TfL’s ‘off-peak Fridays’ trial for Tube and trains to end this week

Transport for London (TfL) is reminding Londoners that its Friday off-peak fare trial will end this week.

The three-month trial was launched in March in a bid to boost ridership and support the capital's economy.

TfL data from February and the start of March showed that Tube ridership was up to 86% compared to pre-pandemic levels, but Friday ridership remains lower at around 78%.

Join our new WhatsApp Community to get the latest news from across London directly to your phone

Sadiq Khan allocated £24m from the City Hall budget for the 2024-2025 financial year to support the trial, which TfL said has benefited millions of Tube and rail customers across London and parts of the south east.

Peak fares ordinarily apply between 6.30am and 9.30am and between 4pm and 7pm on both TfL and National Rail services.

The trial also included free travel for 1.2 million Londoners with a 60-plus Oyster card or a Freedom Pass.

TfL said when the trial is over it will use public transport ridership data, research into customer perceptions and feedback from the business community to evaluate the cumulative impact of implementing off-peak fares on Friday.

Alex Williams, chief Customer and strategy officer at TfL said: “London is an amazing place to live, work and socialise, and this trial has looked to make it easier for people to travel into and around London on a Friday. Analysis of the trial is ongoing, and will help us to better understand how targeted initiatives like this could help encourage more people back onto public transport and into London on a day that is currently quieter than midweek days.”

The trial has also seen TfL partner with online restaurant-reservation service company OpenTable to offer dining deals at restaurants and other attractions across the capital on Friday’s.