Mayor Sadiq Khan has shared his worries about more people in London working from home.
At an event on Wednesday night, he spoke about his concerns over fewer people returning to offices after the pandemic. He warned that London “cannot afford” to become a city where the centre feels empty. The event was hosted by the consultancy firm Project Leaders.
He urged businesses to encourage their workers to return to the office. However, he also said companies should make office spaces more attractive to employees.
Since the pandemic, more people are working flexibly, which has affected London’s economy and reduced the money Transport for London (TfL) earns from fares.
By March 2024, the number of Tube journeys during Monday morning rush hour was 70% of what it was in March 2019. On Fridays, the number was even lower at 62%, while Tuesday to Thursday saw about 79% of pre-pandemic levels.
To boost Friday travel, the mayor ran a three-month trial last year, removing peak-time fares at the end of the week. However, a recent report found that the £24 million trial made “no noticeable difference” in the number of people traveling during peak hours on Fridays.
Sadiq Khan also spoke about young graduates starting their first jobs after the pandemic. He worried they might struggle to connect with colleagues or develop certain skills if they don’t work in offices.
He urged businesses to think carefully before reducing office space, as it could have long-term effects on their employees.
He also pointed out that London is not the only city struggling to return to pre-pandemic commuting levels. He said most cities worldwide face the same challenge, except for some in East Asia.
One person at the event told Sadiq Khan that his company was struggling to bring employees back to the office because of expensive train fares, especially for workers traveling from outside London.
The mayor blamed private train companies for raising fares faster than inflation. He said he has tried to freeze Tube and bus fares when possible and is pushing the Department for Transport to find new ways to make train travel more affordable.
Separately, Sadiq Khan admitted he is still frustrated that the High Speed 2 (HS2) rail line will not go beyond Birmingham. The northern extension was canceled by Rishi Sunak in 2023.
Since then, the Labour Government has not promised to restart the project to Manchester. However, it has confirmed that HS2 trains will reach Euston station instead of stopping at Old Oak Common in West London.
