Transport for London (TfL) have frozen fares for the third year in a row amid an increase in rail fares nationally.

But a Conservative described the move as a “faux freeze” because it does not apply to people using a Railcard.

Pay-as-you go fares on the Tube, Docklands Light Railway (DLR), Emirates Air Line, TfL Rail services, bus services and Santander Cycles have all been frozen.

It was also announced today that National Rail fares are increasing by 3.1 per cent.

Mayor of London Sadiq Khan said: “I’m delighted to be freezing TfL fares for the third year in succession.

“Our TfL fares freeze is in contrast to the private rail companies hiking up fares again, despite the litany of cancelations, delays and overcrowding on services like Southern and South Western Railway.

“Given the continuing woeful services on suburban rail routes, the increase in rail fares of 8.8 per cent over the past three years is simply a disgrace.”

But Conservative London Assembly member Keith Prince spoke out against the move because of concerns over TfL’s finances.

TfL is currently operating on a £1 billion deficit, although the transport body says it is confident it can get rid of the debt by 2022.

Mr Prince said: “It’s not as if they are awash with money. They have had to cancel proactive road repairs.”

A Freedom of Information request last year revealed the transport body had cut spending on its road network by £30 million over the past five years.

TfL blamed the shortfall in spending on the removal of a government grant and said it had paused all “non-essential” road improvements until suitable funding can be found.

Mr Prince also called the move a “faux freeze” because it does not apply to people travelling on TfL’s networks who are using a Railcard.

He said: “This means commuters will have to pay the fare increase because they are linked to National Rail.

“People who will benefit from this are people making a single journey on the Tube and in reality this will mean more tourists that Londoners will benefit.

“If it was a true fare freeze I would be sympathetic.”