Pensioners losing free travel in this city would be latest disgrace in war on the elderly

Pensioners could see their cherished Freedom Pass perk curtailed as the cost of providing the freebie skyrockets to £372million. The passes, which allow the capital's senior citizens to use London's entire transport network free of charge, have been a lifeline for millions, slashing everyday costs across the city.

London Councils, the body responsible for organising the passes, is launching a review that could effectively turn the Freedom Pass into a bus-only pass, eliminating the rail travel aspect. The scheme has always included Underground and Overground journeys , but this could be set to change.

Among the other options being considered are increasing the age at which Londoners can claim the pass from 66, or excluding national rail services within Greater London from the pass's scope. The yearly cost of the scheme, funded by taxpayers in the capital's 32 councils, is set to rise by more than 11.8 per cent in 2026, The Standard reports.

Councils bracing for 279m free journeys amid spending clampdown

Councils are expecting to pay for more than 279m free journeys from April, all while facing a spending clampdown in other departments, including special needs provision and social care. According to London Councils chief operating officer Stephen Boon, reducing the Freedom Pass's scope could ease this financial pressure by around £148m per year, reports the Daily Mail.

The adjustment would require parliament to amend the Greater London Assembly Act 1999. London's scheme is one of the most comprehensive in the country, with many towns and cities instead offering free bus travel during off-peak times only.

Freedom Pass differs from 60+ London Oyster card

The Freedom Pass is different to the 60+ London Oyster card, which only provides free travel during off-peak hours and is administered by Transport for London (TfL). These cards are written off by TfL as lost revenue, with the organisation believed to have missed out on £125m in fares from 60 to 65-year-olds in 2025 alone - a figure anticipated to rise to £180m by 2027.

Costs have increased thanks to Freedom Pass users taking more journeys on the network, as well as adjustments to how Elizabeth Line fares are calculated.

TfL will also charge the cost of the Oyster cards the passes are attached to directly to London Councils for the first time this year, with each card costing £1.50 and nearly 400,000 in circulation.

Wealthiest boroughs face funding decreases amid financial squeeze

Mr Boon told a meeting of London Councils' transport and environment committee that the Society of London Treasurers, an organisation of the boroughs' chief financial officers, "expressed concern about the growing cost of the Freedom Pass scheme", stated the Mail.

He added that his officers "will continue to work...to identify what other policy options might be used to control the cost of the scheme in future".

Some of London's wealthiest boroughs are set for funding decreases as councils continue to feel the financial squeeze. Richmond is bracing itself for a 16.2 per cent increase in the cost of funding the pass, while Brent is expecting its share of the invoice to soar by more than £2m. London Councils and TfL declined to comment on the matter.