Mayor Sadiq Khan confirms London TfL Tube and rail fare rises for 2026

Sadiq Khan said he remains "committed to doing everything in my power to keep TfL fares as affordable as possible."

The Mayor of London, Sadiq Khan, has announced plans for Transport for London (TfL) Tube and rail fare rises in 2026, confirming capped increases on Tube and TfL rail services from March next year under the Government’s £2.2bn multi-year funding settlement.

The announcement comes just weeks after the UK Government confirmed it would freeze regulated National Rail fares for the first time in 30 years, covering season tickets, peak commuter returns and off-peak fares between major cities, placing TfL’s proposals within a shifting national rail fares landscape.

Agreed at the Spending Review in July 2025, the £2.2bn funding settlement requires TfL fares to rise by inflation plus one per cent (RPI+1). The Mayor said the proposed fares package meets this requirement while limiting the impact on passengers during the continuing cost-of-living crisis.

Under the plans, fares on the Tube and TfL rail services will increase from March 2026, while City Hall funding will freeze bus and tram fares until July 2026.

Examples of Tube and TfL rail fare changes

The Mayor has stated that he intends to ensure no single pay-as-you-go Tube fare rises by more than 20p, with many increasing by just 10p. An off-peak pay as you go Tube journey from Tottenham Court Road (Zone 1) to Edgware (Zone 5) would increase from £3.60 to £3.80, while pay as you go fares within Zone 1 would rise from £2.90 to £3.10 in the peak and from £2.80 to £3.00 off-peak and at weekends.

Elsewhere on the network, an off-peak journey from Richmond (Zone 4) to Stratford (Zone 2), avoiding Zone 1, would rise from £2.20 to £2.40. A peak journey from Upminster (Zone 6) to Cannon Street (Zone 1) would increase by just 10p, from £5.80 to £5.90.

Airport fares would also change under the plans. Piccadilly line fares from Zone 1 to Heathrow would rise from £5.80 to £5.90, while Elizabeth line fares on the same route would increase from £13.90 to £15.50. TfL said this would remain significantly cheaper than Heathrow Express and would mainly affect single journeys, largely impacting tourists, with regular commuters protected by fare caps.

In addition, it is proposed that Travelcard prices will be frozen until March 2027, meaning weekly and daily caps would remain unchanged. City Hall said this would allow frequent pay as you go users to reach caps sooner, reducing the overall impact of fare increases across the year. Alongside this, TfL will retain its existing concessions, with Zip photocards, student and care leaver passes and the 60+ Oyster remaining unchanged.

Sadiq Khan comment

The Government’s £2.2bn capital funding settlement will drive investment across the TfL network, enabling the replacement of ageing rolling stock and delivery of major signalling upgrades to improve reliability, capacity and passenger experience across London’s rail and Underground services.

Sadiq Khan said: “When the Government awarded TfL £2.2bn in vital investment – the biggest ever multi-year funding deal for London in more than a decade – it made clear it expects TfL fares to rise by inflation plus one percent. However, I remain committed to doing everything in my power to keep TfL fares as affordable as possible because I know how the cost-of-living crisis is still hitting many Londoners hard.

“The plans would mean that only fares on Tube and TfL rail services would now increase from March 2026. I also plan to ensure that increases to pay as you go fares on the Tube will be capped at 20p, with many only rising by just 10p.

“The record number of TfL fares freezes I’ve put in place since 2016 mean that under the plans Londoners would still be saving around 16 per cent on tube and rail fares and 34 per cent on bus and tram fares compared to if fares had risen in line with inflation since 2016, and I’ll continue to do all I can to support Londoners as we build a fairer, greener London for everyone.”

The Mayor will consider the proposals for approval through a forthcoming Mayoral Decision.