Passengers in the British capital will pay more for travel on the Underground and urban rail services from March 1, 2026, after Transport for London (TfL) applies fare increases in line with the provisions of the funding agreement agreed with the British government.
In contrast, bus and tram fares will remain frozen until July 5, 2026, as a measure of support in the context of pressures related to the cost of living.
What will become more expensive
The increases apply to pay-as-you-go fares for: No individual journey on the pay-as-you-go system (payment for each journey, without a pass) in zones 1–6 will increase by more than 20 pence, with most increases being around 10 pence.
- the London Underground,
- rail services operated by TfL,
- some urban rail connections.
A special case is the Elizabeth line connection to Heathrow Airport, where the Zone 1 fare will increase from GBP 13.90 to GBP 15.50.
However, TfL points out that this fare remains below the level charged by Heathrow Express and that the increase mainly affects individual journeys, particularly tourist travel.
Which fares remain frozen
The fare for buses and trams remains at GBP 1.75 for journeys made within an hour under the “Hopper Fare” scheme (a fare that allows unlimited travel for 60 minutes at the price of a single journey).
Travelcards (day, week, or longer-term passes that allow unlimited travel in the zones purchased) will be maintained at current levels until March 2027, limiting the impact of price increases for commuters who frequently use public transport.
London Mayor Sadiq Khan said that maintaining bus and tram fares is a protective measure for people on low incomes in the context of the cost-of-living crisis.
How the increase is justified
The increases are provided for in the GBP 2.2 billion multi-year funding agreement agreed in 2025 between TfL and the UK government. The document sets out the expectation that fares will increase annually by the rate of inflation (RPI) plus one percentage point.
The additional revenue from fares is earmarked for investment in network modernization, rolling stock replacement, and signaling system upgrades.
Separate from the fare changes, TfL also announced the extension of free travel on some bus routes in east London, introduced in the context of the opening of the new Silvertown tunnel, until May 26, 2026.
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