Transport for LondonLondon Underground
Skip to navigationLondon Underground (LU) became part of the TfL group on 15 July 2003, ensuring a more integrated transport system for the capital.
Although we have been forced to accept the constraints that come with the Public Private Partnership (PPP) arrangements, and both the Mayor and I have been open regarding our views on this, we are committed to making the improvements necessary to start the long road to Tube renewal.
During 2003/04, over 10,000 metres of track were renewed, and service increases introduced, to deliver additional train kilometres - 67.7 million in total - an increase of over three per cent since last year. Timetable improvements have ensured more off peak services on the Metropolitan and Northern lines, and escalator refurbishments have been undertaken at Baker Street, Embankment, Liverpool Street, Heathrow Terminals 1, 2 and 3, South Wimbledon and Wanstead stations. In addition, three Underground stations at Fulham Broadway, Kilburn and West Ham have been upgraded to include step-free access to the platforms.
However, due to years of under-investment in the Tube system, we are facing a myriad of problems which the three million daily users of the network rightly expect us to address. Train service reliability is a priority issue which we are tackling not just through revised timetables, but through better use of our staff, with Station Assistants now positioned on Underground platforms in central London to reduce the amount of time that trains spend waiting in stations.
Safety remains a priority. Although the Underground has, historically, a good safety record, comment on the past financial year cannot be made without recognising that there were two derailments on the network at Camden Town and Hammersmith. These events demonstrated how the Tube's infrastructure has been allowed to deteriorate through lack of investment over the years. But they also show that safety must never be taken for granted and how important the PPP and renewal programmes are to ensure that we see no repeat of these events in future.
LU has recently published its review of Tube operations and performance under the PPP to the financial year end 2003/04. Entitled 'London Underground and the PPP - the First YearÕ (www.tfl.gov.uk/ pppfirstreport), the report highlights that Metronet and Tube Lines have had some successes, particularly with cleaner stations and trains and in tackling graffiti on trains. But for us to provide a better Tube service, we need key assets such as trains, track and signals to improve.
During the past year, has met six out of the seven targets set by Government. These include exceeding targets set for customer satisfaction and excess journey time and meeting targets for the service volumes operated (measured in kilometres).
Previous Page: 2003/04 reveiw by Bob Kiley
Next Page: London Buses
