.

Mr Khan’s spokeswoman has been approached for comment.