New 'Hopper' fares for London buses and trams

The Mayor of London has launched a new scheme allowing passengers to make a second bus or tram journey for free within an hour of their first.

Anyone using an oyster card or contactless payment cards can use the new ‘Hopper’ fare.

It will mean about 30m bus journeys, which cost £1.50, will be free every year. This would particularly benefit low-income workers to get around the capital.

Mayor Sadiq Khan said: “Today is a landmark day for transport in London, and I’m hugely proud that our new ‘Hopper’ fare will make bus travel cheaper for millions of Londoners travelling around our city.

“It wasn’t right that Londoners had to pay twice simply to change buses, and the ‘Hopper’ will make 30m journeys free every year. It will make a particular difference to low income families – many of whom still spend a large proportion of their wages on essential travel costs."

During the mayoral campaign earlier this year Khan pledged to freeze travel fees for four years and he said the ‘Hopper’ fare was part of his commitment.

The four-year freeze starts from January 2017, which would save about £200 over the four years for an average household.

The ‘Hopper’ fare will be available to tube passengers from 2018.

London TravelWatch chair, Stephen Locke, commented: “Making bus travel more affordable will really help passengers, particularly people on lower incomes with long or complex journeys to work.

“The report, Living on the Edge, that we commissioned jointly with Trust for London and London Councils last year showed that the cost of public transport was a major factor which limited the type and location of employment that people living in outer London were likely to consider. We hope that for many people, the hopper fare will improve access to jobs in areas they may have previously found it too expensive to get to.”

The new fare will also be available to customers who pay the bus and tram discount, Jobcentre plus travel discount, young visitor discount and some zip Oyster photocards.