Mayor of London Sadiq Khan announces new bus ‘Hopper’ ticket will launch next Monday 12 September
London commuters will get more bang for their bus tickets from next Monday onwards, when the new 'hopper' bus fare system is launched.
From Monday 12 September, passengers will be able to change onto another bus or tram for free within one hour of touching in at the start of their journey. It will be automatically given to anyone who uses ‘pay as you go’ with Oyster or contactless payment cards.
According to the mayor of London's office, the fare will particularly benefit Londoners on lower incomes who often rely on the bus network to get around. Using the ‘Hopper’ fare, passengers could make extended journeys across London for just £1.50 for a standard adult fare if the second journey begins within an hour.
Transport for London (TfL) is now towards delivering unlimited bus and tram transfers within one hour – this system is expected to be in place from 2018. In addition, from 2018 passengers who travel on a Tube or train between their two or more bus or tram journeys will also be eligible for the Hopper fare.
“From my first week as mayor, I was determined to get on with the job of cutting the cost of transport in London," Sadiq Khan said today.
"I’m delighted to announce that from next Monday, the ‘Hopper’ ticket will allow Londoners to change buses for free within an hour, cutting travel costs for millions of bus users.
“Fares in London have risen for eight years in a row – and for people who have to change buses to get to work, the system simply isn’t fair. We must ensure that everyone can afford to travel around our city, and for people on low incomes, the cost of travel must never become a barrier to work or study."
He added: "The new ‘Hopper’ ticket means 30 million bus journeys every year will now become free – journeys that currently cost people £1.50. Alongside our commitment to freeze all TfL fares, the start of the Hopper next Monday is a key part of our plans to make it more affordable to live and work in London.”
Khan first proposed the Hopper fare during his mayoral campaign – and it was the first major policy he announced after winning the election.
London’s Transport Commissioner, Mike Brown, said: “I’m delighted we have been able to deliver this key commitment to London by the mayor swiftly, enabling us to better meet the needs of those Londoners who live or work in areas which aren’t as well served by Tube or rail services.”
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