03/12/2017 London News

You can see more on all of today's

stories on the BBC News channel, but

stay with us on BBC One because it

is time for all the news where you

are. Good night.

Hello, good evening.

I'm Chris Rogers.

It's hard to believe for most

commuters, but passenger numbers

on the capital's transport system

have dropped slightly

compared to last year.

It means less money for Transport

for London and perhaps reduces

the case for more investment,

prompting the Government's

infrastructure adviser to warn

continued funding is vital.

Our transport correspondent,

Tom Edwards, has more.

London is still growing.

So why, then, has the number

of trips on public transport dipped?

Could this be one reason?

More people working from home

or using co-working spaces,

like here in Brent.

Suddenly the physical office

is becoming more and more redundant.

The data shows the number of people

working remotely is rising.

If I look specifically

at our demographic, people

between the ages of 22 and 35,

the number of freelancers

is increasing fairly rapidly.

Rail journeys in London

and the South East have dropped

almost 5% this year.

Bus journeys have fallen 6%

over the last three,

and the Tube has seen trips dip 2%,

or 13 million journeys,

in the last 12 months.

Other causes could be congestion

and lifestyle changes.

Whatever it is, it could

affect TfL's finances.

I'm not sure anybody knows

what the reason behind this fall

in transport use is.

It looks as if it's something to do

with the change in the pattern

of how people use their lives.

The Mayor says his fares freeze has

increased passenger numbers

and the Government's infrastructure

adviser says strikes may

have played their part.

We may have had some of the worst

strikes in the history

of London commuting.

That's been so disruptive that

what has happened is it's instilled

new patterns of working,

where, in order not to be

subject to the chaos

and confusion of Southern Rail,

people have started working at home

more, or for at least two or three

days a week or more,

so they've changed

their working patterns.

TfL says it has cut £153 million

from its operating costs this year.

And more cuts loom to

rebalance its finances.

AAnd fewer passengers

puts on more pressure.

The Mayor has started a week-long

tour of India and Pakistan.

He's hoping to bolster

business for London.

He also announced that four

promising young footballers

from Mumbai will travel

to the capital to train

with Queens Park Rangers.

Our political correspondent

Karl Mercer has joined the Mayor

on his trip and sent this report.

The crowd is for the

guy in the shades.

But somewhere in there

is London's Mayor.

At a charity football

tournament today with one

of Bollywood's biggest stars.

How important do you think

it is that the mayor

has shown his support?

It's a huge deal - not just this

initiative, but for the city

of Mumbai, that Mr Sadiq

is here with us.

I hope this relationship between him

and anyone in Bombay, Mumbai,

it broadens, not just with football

but with other things.

So we're very happy and very pleased

that Mr Sadiq is here with us.

That is quite unnecessary.

Not a good...

This tournament is a symbol

of London's links with India,

backed by Queens Park Rangers,

who will offer two boys and two

girls training in West London.

Come along, guys - make some noise!

The banner at the game hammered home

the message of this trip.

London is open.

London is open.

Thank you very much.

What is Hindi for "London is open"?

HE SPEAKS HINDI

I am the Mayor of London.

And London is open for everyone.

And that's what this visit

is about - to reassure Indians.

Businessmen and women,

potential students, investors,

people wanting to come

for a holiday, that

despite Brexit we are still

very much open for talent,

for investment and for business.

His message, one of openness,

but this is what has

accompanied the mayor all day.

Security is tight.

As much as the mayor might like it,

the celebrations behind me

at the Gateway of India are not

for Sadiq Khan -

they are for India's Navy Day.

But today did mark the first step

of six cities the mayor will visit

in India and Pakistan over

the next six days.

Tomorrow he is off to Delhi.

Now a quick look at

tomorrow's weather.

It's going to be a milder start

to the day, with some

cloud across the capital,

but keeping dry and clearing

into the afternoon.

It won't feel as cold as it has

recently, with top temperatures

of ten degrees Celsius.

Not bad!

That's it from me and the team here.