Commuters face fare rise

Ken Livingstone today warned travellers to brace themselves for an above-inflation fares rise.

The Mayor said Tube, bus and Docklands Light Railway tickets would increase to plug a looming multi-million black hole in his transport budget.

But he faced immediate criticism for breaking a pre-election promise to peg fares to inflation for the next four years.

Lynne Featherstone, Liberal Democrat chairman of the London Assembly's transport committee, told him: "That was a huge dishonesty before the election when you promised that fares would rise in line with inflation."

Appearing before the Assembly at City Hall, Mr Livingstone said the fares increase - to be announced next Tuesday and likely to take effect from January - was needed because of a lack of Government funding.

The Mayor, who hinted that he may reduce the six fare zones used on the Tube, said: "It will be necessary to take some difficult short-term decisions, including an above-inflation fares increase."