Over-60s will travel free in the rush hour

BORIS JOHNSON today confirmed Londoners aged 60 and over will be entitled to free travel on the Tubes and buses 24 hours a day, every day of the week, from 2 January.

Currently Freedom Passes are only valid between 9.30am and 4.30pm. However the cost of the passes falls on the boroughs, who have agreed a £240 million deal for the financial year 2009/10.

Today Mr Johnson said: "I am delighted elderly Freedom Pass holders will be able to use this important scheme to get to early morning hospital or other appointments that most Londoners take for granted. That is why, during the election, I promised elderly pass holders would no longer have to wait until well after breakfast to catch the bus."

Lib-Dems, however, were critical that restrictions will still apply on Network Rail trains before 9.30am.