Following the publication of Boris Johnson’s bus, tube, tram and rail fare increases today Ken Livingstone said,

”London already has some of the highest fares in the world, but instead of putting squeezed Londoners first, Boris Johnson is sticking to further stealth-taxes on fares even as he argues for tax cuts for the rich.

“These fare rises are absolutely staggering. Under Boris Johnson the price of a single bus fare will be 56 per cent higher, a huge attack on ordinary Londoners and right across the board fares are soaring.

”Under the Tories, Londoners are less well off with every day that passes.
 
”Fares will be a central choice in next May’s election and in the coming weeks I will set out a fairer fares plan that puts Londoners first.”

Val Shawcross AM said:

“This decision by Boris Johnson to raise fares again is hugely damaging to millions of Londoners and will now be one of the central issues in the election campaign.

‘With Ken, Labour will propose a fairer package and aim to put Londoners first after four Tory years of indiscriminately squeezing the great majority of Londoners, from the suburbs to central London.”

Today’s announcement by Boris Johnson means:

Single bus ticket up 56%
·        was 90p in 2008
·        will be £1.40 in 2012
Costing Londoners £260 a year more

Weekly bus and tram pass up 47%
·        was £13.00 in 2008
·        will be £19.10 in 2012
Costing Londoners £317 a year more

Weekly zone 1-2 Travel Card up 23%
·        Was £24.20 in 2008
·        Will be £29.80 in 2012
Costing Londoners £291 a year more

Weekly zone 1-4 Travel Card up 23%
·        was £34.60 in 2008
·        will be £42.60 in 2012
Costing Londoners  £416 a year more     

Mayor confirms fares increase for 2012 to support unprecedented £12billion investment in London’s transport network

The Mayor of London, Boris Johnson, today confirmed that from January 2012 fares on London’s Tubes, Buses, London Overground, Docklands Light Railway (DLR) and Trams will rise by the level set out two years ago in Transport for London’s (TfL) Business Plan. This will maintain essential day to day public transport services and help continue record investment in London’s extensive transport network, which is experiencing surging passenger demand. All free and concessionary travel for older people, students, Veterans and disabled Londoners has been protected in full, which means that 40 per cent of bus passengers will continue to travel free or at a substantial concessionary rate.

From 2 January 2012, fares on TfL’s services will rise by an average of RPI + 2 per cent, the assumption outlined in TfL’s Business Plan in October 2009. Based on July’s RPI figure of 5 per cent, this represents an average 7 per cent fare increase across TfL services and Oyster pay as you go. Within this average there will be some TfL fares that go up less than 7 per cent, and some slightly more either due to small increments in rounding or because they are fares involving National Rail services but every effort has been made to ensure that this is distributed as evenly as possible across individual fares.

Following the Mayor’s successful campaign last year to protect Government contribution to TfL’s funding, unprecedented investment in London’s transport network will continue totalling £12billion over the Mayor’s four year term. This is an increase from £8billion investment from the previous administration.

The current investment programme includes upgrades to the Tube, now carrying a record 1.1billion passengers a year, delivery of Crossrail, and the maintenance of London’s frequent, extensive, reliable and accessible bus network, which is now carrying almost 2.3billion passengers a year – more than any other time since records began in the 1960’s. Further extensive improvements have also been made on the DLR and London Overground, both of which are also experiencing record ridership. Investment is vital for the transport network to continue to develop and improve and to meet future demand, which is set to grow yet further.

Mayor of London, Boris Johnson, said: “Despite some of the toughest economic times in living memory, I have secured unprecedented levels of investment for London’s transport network totalling £12billion over my four year term of office. Not since the days of our Victorian forefathers has there been improvements of this scale which includes upgrades and capacity increases ahead of 2012 and beyond to Crossrail. At the same time, we are focusing as never before on providing value for public money by committing to find significant savings of £7.6billion at TfL, over two thirds of which have now been secured. 

