Lib Dems slam huge hike in bus and tube fares

2.02.53pm GMT Mon 4th Jan 2010

Will the U2 be one of the services cut in Hillingdon?

London's Mayor has imposed a huge hike in bus and tube fares across the capital - by an average of 6%. There will also be cuts to bus and off-peak tube schedules to help fill a huge hole in Transport for London's budget.

Boris Johnson announced in September that tube fares would rise by 3.9% and bus journeys will cost 12.7% more. Oyster pay-as-you-go bus fares will rise by a whopping 20%. In contrast the inflation for last year was just 1.9% - and many people got no pay rise at all.

The Conservative Mayor blames the rises on fewer people using the tube because of the recession, although he admits "that may not seem to make the Tube less crowded."

Cllr Mike Cox said "Thousands of Hillingdon's residents will get a rude shock this week as they return to work by bus or by tube. Many more will find a nasty surprise when they renew their season tickets or top up their Oyster Cards. Boris Johnson has shown just how little the Conservatives care about ordinary hard working people. Haven't people got enough to worry about with the financial crisis and rising unemployment? Shame on you Boris."

Earlier, Lib Dem GLA member Caroline Pidgeon had commented: "This will be a slap in the face for the millions of Londoners who will be seeing no increase in their pay packets this year. It is all very well Boris trumpeting a zero increase in his share of Council Tax. Fare rises affect far more people, at far greater cost."