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Legislative framework

Transport for London is a statutory body created by the Greater London Authority Act 1999.

This act gives the Mayor of London a general duty to develop and implement policies to promote and encourage safe, integrated, efficient and economic transport facilities and services to, from and within London.

It also states that we have a duty to help the Mayor complete his duties.

In particular, we are required to provide or secure the provision of public passenger transport services, to, from or within Greater London.

We also have certain other powers and duties. As a highway and traffic authority for GLA roads we regulate how the public uses highways and we are responsible for:

Traffic signs
Traffic control systems
Road safety
Traffic reduction

We are also the licensing authority for hackney carriages (taxis) and private hire vehicles (minicabs).

The GLA sets down our powers and duties. In general, we can delegate to agencies to act on our behalf. However, in the case of certain specified activities, that delegation is limited. Those activities specified by the Transport for London (Specified Activities) Order 2000 must be carried out by TfL through a company limited by shares (which may be a subsidiary of TfL).

Transport Trading Limited (TTL) is our trading body and its subsidiaries are:

City Airport Rail Enterprises (Holdings) Limited
City Airport Rail Enterprises PLC
Crossrail Limited
Docklands Light Railway Limited
London Bus Services Limited
London Buses Limited
London Dial-A-Ride Limited
London River Services Limited
London Transport Museum (Trading) Limited
London Transport Museum Limited
London Underground Limited
LUL Nominee BCV Limited
LUL Nominee SSL Limited
Rail for London Limited
Tramtrack Croydon Limited
Transport for London Finance Limited
Tube Lines (Finance) PLC
Tube Lines (Holdings) Limited
Tube Lines Limited
Tube Lines Pension Scheme Trustees Limited
UIC Transport (JNP) Limited
Victoria Coach Station Limited
Woolwich Arsenal Rail Enterprises (Holdings) Limited
Woolwich Arsenal Rail Enterprises Limited

All functions remain with the TfL Board unless delegated. The TfL Board may arrange to delegate its functions to any TfL committees and sub-committee, any TfL subsidiaries, any TfL members or officers and any bodies of members or / and officers. The TfL Standing Orders lay down the decision-making structure and proceedings and the scheme of delegation.