“Income from fares is vital to ensure the on-going health of London’s transport network, keeping services running for the billions of passengers who rely on them day in, day out. This is a fares package that continues my aim to put Transport for London’s finances on a steady footing, moving us away from the boom and bust approach undertaken by my predecessor when we saw a succession of draconian increases and knee-jerk, unaffordable pre-election freezes.

“This year, as Londoners begin to experience the benefits of that investment through more frequent and reliable journeys, I am also once again able to protect all free and concessionary travel for people who rely on public transport most, including older people, disabled veterans and those on lower incomes.

“I understand that any increase in tough times is difficult. This is a package that has sought to balance the needs of today’s passengers whilst ensuring we continue apace with plans to overhaul London’s transport system in the face of unprecedented demand.”

The innovative TfL pilot will be carried out on 18 buses that will have NO_x abatement systems called Selective Catalytic Reduction (SCR) fitted, half supplied by each manufacturer.

The abatement system reduces oxides of nitrogen (NO_x) to harmless nitrogen and water. The process involves the injection of urea into the exhaust pipe prior to a catalyst.  The urea decomposes and hydrolyses to ammonia (NH₃) which reacts with NO_x and reduces it to nitrogen and water. The pilot will be carried out over a year on three different marques of buses and the systems tested for their emissions performance and reliability. 

The Mayor’s Air Quality Strategy proposes that, subject to Government support, by 2015 all buses in London will meet the Euro IV standard for NO_x.  While the majority of the 8,500 buses in the Capital’s fleet are already compliant it is estimated that around 2,700 buses will need to be retrofitted this way to meet this standard, which will be a major step towards meeting EU air quality targets in London.

Mike Weston, London Buses Operations Director, said: “London continues to work hard to find ways to improve the emissions and environmental performance of the bus fleet.  Already operating one of the cleanest fleets in Europe, London leads the way by trialling new technology, introducing more environmentally friendly hybrid and hydrogen buses to meet tough EU targets which will protect the health of Londoners.”

TfL has taken considerable steps in the last ten years to reduce the environmental impact of its bus fleet.  All buses achieve Euro IV standard for particulate matter (PM) pollution and, as a result, emissions of particulate matter from the fleet have dropped from over 200 tonnes in 1997 to 14 tonnes in 2010.

This announcement comes in the same week that TfL announced more details on its targeted work to tackle particulate matter pollution in central London, including no-idling measures, green infrastructure and the expansion of an innovative dust suppressant trial.

In order to travel to and from Notting Hill easily and safely TfL urges visitors to arrive early because this year the Carnival will begin at 9am. By leaving early before it finishes at 7pm, you will have a great day, but reduce your travelling time by avoiding queues and crowded buses and Tube trains.

Transport for London advises all visitors to ‘check before they travel’ and plan their journey to and from the Carnival on Sunday and Bank Holiday Monday, 28 and 29 August. This can be done at: www.tfl.gov.uk and www.tfl.gov.uk/journeyplanner which will have up to the minute information about planned improvement works on the Tube. The TfL website also has real time travel news, as well as maps, first and last train times and details of weekend engineering works.

Alternatively call the London Travel Information 24 hour help line 0843 222 1234. Information is also available on posters, leaflets and “Good Service” boards at Tube stations.

Travelling by London Underground

For safety reasons Ladbroke Grove station, located on one of the busiest sections of the Carnival route, will be closed on both Sunday 28 and Monday 29 August.

Some stations around the Carnival area will close early or be ‘exit only’ at certain times on both days to help ease congestion.

These include:

·Latimer Road – station will close at 23:30 on both Sunday 28 and Monday 29 August.

·Notting Hill Gate – on Sunday 28 the station will be exit only between 12:00 and 19:00. On Monday 29 August the station will be exit only between 12:00 and 18:30.  On Monday 29 August between 12:00 and 19:00, Circle and District line trains will not stop at the station.

