Big fare rises in London feared by passenger group

Published: 8:00 AM October 15, 2009 Updated: 8:15 AM October 14, 2020

A NATIONAL transport passenger user group has issued a warning this morning of a sharp rise in London’s bus, rail and Underground fares. The Campaign for Better Transport’ fears Boris Johnson will announce the rises later today

By Mike Brooke

A NATIONAL transport passenger user group has issued a warning this morning of a sharp rise in London's bus, rail and Underground fares.

The 'Campaign for Better Transport' fears Boris Johnson will announce the rises later today.

It plans a major fight if, as expected, the Mayor goes ahead.

"Other major European cities are prepared to pay for good public transport as an essential to their social infrastructure," said the organisation's London campaign co-ordinator Richard Bourn. "But in contrast with other cities, the Mayor now seems inclined to make passengers pay more and more for public transport services in London."

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Rail fares nationally have risen in real terms by just seven per cent since 1997, he points out, while cost of motoring has fallen by 13 per cent.

His organisation is warning this-morning that big increases will discourage using public transport and push commuters back to their cars-at a time that tackling carbon emissions and climate change is becoming urgently more apparent.