TfL ticket prices and fares 2016: London transport fares frozen 'in real terms' in January

Children under the age of 11 will be able to travel for free in the city

The Mayor of London has unveiled the 2016 transport fares for London (Getty)

Commuters in London will only face a one per cent increase on their fares next year, the Mayor of London has announced.

Boris Johnson said fares had been frozen "in real terms" for passengers as the increase was in line with the rate of inflation.

"It’s the third year in a row that we’ve been able to offer this great deal, allowing us to keep the cost of travel down while continuing our vital programme to modernise the network."

The Mayor also announced that children under the age of 11 would no longer have to pay for using the National Rail Services from 2 January.

Currently, they can only travel for free on TfL buses, the Tube, the DLR and London Overground if they are with a paying adult.

Stephen Locke, the chairman of London TravelWatch said he was “pleased to see free travel for children under 11 being extended to all national rail services in London”.

He added that it would “increase consistency across travel modes in London and reduce confusion for passengers”.

Although single bus fares and single tube fares are to be frozen, the one-day bus cap will increase by 10p to £4.50 and off-peak fares for Zone 1 and Zone 1-2 will rise by the same amount to £2.40.

The changes could raise £43 million a year.

Commenting on the announcement, Mick Cash, leader of the Rail, Maritime and Transport Union, said: “Travellers in and out of London are forking out huge sums for their rail and Tube travel and they rightly expect a safe, reliable and well-staffed service, but that is being compromised against a background of cuts which is leaving stations and trains dangerously overcrowded.”

“With the transport funding settlement this week set to unleash a further wave of cuts, passengers are rightly demanding to know where their money is going and RMT will continue to fight alongside transport user groups for safe and secure services that meet surging passenger demand.”

Additional reporting by PA