Mayor of London asks TfL to look at alternatives to win back passengers after off-peak fares trial

A trial in London to offer off-peak fares on a Friday did not result in an increase in passenger numbers.

Normally, peak fares are charged in London from 0630-0930 and 1600-1900, but during the trial (between March 8 and May 31 2024) fares were off-peak all day on Fridays.

The trial was instigated by London Mayor Sir Sadiq Khan on the London Underground, London Overground, Elizabeth line and the Docklands Light Railway, as well as some National Rail services within the capital. It cost £24 million and was labelled a “pre-election bribe” by the Mayor’s opponents.

In London, the rise in working from home since the pandemic means passenger numbers are lower on Fridays than the rest of the week, leaving Transport for London (TfL) battling to attract commuters back.

The number of morning peak journeys on Fridays has dropped from 1.1 million in 2019 to 0.7 million in 2024.

In a report on the trial, TfL said: “There was no noticeable difference in the number of pay- as-you-go journeys made at peak times during the trial compared to pre-trial.”

Professor Nick Tyler, Director, Centre for Transport Studies at University College London, said he believed the trial showed that cost was not the driving factor behind many working from home on Fridays.

“The result suggests that the reduced numbers are about behaviour and lifestyle rather than money,” he said.

“People realise they can work more flexibly. And not travelling into the centre of Londonon a Friday is one element of that.”

A similar off-peak ticket pilot on ScotRail was also stopped after the Scottish government said it had not encouraged a sufficient number of commuters to use trains.

However, Transport for London could carry out more trials. It has been told to look at other cities to see how they are encouraging commuters back.

Khan has also told TfL to look at loyalty-style cards, similar to those used in supermarkets. He told London Assembly’s budget committee: “I have encouraged TfL to talk to the private sector - without naming names - like when TfL does a deal with someone who provides coffees in relation to an incentive.

“They are also doing some research into other cities around the globe doing stuff we can pinch that works in relation to encouraging people to use public transport.”