Enlarge imageBy Peter Griffiths
LONDON (Reuters) - Millions of London commuters face above-inflation rises in Tube and bus fares next year to help pay for investment in the network and compensate for a fall in passenger numbers, Mayor Boris Johnson said on Thursday.
Tube fares will rise by an overall 3.9 percent and bus fares by 12.7 percent from January 2. That compares to an inflation rate that fell to 1.1 percent in September, its lowest in five years.
The congestion charge for drivers entering central London during weekdays will also be increased.
The mayor's political rivals said the rises were a "massive kick in the teeth" for commuters, while unions said the move would deter people from using public transport.
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But Johnson said Transport for London faced "huge financial pressures" caused by the collapse of the Tube maintenance firm Metronet, a recession-linked fall in passengers and the fares policy of former mayor Ken Livingstone.
"Nobody wants to make an announcement like this, especially when Londoners are feeling the effects of the recession," Johnson said in a statement. "It is not a decision that I have taken lightly."
The rises will take the price of a single bus journey paid in cash to 1.20 pounds from one pound and a single, all-zone cash Tube journey to 4.50 from 4 pounds.
The cost of a seven-day bus pass will rise to 16.60 from 13.80 pounds.
Passengers using pre-paid Oyster cards face a 20 pence rise on single-zone central London journeys to 1.80 pounds and a 40p rise on all-zone journeys to 4.20 pounds.
The daily charge for drivers entering the congestion charge zone will rise from 8 to 10 pounds, or 9 pounds for those who register to pay using a new automated account system.
Bob Crow, head of the RMT rail union, which is locked in a pay dispute with Transport for London, said passengers were paying the price for political failures.
"The increases will have a dire impact on passenger numbers, will force more people back into their cars and make a mockery of the green agenda promoted by the Mayor," he said. "A large chunk of the multi-billion financial black hole facing TfL is a direct result of the failure of tube privatisation."
John Biggs, Labour's deputy leader on the London Assembly, said the fare rises would hit passengers hard.
"This is a massive kick in the teeth for hard-pressed Londoners at a time when many are struggling with the recession," he added.
(Editing by Steve Addison)
