Off-peak Fridays in London

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903 Londoners have responded | 14/03/2024 - 31/05/2024

View of a train going past Westfield and John Lewis

Off-peak Fridays fare trial

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From 8 March to 31 May, off-peak pay as you go fares will be available all day on Fridays on Tube and Rail across London and parts of the Southeast.  

Will cheaper fares on a Friday encourage you to ... 

  • use the Tube or Rail on a Friday, for work or leisure? Why or why not? 
  • swap your usual day(s) of travel to a Friday? Why or why not? 
  • use the Tube or Rail instead of other modes of transport? Why or why not? 

Did you know?

While London's economy has recovered strongly from the pandemic, the number of people travelling on Fridays is recovering more slowly than other days of the week. For example, Tube ridership on Fridays is around 73% of pre-pandemic levels. This isn't the case mid-week, where ridership is at 80-85% and continuing to grow.

This has a knock-on effect on venues that rely on footfall such as London’s art galleries and theatres, as well as hospitality businesses like cafes, bars and restaurants. 

To encourage more Londoners to take the Tube and Rail on Friday, off-peak pay as you go fares will be trialled all day on Fridays. The trial covers the Tube, DLR, London Overground, Elizabeth line and some National Rail services.  

The discussion ran from 12 March 2024 - 31 May 2024

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Comments (178)

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This should be seen in the context of UK taxpayer subsidy (link below).  Also, a first step should have been reinstatement of free travel for 60+ age group at all times as morning restriction impacts on attendance at hospital appointments...

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This should be seen in the context of UK taxpayer subsidy (link below).  Also, a first step should have been reinstatement of free travel for 60+ age group at all times as morning restriction impacts on attendance at hospital appointments etc and participation in volunteering activities (which many are involved it).  Priorities before gimmicks. 

https://www.gov.uk/government/news/ministers-and-tfl-agree-250-million-government-funding-to-upgrade-londons-transport-system#:~:text=TfL%20now%20benefits%20from%20around,fares%20and%20other%20income%20sources.

 But is it a gimmick or will it generate spending across business in London by increasing footfall on a Friday?   Lets hope so.   But where is the impact assessment and what are the measures of success?  These need to be fully be publicised and the montoring and reporting process on the trial fully transparent.  I don't readily see these key elements being publicised.  Is there a link to them and importantly, to a mayoral press release.  And is the next step if the trial deemed to be successfully subject to approval by central government?  If central govt refuse to authorise any additional support, has the mayor steps in place to meet any financial cost?  The webpage is poor in terms of any of these issues. https://tfl.gov.uk/fares/free-and-discounted-travel/off-peak-friday-fares

 

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Avatar for - Tiger
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I am not sure its a 'gimmick'. He is desperate not to lose the election in a few weeks' time. In his defence, he wants to encourage people to travel when seats are empty. But the reality is that he is simply taking from Peter to pay Paul...

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I am not sure its a 'gimmick'. He is desperate not to lose the election in a few weeks' time. In his defence, he wants to encourage people to travel when seats are empty. But the reality is that he is simply taking from Peter to pay Paul. In his mind the pensioners on a Freedom Pass are easy pickings. But very few, I would guess, ride the tube etc in the rush hour for fun. Khan knows that. Unlike the principles Labour (used to) stand by, he cares not a hoot for the elderly & 'vulnerable'. And TfL's fares are quite ridiculous - again entirely because of Khan. I am sure plenty of pensioners would like an income of over £60k for pressing the GO button on an automatic train.

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Avatar for - Pangolin
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I have a Freedom Pass and I also work.  As it happens I work from home in Hackney on Friday so I could change my routine and go into the office (which is in Outer London) on those days, so it does make a difference.  

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I have a Freedom Pass and I also work.  As it happens I work from home in Hackney on Friday so I could change my routine and go into the office (which is in Outer London) on those days, so it does make a difference.  

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I and my wife are in our 80s, and we both have Freedom passes.  Accordingly, we always travel on public transport free of charge anyway, provided the travel is after 9.00 a.m., which it nearly always is.  The availability of off-peak fares...

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I and my wife are in our 80s, and we both have Freedom passes.  Accordingly, we always travel on public transport free of charge anyway, provided the travel is after 9.00 a.m., which it nearly always is.  The availability of off-peak fares on a Friday would make no difference to us whatsoever.  If we do have to travel before 9.00 a.m., it is to meet an mostly unavoidable commitment - eg. a medical appointment or catching a long distance train - and being able to pay somewhat less for off-peak London travel on Fridays would not affect that commitment.

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Avatar for - Sumatran elephant
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The survey questions don't make sense.  As it happened, I had a dinner with a friend on the evening of Friday 8th, to which I travelled by tube. I didn't know about the free fares on Friday before 9 am, but it made no difference because my...

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The survey questions don't make sense.  As it happened, I had a dinner with a friend on the evening of Friday 8th, to which I travelled by tube. I didn't know about the free fares on Friday before 9 am, but it made no difference because my dinner was in the evening, as dinners usually are, so the journey was free in any case.
I've retired from work, so I don't need to travel regularly before 9 am.  On the rare occasions when I do, eg because I'm catching a train or flight to somewhere and have to be at a main station or airport early, I would still travel by tube [and maybe bus if carrying luggage, otherwise I walk to the tube station], and I would have to use my old Oyster card which I top up about once a year. A minor irritation, not more. I accet that when the tubes are full in the rush hour free travel shouldn't be offered.  If there is now spare capacity on Fridays, that's nice but not mission critical. 

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Avatar for - Tiger
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As the septuagenarian holder of a Freedom Pass  Mayor Khan stealing our access before 0900 has been really nasty of him and I refuse to spend what is an outrageous fare on TfL and so take my car instead if I need to travel. These off-peak...

