All the changes impacting London commuters and drivers in 2026

Transport for London (TfL) has quite a few New Year’s resolutions.

The capital’s public transport authority is shaking things up for almost all commuters, whether they ride the London Underground or drive.

Here are the big changes you need to know for 2026.

London Underground and DLR

Tube fares

The cost of travelling on the London Underground is set to go up by up to 7.1% for some ticket types from March.

TfL officials say the hike is to help fund projects following a spending review.

Piccadilly line

London has been baked over the last few summers, with temperatures easily reaching the 30s for days.

But TfL is rolling out new air-conditioned trains on the Piccadilly line this year, which will be music to the eyes of sweaty commuters.

Officials aim to get the 94 trains on the tracks between July and December, which would add three more trains during peak times.

Northern line closures

There will be no trains running between Camden Town and Kennington, via Bank, after 10pm, from January 12 to late spring.

Don’t worry, the Northern line won’t be completely shut down – the closure is only in effect Monday to Thursday each week.

Engineers are carrying out improvement works on the Northern line.

Docklands Light Railway (DLR)

On top of weekend closures, Cutty Sark in south-east London is closed until the spring while all four of its escalators are replaced.

Meanwhile, a TfL consultation that ended in December found that people support extending the light railway into Thamesmead, which sits on the border of Greenwich and Bexley.

Another public consultation will take place this year, with the new stations expected to open in the early 2030s.

Superloop buses

If all goes to plan, Londoners will enjoy five new Superloop bus routes.

The express bus system connects various suburbs across, well, a loop, with the new routes including:

• SL11: Greenwich to Abbey Wood.
• SL12: Gants Hill to Rainham.
• SL13: Hendon to Ealing Broadway.
• SL14: Stratford to Chingford.
• SL15: Clapham Junction to Eltham.

Congestion charge changes

Among the biggest – and most divisive – changes coming this year is a new congestion charge system.

A congestion charge is a daily fee that some drivers pay when they enter certain parts of London.

The standard daily charge, if paid in advance or on the day, has increased from £15 to £18.

If paid within three days after travel, motorists will need to cough up £21.

Congestion Charge Residents’ Discount holders are still entitled to a 90% discount and will pay a daily fee of £1.80.

Electric vehicle owners are also seeing a lot of changes this year.

For one, electric vehicle owners are no longer exempt from the congestion charge as the 100% Cleaner Vehicle Discount was abolished on Christmas.

Instead, they’ll need to pay as part of a tiered system – any registered on Auto Pay will receive a 25% discount on the daily charge, at £13.50.

Electric vans, HGVs and quadricycles registered on Auto Pay will also receive a discount of 50%, putting the cost at £9.

Electric car club vehicles – cars which can be hired by the hour – that are returned to the same bay within the congestion charge zone will not need to pay a penny.

But don’t get too used to these discounts, as they’ll drop to 12.5% for electric cars and to 25% for vans, HGVs and quadricycles from March 4.

Oxford Street

London’s busiest shopping street will likely be pedestrianised by the second half of this year.

Campaigners have long tried to make Oxford Street car-free, but a pathway was paved when TfL took over the street from the council in September.

TfL is working with the mayor of London Sadiq Khan to figure out how’s best to pedestrianise the road, which welcomes half a million every day.

If the road becomes a pedestrian zone, it means no non-emergency vehicles can drive through it – only travel by foot or bike is allowed.

Officials have proposed the section of Oxford Street between Orchard Street and Great Portland Street.

The plans are under consultation until January 16.

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