New Year's Eve free London Underground travel scrapped

Revellers are usually allowed to use London's Underwound free of charge overnight on New Year's Eve.

Free Tube travel on New Year's Eve has been scrapped for the second year in a row due to the "catastrophic impact of the pandemic" on finances, Transport for London (TfL) has said.

Normally London's Underground is free from 23.45 GMT until 04.30 GMT, a tradition dating to 2000.

Services will still run through the night but usual usual fares will apply.

It is the second year of no free travel but last year's celebrations were restricted due to the pandemic.

This year a ticketed celebration at Trafalgar Square replaces the annual fireworks display on the Thames.

• Entire Tube line may have to close, mayor warns

• Protest planned over TfL funding woes

• Covid and Crossrail - why TfL's finances are precarious

A spokesman for the Mayor of London Sadiq Khan said: "This year, TfL are unable to offer free travel on New Year's Eve due to the devastating impact the pandemic had on its finances.

"However, services on the network will be running throughout the night, ensuring that everyone can enjoy what London has to offer and travel around the city easily and safely."

The free travel at new year is often funded by a sponsor but one has not been found for this year.

TfL's current government bailout deal runs out on 11 December.

Transport bosses are seeking £500m to keep services running until April, plus £1.2bn for 2022/23 and plus more than £1bn a year for major upgrades and maintenance.

About 300 drones were used in the display to create images in the sky during the 2021 celebrations

Tony Devenish, Conservative London Assembly member, said it was "no surprise" the mayor of London Sadiq Khan had struggled to find a sponsor for free travel.

He said: "The West End desperately needs the mayor's help to get visitors back into central London.

"Sadly, Khan's acting like a Grinch by cancelling our city's fireworks display and failing to reopen the Night Tube in full.

"His decision to scrap the traditional free Night Tube on New Year's Eve and Day is yet another hammer blow to our city's recovery."