Tube travellers face 7% fares rise

Central London Tube travellers were today facing inflation-busting 7% fare rises in the New Year.

Central London Tube travellers were today facing inflation-busting 7% fare rises in the New Year.

A single-stop journey on the London Underground will rise from £1.40 to £1.50, London Transport said.

There are also 7% rises for zone one central London monthly and weekly Tube season tickets.

Bus fares in the centre of the capital will rise by even more - going up 43% from 70p to £1.

In a new two-fares-only system, passengers using London Buses will pay £1 for any zone one journey and 70p for any trip outside zone one.

LT said that the fare changes, which will come into effect from January 9, 2000, will see reductions for many bus passengers and an average overall rise of 2.5% for Tube travellers.

An annual travelcard involving travel anywhere on all six zones of the Tube will rise just 1.4% to £1,416.

Part of the big hike in bus prices in central London will be offset by a new £5 ticket which offers six trips for the price of five.

The Tube fare rises will yield £22.5 million in a full year.

"We have tried to achieve a balanced increase in Underground fares that will produce the income we need for investment and at the same time offer real value for money to our customers," said LT's transport strategy director Richard Smith.

But Susan Kramer, Liberal Democrat candidate for Mayor of London, said: "Forty-three per cent fare increases are outrageous.

"They will fall most heavily on the people who are least able to pay. We must try to get people out of their cars for short journeys and a 43% increase is simply the wrong direction.

"Labour have forfeited any right to run public transport in London."

Tory transport spokesman Bernard Jenkin said: "These huge increases are another savage blow for London's Tube commuters.

"They show that Mr Prescott's hopeless public private partnership is a total rip off, and Labour's integrated transport policy is just another Labour lie."