The Mayor of London, Sadiq Khan, has today announced that he has asked TfL to run a groundbreaking three-month trial whereby all London Tube and Rail fares are made off-peak on Fridays.  

The Mayor has asked for this trial to help TfL and rail operators to better understand how off-peak fares on a Friday could help drive ridership and boost London’s wider economic recovery. The trial is expected to begin in March and last for three months. It will be keenly watched by other global cities struggling to bounce back after the pandemic.

The news comes just a week after the Mayor announced that he is freezing TfL fares for another year from March to ease the cost-of-living for millions of Londoners. Off-peak Fridays could benefit all Londoners, especially those concerned about the national rail increases from March. This promotion would enable them to commute more regularly for less.  

Peak fares apply between 06:30 and 09:30 and between 16:00 and 19:00 on both TfL and National Rail services in London. Making Fridays off-peak would make it cheaper for people to travel - potentially supporting economic growth by encouraging more people back onto public transport and into the office on a day that is currently quieter than other weekdays. Cities around the UK and Globe are seeing similar patterns. Off-peak fares could also help encourage more people into the city on a Friday to make the most of London’s fantastic offering of bars, restaurants, live music venues and theatres. Those who choose to come into the city on Fridays will also be able to make the most of London’s world-leading nightlife, with so many fantastic events and venues to experience this year. 

 As part of his pioneering plan to ‘revitalise Fridays’, the Mayor is working with businesses, the hospitality sector and other key stakeholders to encourage more Londoners back into the city on Fridays. Off-peak Friday fares could play a huge role in catalysing this behavioural shift.  

Off-peak Friday fares could give a much-needed boost to London’s businesses at a time when the cost-of-living continues to bite. As an example, someone commuting in from Zone 6 into Zone 1 would currently pay £5.60 for travelling on the Tube. Under this trial, this fare would be reduced to £3.60 – saving them £2. Someone commuting from Richmond (Zone 4) to Hammersmith (Zone 2) currently pay £2.80 for the trip. This fare would be reduced down to £1.90 - saving them 90p. 

Midweek ridership on the Tube is now up to 85 per cent of pre-pandemic levels, with weekend ridership around 100 per cent, but Fridays are consistently lower at around 73 per cent. Making transport even more attractive and affordable on Fridays could give ridership the boost it needs and support TfL’s and London’s recovery from the pandemic.   

The Mayor of London, Sadiq Khan said: “London is the greatest city in the world. From the bustling office districts to its rich offering of bars, restaurants, galleries and theatres, I want everyone to be able to make the most all week of living or working in London.  

“I’m doing all I can to support Londoners with the cost-of-living crisis and to support London’s economic recovery. This includes freezing TfL fares for another year to make transport more affordable for millions of Londoners and to encourage more people to use our transport network. But I want to do even more. London has really bounced back since the pandemic, but the lack of commuters returning on Fridays is a clear exception – with a major knock-on effect on our shops, cafes and cultural venues. That’s why I’ve asked TfL to trial off-peak fares on Fridays, and I encourage Londoners to get involved.  

“A trial will help us to see if it’s an effective way of increasing ridership and giving a welcome boost to businesses as we continue to build a better, fairer, more prosperous London for everyone.” 

Ruth Duston OBE, Founder and Chief Executive of Primera, which operates 12 of Central London’s Business Improvement Districts, said “The business communities we represent across Central London will welcome this initiative, and we look forward to working with the Mayor and TfL to support this trial and maximise the benefits it will bring to the London economy. Adopting a more flexible approach to fare policy is something our BIDs have asked the Mayor and TfL to look at over recent years, as we consider new and innovative ways to encourage more people back into the capital, specifically thinking about how we can ‘reinvent Fridays’ in the era of new working practices.”

Kate Nicholls, Chief Executive of UKHospitality, said: “There’s no doubt that Fridays have suffered as a result of changes to working patterns since the pandemic and hospitality businesses have felt that loss of commuter trade.

“Responding to these challenges with innovative trials like off-peak Fridays is exactly the type of flexible approach needed to boost journey numbers and stimulate footfall in our venues. I hope we’ll see positive results from the trial, for hospitality businesses, commuters and the wider economy.”

Chris Hayward, City of London Corporation Policy Chairman, said: “This move could provide a huge boost for London’s hospitality and leisure sectors. It complements our flagship Destination City programme which sets out a vision for the Square Mile to become a world-leading leisure destination for UK and global visitors, workers, and residents to enjoy.

“Our great capital has a unique and diverse visitor offer, with unrivalled history, world-class arts and culture, and outstanding restaurants, cafes, hotels, pubs, and bars. Cutting the cost of travel on Fridays will help London’s footfall continue its steady rise back to pre-pandemic levels and give a welcome shot in the arm to our businesses.”

Muniya Barua, Deputy CEO at BusinessLDN, said: “Experimenting with Friday fares is an innovative step that could help encourage some hybrid workers back into the capital, in turn supporting businesses that rely on footfall. It will be interesting to see if this will be enough to change habits that have become engrained since the pandemic for the many Londoners who can choose to work from home.”

Charlotte, who runs the Gramos Coffee Bar at Kings Cross St Pancras Tube station said “As a small independent coffee shop, we rely heavily on commuter trade, and we’re just not getting that traffic on Fridays, even in a busy station like King’s Cross. We also see a pattern of people coming in late mornings to avoid peak travel costs, so I believe a trial of off-peak fares all day on Fridays would be a welcome change. Giving people one more reason to travel into town would also bring a much-needed boost to small businesses like ours.” Photo by SPSmiler, Wikimedia commons.