·Royal Oak – on Sunday 28 and Monday 29 August, the station will be exit only between 11:00 and 18:00 and will close at 18:00 on both days.

·Westbourne Park – on Sunday 28 and Monday 29 August, the station will be exit only between 11:00 and 18:00, and will close at 23:30 on both days.

Suggested Alternative Tube Stations

• Bayswater – on Monday 29 August between 12:00 and 19:00 you are advised to use this station if you are travelling on Circle or District line trains, as neither will stop at Notting Hill Gate.

• Paddington (Circle and Hammersmith & City lines) – on Sunday 28 and Monday 29 August you are advised to use this station instead of Notting Hill Gate or Royal Oak as both these stations will have entry restrictions.

Other stations near to the Carnival are:

• High Street Kensington (Circle and District lines),
• Holland Park (Central line),
• Queen’s Park (Bakerloo line)
• Shepherd’s Bush (Central line).

For safety reasons some stations may need to close temporarily to prevent overcrowding and ease congestion.  It may be worthwhile waiting until the station reopens rather than finding an alternative station – please listen for announcements from staff and police.

Travelling by London Overground

London Overground stations near to the Carnival: Queen’s Park, Kensal Rise, Kensal Green and Shepherd’s Bush.

Travelling by bus

A number of bus routes run close to the Carnival area: 7, 18, 23, 27, 28, 31, 36, 52, 70, 94, 148, 228, 295, 316, 328, 390, and 452.

TfL will be running many extra buses especially on Monday evening to get you home quickly and safely.

Three special express routes– 2X, 36X and 436X – will run between south London and the Carnival on both days. The 2X will run from Norwood Garage to Hyde Park Corner, then non-stop to Notting Hill Gate. The 36X will run from Peckham to Vauxhall, then non-stop to Harrow Road ‘Prince of Wales’. The 436X will run from Peckham to Hyde Park Corner, then non-stop to Notting Hill Gate.

Special bus route 205X will operate between Aldgate station and the Carnival.

Additionally buses within a comfortable walking distance include: 6, 46, 159, 187, 205, 220, 274, 302, 332, 414, and 436.

Bus routes running 24 hour services are: 6, 23, 27, 36, 94, 148, 159, 205, 220, 295 and 390.

Night Bus routes: N7, N18, N28, N31, N52 & N207 will operate throughout Sunday and Monday night.

Some bus routes will be on diversion due to local road closures. Diversions will be in place from the first bus on Sunday morning 28 August until around 05:00 on Tuesday 30 August.

Travelling by bike

Five docking stations for Barclays Cycle Hire bikes will be suspended in the Notting Hill area from 8am on Sunday 28 August until 8am on Tuesday 30 August at Turquoise Island, Pembridge Villas, Chepstow Villas, Notting Hill Gate Station and in Bayswater at Hereford Road.

Ken Davidson, Head of Bus Operations for Transport for London, said: “The Carnival is a great annual event and we want everyone going to enjoy themselves. We do advise visitors to plan their journeys to and from the event, so they arrive and leave early and get home safely.

“The easiest ways to travel are by bus, Tube, on bike or by foot and we advise all Carnival goers to be aware that crowds and road closures could slow you down. People should also check options for their return journeys as these may be easier from an alternative station or bus stop.”

Some highlights of the activities on offer this year are two interactive vehicles with free access on the Covent Garden Piazza outside the museum. Here, children can simulate driving a bus, or learn about rail safety on an inflatable train. Inside the museum, children can get to grips with personal safety for cycling and learn about safely responding to animals from the Dog’s Trust amongst other educational activities.

TfL’s Safety and Citizenship team are being supported by other safety training providers across London for this latest safety initiative, including the London Ambulance Service, the Royal National Lifeboat Institution, the London Fire Brigade, the Metropolitan Police and the Dog’s Trust.

