TfL will trial cheaper tickets for off-peak Friday journeys

All London Underground fares will be cheaper in a three-month trial in a bid to encourage more people to return to central London.

Confirming the news, Mayor of London Sadiq Khan shared on X, formally Twitter, the following: “I have asked @TfL to launch a ground-breaking three-month trial to make all London Underground and rail off-peak on Fridays.

“An off-peak Friday could benefit all Londoners, especially those worried about the increase in rail travel from March.”

Metro travel will be cheaper on Fridays with a trial period during non-working hours

I asked @TfL to launch a ground-breaking three-month trial of all London Underground and rail being closed on Fridays.

Off-peak hours on Fridays could benefit all Londoners, especially those worried about the increase in rail traffic from March.https://t.co/b68YInPkBh

— Mayor of London Sadiq Khan (@MayorofLondon) January 29, 2024

The plan is £24m TfL figures show metro midwife journeys are 85% of pre-Covid levels, while Friday figures are 73%.

Now is the peak of tariffs TfL and national rail services operate weekdays from 6:30am to 9:30am and 4:00pm to 7:00pm.

Travels on Art tube from zone 6 to zone 1 at peak costs £5.60 per journey, but during off-peak the same routes will cost passengers £3.60.

The full fare on off-peak Fridays during the trial period is as follows:

• £2.70 for Zone 1 (10p less)
• £2.80 for zones 1-2 (60p less)
• £3 for zones 1-3 (70p cheaper)
• £3.20 for zones 1-4 (£1.20 less)
• £3.50 for zones 1-5 (£1.60 cheaper)
• £3.60 for zones 1-6 (£2 off)

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The cost of the new test is £24m allocated by Khan as part of his 2024/25 annual budget, following the recent freeze on fares until March 2025 at a cost of £123m.

Discussing Friday off-peak fares, Khan said: “London has really recovered from the pandemic, but the lack of return passengers on Fridays is a clear exception – it has a huge impact on our shops, cafes and cultural venues. That's why I've asked TfL to trial off-peak fares on Fridays, and I'm urging Londoners to get involved.

“The trial will help us see if this is an effective way to increase passenger numbers and provide the desired boost to business as we continue to build a better, fairer and more prosperous London for all.”