TRAM travellers will be waking up with an extra headache today (Tuesday): fare rises.
Mayor Boris Johnson has raised fares across London's transport network by 4.2 per cent, taking a single tram or bus fare with an Oyster card from £1.35 to £1.40.
Travellers at East Croydon station were unhappy about the hikes, which are one per cent above inflation.
Latoya Reid, 30, who travels each day to Waddon Marsh, said: "That is just extra money from your cheque that is not going to be there."
Mitchall Laban, 18, of South Norwood, who takes the tram to Wimbledon every day, said: "I hate that it goes up every year, but it is always going to go up each year.
"It is at least one of the more reliable services. I have never known a tram to be late."
Amos Adeolu, 33, of South Croydon, said: "It is normal for them to increase the fares every year. The service is good but the fares are too expensive."
Greater London Assembly member Steve O'Connell says the increase is justified if the money raised is reinvested, in particular to extend the trams.
The mayor had promised to extend the tram to Crystal Palace but was criticised this month after no extension was mentioned in Transport for London's seven-year investment plan.
Mr O'Connell said: "I think it is a defensible position because I want the mayor to be investing in new capital projects and route extensions. Raising fares within responsible limits means the mayor can invest, so I will hold him to account on that."
Val Shawcross, a former leader of Croydon Council and Labour's spokesman told the Advertiser: "I think that hitting Londoners with another above-inflation fare rise is staggering.
"Not only are many people struggling financially at the moment but we also know from TfL's latest business plan that no funding has been put in place to deliver much-needed extensions to Croydon Tramlink.
"We know from TFL's own figures that they are running with a big operating surplus, so above inflation rises are unnecessary."
Concessionary fares for young people and veterans are unchanged, as is free travel for the elderly and disabled.