Be Safe Week attendees are also welcomed to take part in the Young London Navigators’ challenges included in the museum admission fee – where kids go free, while adults pay £13.50 for unlimited entry for 12 months.

Young London Navigators summer family fun is part of the Sense and the City: smart, connected and on the move exhibition which explores how technology is changing the way we access and experience London and looks at past visions of the future.

Christopher Nix, Head of Learning Development at London Transport Museum said: “It’s great to get children engaged with safety issues in the capital at an early age. Be Safe Week is an opportunity for London’s younger generations to have fun and learn how to get involved in building a safer London.”

The event, which is also part of the testing programme for the London 2012 Games, will see the world’s best triathletes compete on the 2012 Olympic Triathlon Course, while the following day, 4,500 amateur triathletes will get the chance to race on the route their Olympic heroes will compete on next year.

Hyde Park Corner will be partially closed to traffic on Saturday 6 August from 05:00 to 12:00 and then again on Sunday 7 August from 05:00 to 16:00. Other closures during these times will include Park Lane in both directions from Marble Arch to Hyde Park Corner, Spur Road and access to Birdcage Walk from Parliament Square. Hyde Park will also be closed to vehicular access from 00:01on Friday 5 August until 05:00 Monday 8 August 2011.

London buses which normally use these routes will be placed on local diversions or curtailed to common departure points at Marble Arch, Portman Square, Sloane Square and Victoria Station. Posters will be placed at bus stops that will not be served by buses and Customer Information Assistants located around Hyde Park to assist customers on the day.

Because of the road closures within Hyde Park, the Triangle Car Park Barclays Cycle Hire docking station on Serpentine Road will be suspended from 20:00 on Friday 5 August until 08:00 on Monday 8 August. However, docking stations around Hyde Park will remain in operation.

Alan Bristow, Traffic Director for London Streets at TfL, said:

“With many major events taking place in London every year, the Capital and TfL are used to hosting successful international sporting events. However, we advise both spectators and people travelling through central London across the weekend to plan their travel in advance and, in particular, avoid driving in the Hyde Park area if at all possible.”

TfL has worked closely with the organisers and other external stakeholders to ensure every effort is being made to keep any traffic disruption due to this event to a minimum.  Event coordinators located at TfL’s London Streets Traffic Control Centre will closely monitor the road elements of the event to help ease congestion in surrounding locations.

The baby was born on a Stagecoach London operated route 145 bus in Hedgemans Road, Dagenham at about 6.50pm.  Driver, Keith Emmery, was on his last run of the day when the woman, who was sitting in a seat at the back of the bus, went into labour.  He was alerted to the woman’s plight by the wife of another Stagecoach London bus driver Sharon Eve who was a passenger on the bus at the time.  He pulled over into the next stop, called for emergency help and ushered the 20 passengers off the bus.

Mr Emmery, who has been driving buses for 25 years said: “It really took me by surprise, it all happened so quickly.  It was all very calm and was quite exciting in a way.  The lady who delivered the baby, Mrs Eve, deserves all the credit.  She did an amazing job.  I made the call at 6.35pm and the baby was born at around 6.50pm.  We wrapped the baby in a cardigan, he was quite tiny.  They’re all calling me ‘baby man’ at work now.  I’m waiting for my little granddaughter to be born this week too I think we must have started off a baby boom.”

Mr Emmery said the woman had told him the baby was a week overdue.  The ambulance arrived a couple of minutes after the baby was born and transported the mother and baby to a local hospital.

It is only the second time a baby has been born on a bus in London.  In October 2009, Emiloju Fatimah Lawal gave birth to a baby boy on a route 394 bus in Hackney.

TfL’s Managing Director of Surface Transport Leon Daniels said: “We would like to extend our congratulations to the mother and her family on the birth of their baby.  It’s not every day a woman gives birth on a London bus, but she was in great hands by all accounts.  Mr Emmery and Mrs Eve both did an outstanding job of helping deliver this new arrival.”