Transport for London has announced a three-month trial of all-day off-peak fares on Fridays, starting next week.
The trial will be valid for pay-as-you-go tube and rail fares made with contactless and Oyster cards, on Fridays between 8 March and 31 May.
Normally peak fares would apply on both TfL and National Rail services between 0630 and 0930 on weekday mornings, and again between 1600 and 1900.
TfL gave examples of potential savings of £2.70 per one-way trip between Epsom and Waterloo, with commuters paying the £6.10 off-peak fare rather than the £8.80 peak fare. Those commuting from Zone 6 to Zone 1 would normally pay £5.60 each way during peak times, with this being reduced to £3.60 during the trial period.
The daily cap will also be switched from peak to off-peak on Fridays, “helping those who make multiple journeys through the day save even more”. Bus and tram fares will be affected by the trial, as they are already set at a flat rate of £1.75.
Note though that the trial will not apply to journeys to or from Heathrow Airport via Zone 1.
TfL said that the initiative will help it understand whether reduced fares could encourage more people back onto public transport and into the office “on a day that is currently quieter than other weekdays”.
The Covid-19 pandemic has changed workers’ views on commuting to work – last year Network Rail announced it would trial midweek daytime engineering work in response to changing travel patterns.
A total of £24 million has been allocated from the Mayor of London’s budget to compensate TfL and rail operators for lower fares revenue during the trial and cover the costs for running it.
Visit London has created a new page on its website to promote the trial, as well as a number of Friday offers which will run in conjunction.
Commenting on the news Shashi Verma, chief technology officer at TfL, said:
“While millions of people travel using bus, Tube and rail services across London every day, we are still seeing ridership on Fridays, particularly during peak hours, being lower than other days of the week.
“This trial of making Fridays off-peak will help us better understand how targeted initiatives like this could help potentially support economic growth by encouraging more people back onto public transport and into the office on a day that is currently quieter than other weekdays.”
