0:00:01 > 0:00:01You can see more on all of today's stories on the BBC News channel, but
0:00:01 > 0:00:05stay with us on BBC One because it is time for all the news where you
0:00:05 > 0:00:08are. Good night.
0:00:15 > 0:00:22Hello, good evening.
0:00:22 > 0:00:23I'm Chris Rogers.
0:00:23 > 0:00:25It's hard to believe for most commuters, but passenger numbers
0:00:25 > 0:00:27on the capital's transport system have dropped slightly
0:00:27 > 0:00:28compared to last year.
0:00:28 > 0:00:31It means less money for Transport for London and perhaps reduces
0:00:31 > 0:00:33the case for more investment, prompting the Government's
0:00:33 > 0:00:35infrastructure adviser to warn continued funding is vital.
0:00:35 > 0:00:40Our transport correspondent, Tom Edwards, has more.
0:00:40 > 0:00:42London is still growing.
0:00:42 > 0:00:44So why, then, has the number of trips on public transport dipped?
0:00:44 > 0:00:49Could this be one reason?
0:00:49 > 0:00:51More people working from home or using co-working spaces,
0:00:51 > 0:00:54like here in Brent.
0:00:54 > 0:00:57Suddenly the physical office is becoming more and more redundant.
0:00:57 > 0:01:00The data shows the number of people working remotely is rising.
0:01:00 > 0:01:06If I look specifically at our demographic, people
0:01:06 > 0:01:09between the ages of 22 and 35, the number of freelancers
0:01:09 > 0:01:10is increasing fairly rapidly.
0:01:10 > 0:01:14Rail journeys in London and the South East have dropped
0:01:14 > 0:01:15almost 5% this year.
0:01:15 > 0:01:17Bus journeys have fallen 6% over the last three,
0:01:17 > 0:01:20and the Tube has seen trips dip 2%, or 13 million journeys,
0:01:20 > 0:01:25in the last 12 months.
0:01:25 > 0:01:27Other causes could be congestion and lifestyle changes.
0:01:27 > 0:01:35Whatever it is, it could affect TfL's finances.
0:01:35 > 0:01:37I'm not sure anybody knows what the reason behind this fall
0:01:37 > 0:01:40in transport use is.
0:01:40 > 0:01:43It looks as if it's something to do with the change in the pattern
0:01:44 > 0:01:45of how people use their lives.
0:01:45 > 0:01:49The Mayor says his fares freeze has increased passenger numbers
0:01:49 > 0:01:51and the Government's infrastructure adviser says strikes may
0:01:51 > 0:01:55have played their part.
0:01:55 > 0:01:58We may have had some of the worst strikes in the history
0:01:58 > 0:02:02of London commuting.
0:02:02 > 0:02:05That's been so disruptive that what has happened is it's instilled
0:02:05 > 0:02:07new patterns of working, where, in order not to be
0:02:07 > 0:02:15subject to the chaos and confusion of Southern Rail,
0:02:15 > 0:02:19people have started working at home more, or for at least two or three
0:02:19 > 0:02:20days a week or more, so they've changed
0:02:21 > 0:02:22their working patterns.
0:02:22 > 0:02:25TfL says it has cut £153 million from its operating costs this year.
0:02:25 > 0:02:27And more cuts loom to rebalance its finances.
0:02:27 > 0:02:29AAnd fewer passengers puts on more pressure.
0:02:29 > 0:02:33The Mayor has started a week-long tour of India and Pakistan.
0:02:33 > 0:02:38He's hoping to bolster business for London.
0:02:38 > 0:02:40He also announced that four promising young footballers
0:02:40 > 0:02:43from Mumbai will travel to the capital to train
0:02:43 > 0:02:44with Queens Park Rangers.
0:02:44 > 0:02:46Our political correspondent Karl Mercer has joined the Mayor
0:02:46 > 0:02:49on his trip and sent this report.
0:02:49 > 0:02:53The crowd is for the guy in the shades.
0:02:53 > 0:02:56But somewhere in there is London's Mayor.
0:02:56 > 0:02:57At a charity football tournament today with one
0:02:58 > 0:03:02of Bollywood's biggest stars.
0:03:02 > 0:03:04How important do you think it is that the mayor
0:03:04 > 0:03:09has shown his support?
0:03:09 > 0:03:12It's a huge deal - not just this initiative, but for the city
0:03:12 > 0:03:14of Mumbai, that Mr Sadiq is here with us.
0:03:14 > 0:03:17I hope this relationship between him and anyone in Bombay, Mumbai,
0:03:17 > 0:03:20it broadens, not just with football but with other things.
0:03:20 > 0:03:24So we're very happy and very pleased that Mr Sadiq is here with us.
0:03:24 > 0:03:28That is quite unnecessary.
0:03:28 > 0:03:29Not a good...
0:03:29 > 0:03:32This tournament is a symbol of London's links with India,
0:03:32 > 0:03:35backed by Queens Park Rangers, who will offer two boys and two
0:03:35 > 0:03:43girls training in West London.
0:03:43 > 0:03:45Come along, guys - make some noise!
0:03:45 > 0:03:48The banner at the game hammered home the message of this trip.
0:03:48 > 0:03:49London is open.
0:03:49 > 0:03:50London is open.
0:03:50 > 0:03:51Thank you very much.
0:03:51 > 0:03:56What is Hindi for "London is open"?
0:03:56 > 0:03:57HE SPEAKS HINDI
0:03:57 > 0:04:00I am the Mayor of London.
0:04:00 > 0:04:05And London is open for everyone.
0:04:05 > 0:04:07And that's what this visit is about - to reassure Indians.
0:04:07 > 0:04:10Businessmen and women, potential students, investors,
0:04:10 > 0:04:11people wanting to come for a holiday, that
0:04:11 > 0:04:14despite Brexit we are still very much open for talent,
0:04:14 > 0:04:17for investment and for business.
0:04:17 > 0:04:19His message, one of openness, but this is what has
0:04:20 > 0:04:21accompanied the mayor all day.
0:04:21 > 0:04:23Security is tight.
0:04:23 > 0:04:26As much as the mayor might like it, the celebrations behind me
0:04:26 > 0:04:28at the Gateway of India are not for Sadiq Khan -
0:04:28 > 0:04:31they are for India's Navy Day.
0:04:31 > 0:04:34But today did mark the first step of six cities the mayor will visit
0:04:34 > 0:04:36in India and Pakistan over the next six days.
0:04:36 > 0:04:39Tomorrow he is off to Delhi.
0:04:39 > 0:04:46Now a quick look at tomorrow's weather.
0:04:46 > 0:04:49It's going to be a milder start to the day, with some
0:04:49 > 0:04:50cloud across the capital,
0:04:50 > 0:04:52but keeping dry and clearing into the afternoon.
0:04:52 > 0:04:55It won't feel as cold as it has recently, with top temperatures
0:04:55 > 0:04:56of ten degrees Celsius.
0:04:56 > 0:04:57Not bad!
0:04:57 > 0:05:03That's it from me and the team here.