Off-peak Friday fares trial begins on TfL network

TfL hopes lower fares will attract people into the office on Fridays

A scheme trialling off-peak fares all day on Fridays on the Transport for London (TfL) network has begun.

City Hall hopes the reduced fares will attract workers into the office and boost the hospitality and cultural sectors.

The scheme, which will run every Friday until 31 May, will apply on the Tube, DLR, London Overground, Elizabeth line, and some National Rail services across London and the southeast, TfL said.

Kate Nicholls, the chief executive of UKHospitality, welcomed the initiative to try to boost footfall.

She said: "There’s no doubt that Fridays have suffered as a result of changes to working patterns since the pandemic and hospitality businesses have felt that loss of commuter trade."

Mondays and Fridays already saw lower attendances in the office even pre-pandemic but now it is much lower, with just 14% office occupancy on an average Friday in September, according to technology firm Freespace.

Ms Nichols added: "Responding to these challenges with innovative trials like off-peak Fridays is exactly the type of flexible approach needed to boost journey numbers and stimulate footfall in our venues.

"I hope we’ll see positive results from the trial, for hospitality businesses, commuters and the wider economy."