London tube and some train fares to rise, says mayor Sadiq Khan

Tube and some train fares in London are to rise from March, under new plans announced by the capital's mayor.

The hike will apply to the London Underground, the Elizabeth Line, the DLR and Overground lines, with single Tube fare increases to be capped at 20p.

But bus and tram fares will be frozen for the "seventh time" until July, and weekly and daily caps across the Transport for London (Tfl) network will not change.

A passenger watchdog has described the news as a "bittersweet pill" for Londoners.

London mayor Sir Sadiq Khan said: "When the government awarded TfL £2.2 billion in vital investment - the biggest ever multi-year funding deal for London in more than a decade - it made clear its expectation that TfL fares must rise by inflation plus 1%.

"However, I remain committed to doing everything in my power to keep TfL fares as affordable as possible because I know how the cost-of-living crisis is still hitting many Londoners hard."

Under the new fare pricing, a peak time Tube journey within Zone 1 will rise from £2.90 to £3.10, while Piccadilly line fares from Zone 1 to Heathrow will increase from £5.80 to £5.90.

Elizabeth line fares from Zone 1 to Heathrow would rise from £13.90 to £15.50, but would only impact single journeys due to the daily and weekly caps.

The mayor added: "The plans would mean that only fares on Tube and TfL rail services would now increase from March 2026.

"I also plan to ensure that increases to pay-as-you-go fares on the Tube will be capped at 20p, with many only rising by just 10p."

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Watchdog, London TravelWatch, called the announcement a "bittersweet pill for Londoners to swallow," noting the "crumbs of comfort" in bus and tram fare freezes, "as well as the promise of improved services, albeit paid for by inflation-busting rises in Tube and TfL rail fares".

It added: "On the other hand, delays to the delivery of new Tube and DLR trains, alongside worsening bus speeds across the capital, will make the overall package feel like a hard sell to many passengers."