Transport for London
Crossrail completion, new DLR trains, station improvements and signalling upgrades feature in TfL’s latest business plan.
TRANSPORT for London (TfL) has promised completion of a series of major rail and Underground upgrades as well as continued focus on reducing costs, in its latest business plan covering 2018-19 to 2022-23.
TfL has already committed to freeze its fares until 2020, but this comes against a background of a claimed £700 million worth of cuts in government grants every year.
TfL Commissioner Mike Brown described the plan as “challenging, not least because of the difficult economic climate and the average £700m reduction in Government general grant that we must absorb. But, with the efficiencies achieved through the largest ever overhaul of our organisation, we will ensure that the huge range of vital improvements for Londoners is delivered.”
London Mayor Sadiq Khan pointed out that TfL Rail is the only one of the four biggest rail operators in London to experience a rise in passenger numbers, with those on Govia Thameslink Railway, Southeastern and South West Trains (now South Western Railway) falling by 5% between April and June 2017.
“Usage of TfL services is outperforming those elsewhere across the country. London is leading the way showing how we can keep fares down, while still investing record amounts in creating the world-class infrastructure London needs,” he said.
“Despite £700m in Government cuts every year, our extensive programme of cutting TfL waste and making TfL smarter in how it operates means we continue to make big strides - making London a fairer, greener, healthier and more prosperous city for everyone.”
The business plan was published on November 24. Among the projects due to be completed during the period are: ■ The Elizabeth Line (Crossrail). ■ Signalling upgrades to increase capacity on the Circle, District, Hammersmith & City and Metropolitan Lines. ■ New trains and signalling on the Piccadilly Line which will raise capacity by up to 60%. ■ Station improvements. ■ Extending London Overground to Barking Riverside. ■ A new train fleet for Docklands Light Railway. ■ The Northern Line extension to Battersea.
Growth is predicted to rise on all of TfL’s rail operations, with a 5% increase on London Underground from 1.38 billion passengers in 2016-17 to 1.4 billion in 202223, a 14% increase on London Overground from 189 million to 262 million, and a 485% increase on the Elizabeth Line from 201617’s 48 million to 269 million.
Overall rail revenue, including Docklands Light Railway and London Trams, is predicted to rise from £434m in 2016-17 to £568m in 2022-23, with operating costs also predicted to increase from £435m to £556m in the same period.
London Underground revenue is predicted to rise from £2.76 billion in 2016-17 to £3.18bn in 2022-23, with costs falling from £2.1bn to £2.01bn by the end of the business plan’s period.
Cost-cutting measures highlighted in the business plan include: cutting management layers; reducing the number of TfL office buildings from more than 30 to three hubs in Stratford, Southwark and North Greenwich