The Mayor of London has announced that a groundbreaking new trial will be run that will see public transport fares made off-peak on Fridays.
With the trial being led by Transport for London, the work will allow TfL and rail operators to understand how ridership and economic recovery can be supported through off-peak fares on a Friday. It is anticipated that the trial will begin in March, lasting for three months, and holding the potential to lead the way for other cities that have seen economic recovery hard to come by after the COVID-19 pandemic.
The Mayor is also working alongside business, members of the hospitality sector, and other stakeholders to try and get more Londoners into the city on a Friday, coming as part of a wider plan to ‘revitalise Fridays’ and support growth in the capital.
Speaking about the new plan, London Mayor Sadiq Khan commented:
“London is the greatest city in the world. From the bustling office districts to its rich offering of bars, restaurants, galleries, and theatres, I want everyone to be able to make the most all week of living or working in London.
“I’m doing all I can to support Londoners with the cost-of-living crisis and to support London’s economic recovery. This includes freezing TfL fares for another year to make transport more affordable for millions of Londoners and to encourage more people to use our transport network. But I want to do even more. London has really bounced back since the pandemic, but the lack of commuters returning on Fridays is a clear exception – with a major knock-on effect on our shops, cafes, and cultural venues. That’s why I’ve asked TfL to trial off-peak fares on Fridays, and I encourage Londoners to get involved.
“A trial will help us to see if it’s an effective way of increasing ridership and giving a welcome boost to businesses as we continue to build a better, fairer, more prosperous London for everyone.”
Currently, peak fares on both TfL and National Rail services apply between 6:30-9:30 and 16:00-19:00, however, the trial would make it cheaper for people to get into and around the city on a day that is typically quieter than other weekdays. With cheaper transport, it is hoped that London’s bars, restaurants and entertainment venues will become more attractive.
The groundbreaking trial will be of interest to city leaders around the country, and even further afield, as other cities are continuing to struggle in the post-pandemic economy, as people’s financial situations are combined with changes to work patterns.
Image credit: iStock
