Sadiq Khan warns train passengers 'face five per cent price hikes in New Year'

Many long-suffering rail passengers face “unacceptable” ticket price hikes of more than five per cent in January, Sadiq Khan warned today.

The mayor called on the Government to match his fares freeze, warning that a failure to do so would be a “kick in the teeth” for commuters, who have suffered months of delays and cancellations.

He said: “I’m calling on Londoners to heap pressure on the Government and the train operating companies to finally show they’re on the side of passengers.”

One of Mr Khan’s key election pledges was to freeze fares for the next four years.

But he was criticised when it became clear he would not be able to deliver his promise that Londoners would “not pay a penny more” for their fares as he had no control over suburban rail.

Official inflation figures revealed this summer that rail passengers would pay almost two per cent more for their fares in the New Year.

However, a loophole means that train operating companies can increase fares by 10p each journey, rather than by inflation, meaning some pay-as-you-go fares could increase by as much as five per cent.

All the rail firms in London did this last year, adding £50 a year to the average passenger’s annual journey bills.

Mr Khan told the Standard: “For far too long, Londoners using our suburban rail routes have been getting a terrible service – with delays, overcrowding and cancellations becoming the norm.

“Commuters will understandably be furious when they hear that fares on some routes face being hiked by another five per cent this January. It’s another kick in the teeth for long suffering rail passengers.

“The Government should say enough is enough, and make these train operating companies match my TfL fares freeze fares on London’s suburban rail lines next year.

“Given the poor level of service, it’s simply unacceptable for the Government to stand-by and let fares increase by up to a staggering 10 per cent on some of the lines in just over a year.”

In addition, Mr Khan is lobbying for the devolution of suburban rail from the Department of Transport in order to make dramatic improvements to services like Southern rail which has let down passengers time and again. Ministers have resisted so far.

Many of the fares increases this January are expected to be on Southeastern services within London, the next franchise up for renewal in 2018.

The Mayor has said his fares freeze pledge would apply to these journeys too if the routes come under TfL’s control.

A DfT spokesman said: “London has a public transport network to be proud of and we have committed further investment to improve journeys and boost capacity with the multi-billion pound Thameslink and Crossrail programmes.

“Wages are growing faster than train ticket prices thanks to action by the Government. Most commuter fares from London are regulated, and these have been capped in line with inflation until 2020.”