Join the campaign to protect London's public transport

[LonTravelWatch]

London faces a transport funding crisis

Transport for London have been getting financial support from the Government because of the pandemic, but this funding deal is due to expire on the 11 December. If London's transport doesn't get the money it needs after that date, we could see an 18% reduction in bus services and a 9% cut to Tube services. This could result in a million fewer public transport journeys a day and drive a significant number of Londoners back into their cars.

Public transport and active travel enables the poorest and most excluded individuals to get to work and access education and services. Affordable, reliable and frequent public transport services are also essential if London is to reduce its carbon emissions and clean up the toxic air which shortens the lives of thousands.

Time is running out but you can still make your voice heard.

Send an email to your MP, Assembly Member and Councillor, asking them to help: https://londontravelwatch.eaction.org.uk/protect-londons-public-transport

If we act now, we can remind politicians that public transport is vital to all Londoners and people travelling in to the city. Let your MP, London Assembly member and councillor know why we need to #keeplondonmoving.

 

[JonathanH]

This could result in a million fewer public transport journeys a day and drive a significant number of Londoners back into their cars.

Isn't it the opposite? Fewer journeys are already being made and that is why the bus and tube cuts are needed - to more closely match supply and demand?

Why would people go by car instead? There aren't any extra roads or parking facilities to change the supply side of the equation.

 

[jthjth]

Isn't it the opposite? Fewer journeys are already being made and that is why the bus and tube cuts are needed - to more closely match supply and demand?

Why would people go by car instead? There aren't any extra roads or parking facilities to change the supply side of the equation.

Presumably there aren’t many tourists at the moment either?

 

[zoneking]

They have to put bus fares up, and many other fares as well. In Surrey, a typical 5-mile bus journey costs over £5. Except for the 465, which runs as far as Dorking, because it is a TFL bus.

 

[MattRat]

Perhaps they should stop trying to enforce a pointless and counterproductive measure. And focus on more important things, like revenue blocks.


I suspect that the percentage put off by the lack of enforcement is no greater than the percentage put off by the supposed mandate.

It's a Labour city. If you vote Labour, that's one of the things you are voting for, as well as more lockdowns. OP got that one 'right'.

 

[gordonthemoron]

what proportion of people in London have cars in the first place? It's not exactly car friendly

 

[Robertj21a]

TfL buses aren't used anything like as much as they used to be. Some frequencies have been reduced already (doubt if anybody has noticed) and the TfL bus fare is far too cheap.

 

[A0wen]

London faces a transport funding crisis

Transport for London have been getting financial support from the Government because of the pandemic, but this funding deal is due to expire on the 11 December. If London's transport doesn't get the money it needs after that date, we could see an 18% reduction in bus services and a 9% cut to Tube services. This could result in a million fewer public transport journeys a day and drive a significant number of Londoners back into their cars.

Public transport and active travel enables the poorest and most excluded individuals to get to work and access education and services. Affordable, reliable and frequent public transport services are also essential if London is to reduce its carbon emissions and clean up the toxic air which shortens the lives of thousands.

Time is running out but you can still make your voice heard.

Send an email to your MP, Assembly Member and Councillor, asking them to help: https://londontravelwatch.eaction.org.uk/protect-londons-public-transport

If we act now, we can remind politicians that public transport is vital to all Londoners and people travelling in to the city. Let your MP, London Assembly member and councillor know why we need to #keeplondonmoving.

"If London's transport doesn't get the money it needs after that date"

London's transport, so London's problem.

Let the Mayor sort it out - after all he's doing such a great job with knife crime......

If Londoners want that level of transport, perhaps they need to pay for it ? Rather than rely on central government funding.

 

[MattRat]

"If London's transport doesn't get the money it needs after that date"

London's transport, so London's problem.

Let the Mayor sort it out - after all he's doing such a great job with knife crime......

If Londoners want that level of transport, perhaps they need to pay for it ? Rather than rely on central government funding.

But then they'd be treated the same as the rest of the country, and we can't have that.....

 

[Pit_buzzer]

Just maybe "levelling up" works both ways

 

[4-SUB 4732]

The government pushed a heavy narrative of staying home, working from home, restricting all forms of leisure activities and such.

Mayor Khan and the Labour majority at City Hall could not, even if they wanted, override that and get all the normal numbers of people on trains / buses / trams (etc) to work, school, airports, theatres and more. They were forced to accordingly change their budgetary expectations to suit an ever-changing and often incoherent central government strategy that meant Their farebox revenue was harshly reduced.

So yes, government do need to pay up.

 

[MontyP]

"If London's transport doesn't get the money it needs after that date"

London's transport, so London's problem.

Let the Mayor sort it out - after all he's doing such a great job with knife crime......

If Londoners want that level of transport, perhaps they need to pay for it ? Rather than rely on central government funding.

What has knife crime got to do with public transport funding?

Where could the mayor possibly get the sums of money required to keep operating London's public transport system? His revenue-raising powers are very limited.

London's economy (which is a hugely important part of the UK economy as a whole, and contributes a large proportion of taxes raised) is dependent on a functioning public transport system, just like any other mega-city around the world.

 

[MontyP]

But then they'd be treated the same as the rest of the country, and we can't have that.....

What a ridiculous comment. There is a general recognition that London has a good public transport system compared to the rest of the country. I don't think the answer to that conundrum is to level London down.

 

[MattRat]

What a ridiculous comment. There is a general recognition that London has a good public transport system compared to the rest of the country. I don't think the answer to that conundrum is to level London down.

I agree we should level everything up, but maybe if London experienced what the rest of us do they'd get behind that idea as well.

 

[75A]

Exactly

 

[A0wen]

The government pushed a heavy narrative of staying home, working from home, restricting all forms of leisure activities and such.

Mayor Khan and the Labour majority at City Hall could not, even if they wanted, override that and get all the normal numbers of people on trains / buses / trams (etc) to work, school, airports, theatres and more. They were forced to accordingly change their budgetary expectations to suit an ever-changing and often incoherent central government strategy that meant Their farebox revenue was harshly reduced.

So yes, government do need to pay up.

No, the government don't need to "pay up". The mayor and TFL need to review their income and alter their service levels and spending accordingly.

 

[4-SUB 4732]

No, the government don't need to "pay up". The mayor and TFL need to review their income and alter their service levels and spending accordingly.

So you want them to take a circa 80% reduction in fares, reduce services by 80%, reduce staff by 80%, and then when things kick up a notch recruit again? You’re on a fantastic substance. Let me know what it is.

 

[A0wen]

So you want them to take a circa 80% reduction in fares, reduce services by 80%, reduce staff by 80%, and then when things kick up a notch recruit again? You’re on a fantastic substance. Let me know what it is.

Given NR is reckoning they're back to 2/3rds of pre pandemic usage and most suburban bus services outside London are pretty much running pre Covid timetables, I very much doubt TFL are seeing an 80% loss of income currently.

 

[MattRat]

Given NR is reckoning they're back to 2/3rds of pre pandemic usage and most suburban bus services outside London are pretty much running pre Covid timetables, I very much doubt TFL are seeing an 80% loss of income currently.

And if they are, maybe the problem lies elsewhere.....

 

[Cowley]

There’s a thread already running here to discuss this topic (not masks though!):

TFL & "Managed Decline"

It's been widely reported this week [1] [2] that TfL has a BIG gap in their budget with approximately £2.2bn uncovered by 2024/2025, but not seen any discussion here yet. The UK’s capital is on course to face massive cuts to its bus and Underground services, the end of investment in active...

www.railforums.co.uk