Does anyone have any idea on when TfL are going to announce details of next year's fare increase, or what is causing the delay?
From past memory they usually announce details well before this time of the year.
Going back to TfL, it might also be nice if they could tell us what services they are going to run over the Christmas period soon, and possibly upload the data to the journey planner before 25th December. (Last year, it was less than a week before Christmas before they uploaded the data)
Knowing the track closures is fine, but it doesn't tell you the time of the last bus or tube on Christmas Eve, or the first bus or tube on Boxing Day. Nor does it enable you to use the journey planner.
I seem to remember one year during Ken Livingstone's tenure, he sneaked in a fare rise during the summer!
At least TfL have a set time each year for the fare rise. On buses outside London, fares can change at any time with no notice.
The average fares rise has been limited to inflation (3.1%) rather than the 4.1% expected for National Rail.
Only three tube fares will increase by 10p: Zone 1 peak and off-peak and Zone 1-2 off-peak
PAYG caps frozen
Bus singles up to £1.45, bus daily cap and cash fare frozen
7 Day Bus & Tram up 80p to £20.40
Zones 1-2 and Zones 1-4 paper off-peak Travelcards withdrawn, leaving just Zones 1-6, frozen at 2013 prices.
Anytime paper Day Travelcards and Period Travelcards rise in line with National Rail fares.
Still no sign of a Zone 1-9 travelcard then?
Zones 1-2 and Zones 1-4 paper off-peak Travelcards withdrawn, leaving just Zones 1-6, frozen at 2013 prices.
Anytime paper Day Travelcards and Period Travelcards rise in line with National Rail fares.
What's the point of withdrawing Zones 1-2 and 1-4 paper Off-Peak Day Travelcards if the Zones 1-6 ones, and the Anytime versions, are still kept? The same hardware and software are still having to be maintained.
The cynic in me feels that there is a plot going on, with TfL hellbent on forcing everyone onto Oyster (and I wonder why :roll. I wonder how much longer before paper tickets will disappear in London completely.
I am not the least bit surprised, after the palava with the removal of the Zones 2-6 and 2-9 Day Travelcards/caps. Another kick in the teeth for people who for whatever reason do not wish to use Oyster.
Another theory is that this is TfL's underhanded way of forcing through a fares hike. I witness plenty of people who buy these soon-to-be withdrawn products. They will either now be forced to fork out for extra zones that they don't need, or allow TfL to keep their £5 deposits and earn interest on them. There is always a catch when the headline reads that there would be no price rises for many fares. Of course, this way it does not have a negative impact on the percentage figures for overall fare rises. Spin, spin and more spin. Same old.
getting rid of / killing off the 1-2 and 1-4 paper ODTC's represents a significant fares hike for those of us who used them. Its bad enough the 2-6 and 2-9 are no more... I used these and now travel a lot less because I cannot afford the higher fares via z1 (the loss of the 2-9 saw an almost 100% increase in travel costs - the 1-9 was just 20p less than twice the price of the 2-9)
its a slippery slope....
no doubt within a few years all one day ride at will tickets will be withdrawn... with 'low usage' being used as a reason that the public will accept.
I wonder how soon before the Dutch system is implemented whereby holders of all RFID tickets, even monthly / annual Travelcards need to touch-in/out at all times? ie: full tracking of all our movements.
Simon
If you look at the figures, it's bus passengers, who are the poorest, either on benefits or the low paid who are paying through the roof with the 7 day Bus & Tram Pass going over the £20 barrier for the first time, along with Travelcard users who I suspect are subsidising the freeze in PAYG outside Zone 1.
Well the travelcard costs always have to go up to make sure the TOCs get their share...
What's the point of withdrawing Zones 1-2 and 1-4 paper Off-Peak Day Travelcards if the Zones 1-6 ones, and the Anytime versions, are still kept? The same hardware and software are still having to be maintained.
Perhaps we need a TfL-only Travelcard
Bring back the LT card?
2014 Transport for London fares frozen in real terms to help ease cost of living for Londoners
The Mayor of London Boris Johnson today delivered on his commitment to bear down on transport costs in the Capital by confirming that fares for Transport for London (TfL) services will be frozen in real terms in 2014, with an average rise of RPI only (3.1 per cent) from 2 January and a freeze on many fares at 2013 prices.
...cont'd...
Further details of the new fares are set out in the tables below, but the key elements of the January 2014 fares package are:
On the Tube, only three fares, the Zone 1 peak and off-peak single tickets and the Zone 1-2 off-peak single ticket, will increase by 10p
Oyster pay as you go caps frozen for the second year running
On the Buses, the pay as you go fare on Oyster and contactless payment card increases 5p to £1.45 while the daily cap and cash fare is frozen
The 7 Day Bus & Tram Pass will increase by 80p to £20.40
The off-peak One Day paper Travelcard range will be simplified to the Zone 1-6 off peak ticket only and it is frozen at 2013 prices. Anytime One Day paper Travelcards rise in line with NR fares
7 Day Travelcards, and corresponding monthly and annual Travelcards, increase by the 4.1 per cent average reflecting the link with regulated National Rail fares
From 2 January, fares on the Emirates Air Line will also increase by 10p except for multi-trip Oyster fares for regular users which will remain at £1.60. This is an overall increase of 3.2 per cent. It will be the first time fares have increased on the Emirates Air Line, which has now carried over 3 million passengers
If the LT card is ever brought back, I doubt it will offer Railcard discounts without the involvement of NR.
The LT card also did not offer off-peak discounts, with only a peak version iirc.