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As the septuagenarian holder of a Freedom Pass  Mayor Khan stealing our access before 0900 has been really nasty of him and I refuse to spend what is an outrageous fare on TfL and so take my car instead if I need to travel. These off-peak tricks are being paid for by pensioners, the easy target for bullies like Sadiq Khan.

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Avatar for - Tiger
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Nowhere to park near the station even if there was a train going in the right direction. Easier and quicker to drive out of London. 

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Nowhere to park near the station even if there was a train going in the right direction. Easier and quicker to drive out of London. 

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Looks like most of the comments here are from Freedom Pass holders - I'm not one of those, but I can't take advantage as I have an annual season pass (which has gone up in price, unlike single fares).  Blatant electioneering..... 

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Looks like most of the comments here are from Freedom Pass holders - I'm not one of those, but I can't take advantage as I have an annual season pass (which has gone up in price, unlike single fares).  Blatant electioneering..... 

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Avatar for - Koala
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As a disabled Londoner with a Freedom Pass, I don't pay for my travel on public transport anyway so this scheme will make no difference to me.

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Volunteering knows no calendar. Venues which rely on footfall will need to extend their concessionary prices to encourage Freedom Pass holders to attend eg Friday matinees, Silver Fridays etc. and actually put on appropriate attractions...

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Volunteering knows no calendar. Venues which rely on footfall will need to extend their concessionary prices to encourage Freedom Pass holders to attend eg Friday matinees, Silver Fridays etc. and actually put on appropriate attractions. Also those of us who live outside the centre need extra time to make early appointments. For example hospital clinics at St Mary;s Paddington start at 9 am.

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Avatar for - Adelie penguin
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Other weekdays would help as I have Moorfields appointments on Thursdays

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Whilst I am very pleased that The Mayor has re-instated the pre-9.00 am use of my Freedom pass for Fridays, it would be even more helpful if this could be extended to the other Weekdays, so I can arrange or attend early Medical appointments...

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Whilst I am very pleased that The Mayor has re-instated the pre-9.00 am use of my Freedom pass for Fridays, it would be even more helpful if this could be extended to the other Weekdays, so I can arrange or attend early Medical appointments etc. on other Weekdays as Fridays only early appointments sometimes become difficult to book,  and delayed and also I could get early shopping. 

Many thanks.!

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Avatar for - Adelie penguin
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I see Heathrow Airport is still at full fare on Fridays, so this is not included in this 3 month gimmick, election looming by any chance ?.

Avatar for - Polar bear
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Using the tube or train is still inaccessible regardless of cost because I'm disabled. Need better and easier access to the taxi card scheme which is badly setup as access varies by borough. Should be same eligiblity and access whichever...

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Using the tube or train is still inaccessible regardless of cost because I'm disabled. Need better and easier access to the taxi card scheme which is badly setup as access varies by borough. Should be same eligiblity and access whichever borough. Also as a female I don't feel safe travelling on the tube or train with the increased crime including sexual assaults. Need better safety on the transport system 

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For freedom pass holders who do a lot of childcare being able to travel before 9.00 am makes a massive difference.  School starts at 8.50 and we have to be with the grandchildren by 7.40 when their parents leave for work.  

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For freedom pass holders who do a lot of childcare being able to travel before 9.00 am makes a massive difference.  School starts at 8.50 and we have to be with the grandchildren by 7.40 when their parents leave for work.  

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I see this as a bit of a gimmick by Mayor Khan in his election year.

Why has he not included buses as in Sutton he has given us the worst transport system which means we have to use buses to get to mainline rail or tube.

Why not give us back...

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I see this as a bit of a gimmick by Mayor Khan in his election year.

Why has he not included buses as in Sutton he has given us the worst transport system which means we have to use buses to get to mainline rail or tube.

Why not give us back the benefits we had with Mayor Boris which allowed us to use the freedom pass any time, not this Twirley regime

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I am retired and have a 60+ travel card so this makes no difference to me.  I live in central London and try to walk most places but I travel by tube and bus whenever necessary irrespective of the cost.

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I am retired and have a 60+ travel card so this makes no difference to me.  I live in central London and try to walk most places but I travel by tube and bus whenever necessary irrespective of the cost.

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Avatar for - American pika
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The enforcement of friday (and all week) restrictions on senior tfl travel since covid has impacted massively on my weekly routine.

No more swimming before 9am (though 'better''s introduction of peaktime charges before 9am for York Hall pool...

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The enforcement of friday (and all week) restrictions on senior tfl travel since covid has impacted massively on my weekly routine.

No more swimming before 9am (though 'better''s introduction of peaktime charges before 9am for York Hall pool is also a factor). 

No more early morning bus or tube journeys (when it's quieter) for shopping at markets or supermarkets, has slowed down my shopping schedules massively.

Restricting seniors' access to travel in the early mornings I find discriminatory and offensive; we are not all armchair consumers of ready meals and cremation deals, but often active swimmers, keep fit gym users, and creative artists, for whom every hour of every day is important. 

To limit the transport access concessions we have enjoyed for decades denies us valuable work/active/creative hours we can never recover. These concessions are so important for giving older people the quality of life and continued development they have earned during their time on this earth.

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One of the questions asked what mode my journey would replace. I wanted to say I wouldn't normally have even travelled on a Friday but couldn't see an option for this.

Avatar for - Rhino
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I appreciate being able to make an early start e.g. for a day out hiking 

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I appreciate being able to make an early start e.g. for a day out hiking 

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It would be nice if the buses were included in the earlier start for cheap fares!