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Mayor raises bus and Tube fares Mayor raises bus and tube fares
(about 1 hour later)
Passenger are facing an above inflation rise in fares on buses and the Tube to plug an £84m "financial black hole". Bus and Underground fares in London are to increase by an overall figure of 6% from the New Year, London Mayor Boris Johnson has announced.
The rises are to be announced by Tory London Mayor Boris Johnson later and will come into effect in the New Year. Some fares will be cut, including a new off-peak rate aimed at encouraging people to travel after 0930.
Kulveer Ranger, the mayor's transport policy director, blamed former Labour mayor Ken Livingstone's policies for the "serious financial consequences". Mr Johnson blamed the rises on the "largesse" of previous mayor, Labour's Ken Livingstone, accusing him of creating an £80m financial hole.
The Labour group said the rises were unnecessary as there was no evidence of a budget shortfall. Mr Livingstone said Londoners are now learning the high cost of Mr Johnson.
Concessionary fares for the elderly, disabled, people on income support and war veterans are expected to remain unaffected. The increase is based on July's retail price index inflation figure of 5%, plus 1%, while Transport for London (TfL) will keep under review the impact of higher oil prices.
'Election gimmicks' The mayor said there would be a new half-price travel scheme for people on income support, while the elderly and war veterans would still receive support.
Commuters will also be urged to travel off-peak - with those fares expected to be be cut. He said his fares package would sustain funding for projects such as Crossrail and the transport improvements needed for the 2012 London Olympics.
Mr Ranger said Mr Livingstone's policies, specifically his decision to freeze Tube fares and reduce the price of bus journeys, had removed more than £80m from Transport for London's (TfL's) coffers. FARE RISES Single bus fare paid with an Oyster card will increase from 90p to £1A one day bus and tram pass will rise from £3 to £3.30 A weekly bus pass will go up from £13 to £13.80The £4 adult cash fare in Zone One of the tube will be frozen Fares in other zones will go up from £3 to £3.20.The minimum adult cash fare on the Docklands Light Railway rises from £1.50 to £1.60
Mr Ranger branded Mr Livingstone's policies as "cynical election gimmicks" and said TfL was currently reviewing future projects. Mr Johnson said the previous mayor's fares policy had been "unsustainable", removing more than £80m from TfL's funds this year alone.
In his announcement, Mr Johnson is expected to outline some "tough choices" the administration has to make in relation to future projects. For Boris to blame his predecessor for this fare hike is nothing more than a cheap political shot Labour's Val Shawcross "Some of us will pay a little more but I have ensured fares will remain affordable, especially for people who rely on public transport most, including the elderly, disabled veterans and those on lower incomes.
Labour's London Assembly transport spokesperson, Val Shawcross, said: "Boris Johnson has given us no evidence whatsoever for his claim that there is a transport finance black hole. "I have been left to tackle the unfunded legacy of Livingstone's largesse.
"What the evidence does point to is an increase in passenger numbers and revenue in TfL's coffers. "Put simply, the previous mayor's cynical and irresponsible pre-election fares freeze and support for unfunded transport schemes is unsustainable and has produced a gap that has to be plugged."
"For Boris to blame his predecessor for this fare hike is nothing more than a cheap political shot. Mr Livingstone responded: "Londoners are beginning to learn the high cost of Boris Johnson.
"He promised to save Londoners money but instead, after just a few months in office, he is pushing up fares above inflation to pay for his own incredible waste of Londoners' money."
And Labour's London Assembly transport spokesperson, Val Shawcross, said: "Boris Johnson has given us no evidence whatsoever for his claim that there is a transport finance black hole.
"If the mayor genuinely is concerned about the fares budget then he should have thought twice about abolishing the £25 higher charge for gas guzzlers and should reconsider his expensive plans to replace the bendy bus.""If the mayor genuinely is concerned about the fares budget then he should have thought twice about abolishing the £25 higher charge for gas guzzlers and should reconsider his expensive plans to replace the bendy bus."
The Bank of England says the current rate of inflation (CPI) is 4.4%.