HUGHES PLEDGES EASIER LONDON FOR COMMUTERS AND DRIVERS

4.53.31pm UTC (GMT +0000) Mon 7th Jun 2004

Simon plans new fare structure for the Tube

At a press conference later today, Liberal Democrat London Mayoral Candidate, Simon Hughes, will announce a simplified Tube fare structure with just two zones instead of the current six.

Under Mr Hughes' proposals, pre-pay zone A (currently zones one and two) will have a flat rate return fare of £1.60 and pre-pay zone B ( current zones three to six) will have a flat rate return fare of £3.60.

Mr Hughes will also outline a 10-point plan to improve conditions in London for motorists.

Mr Hughes will say: -

"London's Tube fare structure is far too complex. For regular travellers, my plans will reduce the cost of commuting in London. Combined with my other policies for reducing congestion and improving reliability for the Tube, Londoners will find life on the underground cheaper, safer and easier.

"Mr Livingstone's four year fixation on buses has been to the disadvantage of long suffering Tube users and motorists. As Mayor, I will make sure that everyone who travels around London gets a better deal.

"Londoners have told me that the Tube needs to be made easier. It is time that a new Mayor listens to the needs of all Londoners and takes action to deal with these problems."

ENDS

Notes to editor

At a press conference later today ( 9.30am today at 4 Cowley Street), Mr Hughes will put forward his plan to merge zones one and two into zone A and zones three to six to a zone B. Pre pay fares for zones one and two will be £1.60 return, the price of the existing zone one. Pre-pay fares in zones three to six will have a return price of £3.60.

According to Transport for London, almost 15% of tube journeys (400,000) a day do not involve Zone 1. With a flat fare across the outer zones, Transport for London estimate that the figure could rise by at least 10%, with up to half of the new trips being as a result of people giving up their cars.

Mr Hughes has also put forward for the Tube:

· Late night Tube running Thursday, Friday and Saturday until 2am

· Speeding up engineering works with week long shutdowns of lines in August

· 15% discount for those who travel on the Tube before 7.30am

· Removing Bob Crow from the Board of Transport for London

Mr Hughes will also put forward his 10-point plan for motorists including:-

· A complete review of bus lanes

· No further road humps on TfL roads

· An overhaul of traffic light timings

· Consistent parking information in all London streets

· No extension to Kensington and Chelsea of the Congestion charge

· Clocks at all major road entrances to the existing Congestion charge zone

· A single system for disabled parking across London

· A complete review of street signs to make them consistent across London

· An end to commission based pay for traffic wardens

· Five minutes grace before penalties at parking meters