Christmas shoppers in Brent Cross spoke out today against TfL’s plans to increase bus and tube fares in 2012.

Fares will increase by an average of 5.6 per cent next year, which is just above inflation.

The price rise is lower than expected, with Mayor of London, Boris Johnson, securing £136m of Government funding to prevent higher increases.

However, Mr R Derrishe, from Colindale, who was shopping in Brent Cross Shopping Centre in Hendon, said: “The increase is obviously too much, especially for working class people like myself.

“TfL keep saying they are improving and increasing the services but I don’t see any progress. There are always delays and signal failures and strikes, and on top of that, we keep paying.”

Mr Derrishe said he will buy a bike next year and take his chances on London's roads to save money.

The increases will affect all TfL journeys except free and concessionary travel.

Tube journeys in zone one will increase from £1.90 to £2 in 2012, an increase of 5.3 per cent. A 7-day bus and tram pass will rise by 5.6 per cent, from £17.80 to £18.80.

London mayor, Boris Johnson, said: “Every penny of the cash injection will go towards keeping fares as low as possible.

“That is very good news in the current economic climate and, even better, the unprecedented level of investment to improve London’s transport network will continue unabated.”

Mother Chris Grogan, who now chooses to drive, said: “The cost is half the reason I don’t use public transport any more. It’s disgusting – wages are not enough to meet increasing costs.”

TfL says the Government investment will help fund upgrade work, including the completion of the London Overground rail network, which will link 20 of London’s boroughs.

Pensioner Mary Parsons, also shopping in Brent Cross, says she is against fares increasing despite getting free transport because of her age.

She said: “It’s dreadful but what can we do?

“The thing is it is going to get worse in the New Year, people are going to lose their jobs and they will struggle to pay.”

Mother Juliette Every, said: “We are not getting an increase in pay and we are going to have to fork out more.

“As a family, we are reaching the point where we cannot cut costs any more. I do not know where the extra money is going to come from.”

Brian, a contractor from Kilburn, said: “It’s ridiculous. How are people going to survive?

“It is the government’s mess and we are now going to have to suffer to get this money back.”

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