Monday, January 29, 2024
The fares post
The Mayor made an announcement yesterday about trialling off-peak fares on Fridays.
It was odd because he doesn't normally announce things at the weekend.
It was odd because it's only a three month trial.
And it was odd because it's not a done deal, he's merely asked for the trial to happen which it might or might not.
Here's the start of the press release.
• Off-peak journeys on Fridays could transform the morning commute for Londoners and provide a welcome further boost to London’s economy
• Midweek Tube ridership is now at up to 85% compared to pre-pandemic levels and is continuing to grow, but Friday ridership remains lower at around 73%
• The move forms part of wider plans to ‘revitalise Fridays’, working with businesses, the hospitality sector and other key stakeholders to encourage more Londoners back into the city on Fridays to make the most of all London has to offer
The plan is to charge off-peak fares all day on Fridays. Fares-wise this would make it an extension of the weekend. It'd mean charging off-peak fares from 7pm on Thursday until 6.30am on Monday, which is just half an hour away from being exactly half a week.
It'd also mean losing out on a fair slice of peaktime fare revenue, that is unless it's hugely popular and a lot more people travel. Coming on top of the recently announced fares freeze it's more good news for travellers but less good news for TfL's accountants.
"The trial is expected to begin in March and last for three months."
It'd almost certainly start on 3rd March because that's the appointed day for other fare increases, and thus end at the start of June. You don't need to be a cynic to spot that the Mayoral election occurs precisely two months into the trial.
The Mayor's press release states that a Zone 6 → Zone 1 journey would cost £2 less (down from £5.60 to £3.60) and a Zone 4 → Zone 2 journey would cost 90p less (down from £2.80 to £1.90). An Uxbridge to Westminster commuter could save £52 over the course of thirteen off-peak Fridays. The Mayor's press release does not state that a Zone 1 tube journey would cost just 10p less (down from £2.80 to £2.70), a measly saving. Nor does it mention that bus passengers, tram passengers and Heathrow-bound passengers will save nothing.
And here's the catch.
"The trial will need the support of the wider rail industry and early discussions about this and the technicality of how it will work are now underway."
The Mayor can do what he likes with TfL fares, but tweaking rail fares across Zones 1 to 6 is beyond his remit so he needs the rail operators to agree to take the hit and charge less on Fridays. They also need to agree whether the benefit will extend to any stations outside Greater London or indeed outside zone 6. Might it look unfair if commuters from Epsom are paying peak fares on Fridays while commuters from Epsom Downs are travelling off-peak? The trial is no done deal.
Whatever, the Mayor has got several big names in the commercial sector and hospitality industry to say how brilliant the trial would be, so if it doesn't happen a lot of hopes will be dashed.
"Muniya Barua, Deputy CEO at BusinessLDN, said: “Experimenting with Friday fares is an innovative step that could help encourage some hybrid workers back into the capital, in turn supporting businesses that rely on footfall. It will be interesting to see if this will be enough to change habits that have become engrained since the pandemic for the many Londoners who can choose to work from home.”
Beware hypothetical trials announced at the weekend just before an election. And keep your fingers crossed this one happens.
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