ES News email The latest headlines in your inbox twice a day Monday - Friday plus breaking news updates Enter your email address Continue Please enter an email address Email address is invalid Fill out this field Email address is invalid You already have an account. Please log in Register with your social account or click here to log in I would like to receive lunchtime headlines Monday - Friday plus breaking news alerts, by email Update newsletter preferences

Sadiq Khan today launches the one-hour London “bus hopper” ticket, making millions of fares free every year.

The new scheme means an estimated 30 million bus journeys currently costing £1.50 will now become free annually.

It means that passengers in the capital can make a second journey free of charge if they travel within one hour of beginning their first.

London mayor Mr Khan said: "Today is a landmark day for transport in London, and I'm hugely proud that our new 'hopper' fare will make bus travel cheaper for millions of Londoners travelling around our city.

"It wasn't right that Londoners had to pay twice simply to change buses, and the 'hopper' will make 30 million journeys free every year.

"It will make a particular difference to low income families - many of whom still spend a large proportion of their wages on essential travel costs."

Passengers using pay as you go with Oyster or contactless payment cards will automatically be charged the lower fare.

People using the tram network - which serves Croydon and surrounding areas - are also be eligible for the free journeys.

In addition, passengers who travel on a Tube or train between their two bus or tram journeys will be eligible for the Hopper fare from 2018.

Stephen Locke, chairman of London TravelWatch, said: "Making bus travel more affordable will really help passengers, particularly people on lower incomes with long or complex journeys to work.

"We hope that for many people, the hopper fare will improve access to jobs in areas they may have previously found it too expensive to get to."

Transport for London does not have the technology to allow unlimited bus and tram transfers within an hour, but it expects to rectify this by 2018.