Sadiq Khan’s 6% London Fare Hike to Cost Commuters £168m Annually

Transport for London (TfL) passengers face a £168 million annual increase in travel costs following a 6 per cent rise in Tube, London Overground, and Elizabeth line fares, it has emerged.

The fare increase, announced by Mayor Sadiq Khan in December, will take effect from 1 March 2026 and is part of a government-mandated deal in exchange for its £2.2 billion funding for TfL. Official documents published as part of the mayor’s approval process show that while fare revenue from rail services will increase by around £172 million in 2026/27, bus fare income is expected to fall by £4 million.

Zone 1 peak fares will rise by 6.9 per cent, from £2.90 to £3.10, while off-peak fares increase by 7.1 per cent, from £2.80 to £3. Passengers travelling to outer zones will see larger hikes: journeys involving Zone 7 will increase by 40p, while zones 8 and 9 will rise by 50p, affecting the Metropolitan line, Elizabeth line, and London Overground. Child fares in these outer zones will increase by 5p or 10p.

Travelcards and the daily and weekly pay-as-you-go caps will remain frozen, mitigating the impact for regular commuters making multiple journeys. Bus and tram fares, currently £1.75, will stay unchanged until at least 5 July 2026, following a freeze announced by the mayor.

Elizabeth line fares between central London and Heathrow airport will increase by 11.5 per cent, from £13.90 to £15.50, reflecting a “Heathrow premium” charge. Pay-as-you-go fares using Oyster or contactless cards will apply, while adult cash fares within zones 1-6 remain unchanged.

Mayor Khan defended the increases, stressing that fare income is essential to maintain a reliable and safe public transport network. A spokesperson said:"The mayor will always freeze TfL fares when possible, but the government expects fare rises as part of the £2.2 billion funding agreement. He remains committed to keeping travel affordable, particularly amid the ongoing cost-of-living pressures."

The announcement has drawn criticism from opposition politicians. Thomas Turrell, City Hall Conservatives transport spokesman, said:"Londoners are being forced to bear the cost of government mismanagement. TfL loses £190m annually to fare evasion, and better long-term planning could reduce the burden on commuters."

Once the new fares are applied, the overall impact on passengers is expected to be an average increase of 3.2 per cent when frozen travelcards and fare caps are taken into account.