Hounslow Labour Councillors welcomes the recent announcement by Labour Mayor of London Sadiq Khan that he will freeze all Transport for London fares for the year 2024. This is to support Londoners struggling with the cost of living and London’s recovery from the pandemic.

The Mayor is proposing £123million of additional funding to TfL, identified as part of the Greater London Assembly (GLA) budget setting process, to freeze fares for a whole year at a crucial time when Londoners are being hit by inflated food costs and soaring energy bills.

The fares freeze comes at a crucial time for Hounslow residents who are being hit by inflated food costs and soaring energy bills. There are clear benefits for both residents and visitors who travel by bus, train or tube in the borough, with commuters on the tube from Hounslow into Zone 1 saving up to 20p per single fare. Retention of the £1.75 bus fare is essential as 16% of all trips are undertaken by bus in borough everyday and the Council continues to work to grow this.

The Mayor’s initiative directly supports Labour-run Hounslow Council’s Transport Strategy which has a target of 71% trips to be made by sustainable modes by 2041. The borough is currently at 60% of trips and the extension of the fares freeze will continue to encourage the use of public transport.

Hounslow Council continues to work with the Mayor of London and Transport for London to make the public transport network serve our communities better and ensure that it is accessible to all.

Councillor Katherine Dunne, Deputy Leader of Hounslow Council and Cabinet Member for Climate, Environment and Transport said:

 “Our residents in Hounslow are still being hit deep by the Cost of Living Crisis and continuing Tory austerity. This is why I am proud that our Labour Mayor has stepped in to help Londoners by freezing fares in the capital for this year and ensuring bus, train and tube remains affordable across the borough, from Feltham to Brentford and Chiswick. Contrast this with the Conservative Government who are once again allowing National Rail fares to increase by a staggering 4.9% as they neglect investment in rail infrastructure.

“Our Labour administration at Hounslow Council is committed to responding to the Climate Emergency, lowering CO2 emissions in the borough and improving air quality. Encouraging our residents to use public transport is key to this and ensures a prosperous and greener borough while tackling the Cost of Living Crisis.”

Notes:

• Mayor of London Press Release – ‘Mayor steps in and announces he’ll freeze TfL fares this year easing the cost for millions of Londoners’ https://www.london.gov.uk/mayor-steps-and-announces-hell-freeze-tfl-fares-year-easing-cost-millions-londoners