BUS and tube fares in London will undergo their biggest rise in a decade this March.

Mayor of London Sadiq Khan and Transport for London (TfL) announced the price increase yesterday (15 February) with fares across the network set to rise by an average of 4.8% from 1 March 2022.

The hike in travel costs comes as TfL continues to struggle with reduced passenger numbers due to the rise in working from home brought about by the pandemic.

Key changes include a jump in the adult 'bus hop' fare which allows passengers to ride multiple buses for an hour. This will rise by 10p to £1.65, a hike of almost 6.5%

Adult single tube tickets in Zone One will also be increased for the first time in six years, rising by 10p to £2.50, and across the rest of the network single journey prices will rise by between 10 to 30p.

The price changes are the biggest annual TfL increase in 10 years, according to the Evening Standard.

Announcing the changes this week, Mayor of London Sadiq Khan blamed the Government for the scale of the increase, saying that ministers have failed to provide a long-term funding package that properly reflects the impact of the pandemic

He warned that a continued failure to provide a sustainable funding deal means there is a real threat of the need to introduce a 'managed decline' of the capital's public transport system.

Mr Khan said: "Since TfL's finances were decimated by the pandemic, the Government has set strict conditions as part of the emergency funding deals to keep essential transport services running in London.

"We have been forced into this position by the Government and the way it continues to refuse to properly fund TfL, but I have done everything in my power to keep fares as affordable as possible."

TfL's Director of Strategy, Shashi Verma, added: "This fares package aims to keep fares as affordable as possible while still ensuring TfL can continue to run clean, green and safe services and support London's continued economic recovery.

"Through daily and weekly capping, as well as the Hopper fare and our wide range of concessions, passengers can continue to get the best value fare by using pay as you go with contactless and Oyster."

Find out how your journey will change HERE

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