By Salome von Stolzmann
Starting March 2024, Transport for London will start a three-month trial offering off-peak train and Tube fares all day on Fridays. This trial, requested by London Mayor Sadiq Khan, aims to increase passenger numbers and boost London’s economy. Tube usage on Fridays stands at about 73 percent of pre-pandemic levels, still affected by people working from home.
With the mayoral election approaching in May, critics view the trial as a political move in part of the election promise to reduce cost of living. Sadiq Khan has re-asserted his intention to increase footfall for shops, cafés, and cultural venues amidst the cost-of-living crisis.
For London university students commuting on Fridays, this trial comes as a welcome relief. Many London students benefit from discounted fares through their 16-25 Railcard, saving one-third on off-peak Tube fares. With peak fares in London typically applying during rush hours, an LSE student commuting from Zone 3 for an early morning lecture on Friday will pay £1.95 instead of £3 if they have a Railcard linked to their Oyster.
A postgraduate student commuting from Windsor states: “Fridays going completely off-peak is going to make me worry less about attending my Friday lectures.”
Postgraduate student Ella*, who previously worked from home on Fridays, agrees, stating that “the new off-peak Friday fare will be a game changer. I am looking forward to spending my Fridays in the city as I did prior to the pandemic and staying out after work, making the most of the city I live in.”
The off-peak trial will allow LSE students to save money on their Friday commute to campus from the beginning of March until the end of May.
Image from Pexels
