–Mayor’s failed £640m fares freeze hits popular service
Conservative London Assembly member Keith Prince has criticised Sadiq Khan’s plans to remove conductors from Routemaster bus services and eliminate the hop-on, hop-off feature of the service.
Transport for London today announced it will be cutting 300 conductor jobs in a bid to save £10million a year as it seeks to make up the £640 million shortfall from the Mayor’s decisions to freeze TfL fares.
Conservative London Assembly member Keith Prince said:
“It is extremely disappointing that Sadiq Khan’s failed fares freeze has already cost Londoners a very popular feature of these Routemaster services.
“This decision has resulted in the loss of 300 front line jobs when the Mayor consistently said the budget deficit could be made up with efficiency savings within the organisation.
“Unfortunately I fear this is just the first of many unpopular cuts within TfL that will impact on commuters and front line staff, all for a ‘fares freeze’ that falls well short of what was promised during the election.”
Notes to editors
Gordon Cameron
Press Officer
Chris Hewett
Senior press officer