The Mayor of London has slammed government plans to hike rail fares by 3.5% as "woefully out of touch".

Commuters living in Zone 6 will be hit by an annual travel increase of £84, or the equivalent of £7 a month.

The decision to increase rail fares is expected to be confirmed by the government next month, based on the July figure for RPI inflation.

With people’s wages not keeping up with the rate of inflation, Mayor Sadiq Khan is calling on the government and train operating companies to urgently rethink their plans and freeze fares on all suburban rail routes in London from this January.

This would match Transport for London 's (TfL) fares freeze and preventing an "unjustifiable further squeeze on commuters’ household budgets".

If fares are increased by 3.5% in line with latest RPI figure for June, rail commuters in Zones 1 to 6 areas such as Kingston and Surbiton will see the cost of their annual travel increase from £2,408 to £2,492, an increase of £84, or £7 a month.

Annual travel in zones 1 to 4 will increase by £66, or the equivalent of £5.50 a month.

London commuters could face more woe with travel cost increase

This increase will come after commuters have faced a year of delays, overcrowding and cancellations across London’s suburban rail network, according to the Mayor.

The Mayor of London, Sadiq Khan, said: “With people’s pay not keeping up with inflation, it would be woefully out of touch for the government to allow under-performing private rail companies to hike up their fares again.

"I’m calling on the government to match my TfL fares freeze and prevent another squeeze on household budgets in the new year.

"Passengers on London’s suburban rail routes pay thousands of pounds for tickets every year, but have faced repeated delays, overcrowding and cancellations."

MP Ruth Cadbury represents Brentford and Isleworth

Ruth Cadbury , MP for Brentford and Isleworth , said: "Living in outer London is getting more and more expensive, so yet another fare increase, particularly for rail passengers, is the last thing people here need.

"The government must address the cost-of-living crisis and freezing rail fares would be an excellent start."

Lianna Etkind from Campaign for Better Transport, believes now is the time for the government to step in, while wages are stagnant and people are struggling with the cost of getting to work.

She said: "Passengers are rightly asking why they should pay ever-spiralling rail costs when, year after year, the costs of motoring are held down.

"A fares freeze would not only help millions of people manage the costs of living, but would encourage more people to choose public transport and move us towards cleaner air, more liveable cities and a more sustainable society."

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